Course Topics, Readings & Tests

May 8 & 9	I. An Introduction to Political Science: Politics Then and Now What does the Elian Gonzalez case tell us about the nature of the American political process? What is Politics? What is the State, and what is its purpose? How did Aristotle classify States? What is direct and indirect democracy? What is the relationship between individuals and the State? How did John Locke and Thomas Hobbes differ in their views of man and the State? How did Karl Marx view the State? What is Thomas Jefferson's ideal of the democratic citizen? What is the American theory of pluralism? Why do people get involved in politics? Why should you be politically active? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 1 ASSIGNMENT #1 Instructor will handout On-line Syllabus Quiz. Answers must be posted on Blackboard under Assignments by 9:30 am on Tuesday May 14.
May 10	II. Web Syllabus, Forum & Blackboard Orientation, Orientation to course web site and hot links to sources for congressional debate issues and Member Profiles. Introduction to course Discussion Board. Begin developing team rules on-line.
May 13	III. Introduction to Teams The development and effective use of teams and their synergy.
May 13 & 14	IV. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution: Competing Liberal and Conservative Traditions What were the deficiencies of the Articles of Confederation? How do liberals and conservatives differ in their philosophical assumptions about man and the state? What were the liberal tenets of the Declaration of Independence? What were the conservative features of the Constitution? How would you classify the Bill of Rights? Was there a true American "Revolution?" Why did the U.S. create a federal form of government? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 2 ASSIGNMENT #2 Post Self-Introduction on Discussion Board by 5 pm on Firday May 17. GUEST SPEAKER MAY 16: Tracy Knauss Powerpoint presentation on "The Signers of the Declaration of Independence." BONUS #1 Complete Blackboard quiz on Assignments regarding key points in Knauss presentation by 9:30 am on Monday May 20.
May 15 & 16	V. Political Socialization: From the Bosom of the Family What is political socialization? What role does the family play? What can change our values later in life? Has there been a decline in America's values as a result of the changing American family, television and Hollywood's influence? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, pp. 263-272 PARTY TEAM AND ISSUE ASSIGNMENTS MAY 15: The instructor will anounce your party team assignent and whether you will research and debate HR 3005 on the fast-track Trade Promotion Act or HR 476 on the Child Custody Protection Act. NO CLASS FRIDAY MAY 17. Instructor attending UTC Teaching Excellence Retreat.
MAY 20	CASE STUDY: ALABAMA CONFEDERATE FLAG CONTROVERSY (Role Playing). Download case from Blackboard's Course Materials. ASSIGNMENT #3 Complete on-line quiz on key facts in case study [Blackboard's Assignment page] by 9:30 am on Monday May 20--before class discussion.
May 20	VI. Public Opinion, the Media and Polling: Probing and Molding the Public's Mind What is public opinion? How is it formed? Should public opinion serve as major role in the formulation of public policies? How does the media influence public attitudes? Who are opinion-leaders? How is public opinion measured? What is a scientific survey? Would Ross Perot's Electronic Town Hall Meetings idea (direct democracy) help or harm our democratic process? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 10
Tuesday May 21	VII. MIDTERM EXAM. BRING A BLUE BOOK & PEN. Official Drop Deadline May 24. INSTRUCTOR WILL ASSIGN ON MAY 21 CONGRESSIONAL ROLES (DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN) FOR SIMULATED DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY DEBATES. MEMBER PROFILE ASSIGNMENT A written profile of the Member of Congress you will represent will be due in class on Thursday May 30. ASSIGNMENT #4 Post your member profile as an attachment on your team's Blackboard yourGroup by 9:30 am on Friday May 31.
May 21 & 22	VIII. Interest Groups: Grabbing the Federal Goodies What did Federalist Paper #10 consider the source of "faction?" What is the problem with the Brokerage Theory of Democracy? What causes interest groups to form? Why are some lobbies more effective than others? How do interest groups operate? Do lobbies and the recent growth in PACs threaten America's democracy? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, pp. 310-326 BONUS #2 Post on Team Forum answers about assigned PAC web sites by 9:30 am on Friday May 24.
May 23	IX. Political Parties: Tweedledee and Tweedledum? Why do we have only two major political parties? Is a two-party system more democratic and stable than a European multi-party system? Is there a "dimes worth of difference" between the Democratic and Republican parties? Was Ross Perot's 3rd party showing an anomaly or a harbinger of the future? Is the technology-oriented New Politics better than the machine-era Old Politics? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, pp. 296-309 BONUS #3 Post on team Forum answers regarding Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committees web sites by 9:30 am on Tuesday May 28.
May 24	X. Campaigns and Elections: The Electronic Fishbowl Do the voters know who they're voting for? What patterns of presidential voting behavior emerged since l960? How has the presidential nominating process and packaging of candidates changed in the last several decades? Should we abandon the Electoral College? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 12
Monday May 27	XI. NO CLASS. MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY.
Tuesday May 28	XII. Party Caucuses Elect party leaders for each team. Planning for debate. Assign specific questions/issues to each team member.
May 29 & 30	XIII. The Presidency: Imperial or Democratic? Who were America's "Great" Presidents? Why did the Founders fear Executive Tyranny? Why did the 20th century Imperial Presidency evolve? What are the President's major roles in today's world? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 7 GUEST SPEAKER MAY 30: Bruce Plante, political cartoonist for the Chattanooga Times/Free Press. Author of cartoon book Predator Plante.
May 31, June 3 & 4	XII. The Congress: Dividing up the Federal Pie How has the role of Congress evolved since its creation? Has legislative tyranny resulted? What are the major functions of Congress? How representative is Congress? What roles do Congressmen play? How much power do congressional committees have? How does a bill become a law? Would the Founders want Congress to be more responsive and efficient? Has Newt Gingrich initiated a true "revolution' with the GOP's Contract with America? READING: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 6 MEMBER PROFILES DUE MAY 30: Submit your written Member Profiles to instructor. ASSIGNMENT #4 Post your Member Profile as an attachment on Team Group by 9:30 am on Friday May 31.
June 4	XIII. Simulated Congressional Debates on HR 476 (Child Custody Protection Act) and HR 3005 (fast-track Trade Promotion Act), which you can download from on-line Blackboard's COURSE MATERIAL page. Check Blackboard's Course Material for posting of Debate Schedule and rules.
June 5	XIV. The Supreme Court: The Search for Justice Is the Supreme Court a democratic institution? Should it be? What checks exist to curb court excesses? What role has the Supreme Court come to play in American society? Should the Court adhere to the notion of "original intent?" Do the decisions of the Warren and Burger courts "make" law? How can civil liberties best be protected? READINGS: O'Connor & Sabato, Chap. 9. Read Chattanooga Times Free Press article on Rhea County Bible in schools case [See Blackboard's COURSE MATERIAL page].
June 6	XVI. FINAL EXAM. BRING BLUE BOOK AND PEN. ENJOY THE SUMMER!