POLITICAL SCIENCE 202

This syllabus is a living document! Please check frequently for updates.

Introduction to American Politics

Fall Quarter 2021

Scott Lemieux, Gowen 114

Email: slemieux@uw.edu

In-person office hours: W 1:20-2:20, or by appointment

Virtual Office Hours: By appointment over Zoom, generally available T/TH/F 11-6

TAs:

Jonathan Beck (AE and AG), Email: jcbeck@uw.edu

Sebastian Mayer (AB and AC), Email: sebmayer@uw.edu

Julia Wejchert (AF and AH), Email: jwejch@uw.edu

Lanyi Zhu (AA and AD), Email: lanyizhu@uw.edu

Objectives:  This course examines American politics through the lens of the development of political institutions and political culture.  We will study both the historical foundations of American government and constitutionalism and the ways in which they have changed over time.  Students will receive both a nuts-and-bolts introduction to American government and an immersion in primary texts that provide insights into American government and political thought.  It will also give student a set of critical tools with which to evaluate American institutions and political actors.  The primary objectives of the class are to 1)introduce students to basic concepts of political science, 2)give students a background in American history, government, and constitutional development, and 3)develop their writing skills, including the ability to answer questions in a clear, concise manner.

Textbook: The textbooks for this class is  Lowi, Ginsberg, and Shepsle, American Government: Power and Purpose (16th core ed. It is available online through the UW bookstore and all major online booksellers. An E-book can be ordered through the publisher here:

https://digital.wwnorton.com/amgov16core 

https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393538915

The course is structured so that while the earlier the better you do not need to have your textbook until the day of section meetings in Week 2. If you need to allow a couple of extra days to secure a better price, that's fine!

COVID-19 Policies: We are all in this together! In this class, masks covering nose and mouth are required, and eating and drinking (except, very briefly, for hydration) are prohibited. The instructor and TAs have the authority to remove students or cancel class if students do not comply. Non-compliant students may be reported to the Community Standards and Student Conduct office. Please wear a mask to allow class to proceed smoothly and to protect the health of yourselves, your classmates and your instructors.

If you have symptoms, please do not come to class and do get tested. For FAQs about COVID-19 and UW Policy, go here.

This class will adhere to all university policies regarding the pandemic. Class, as of the beginning of the quarter, will be in-person. If the class has to be taken online because of a policy change, we are prepared and will discuss the details at that time. 

Other General Requirements and Class Policies:

• Online interactions should follow the "netiquette" guidelinesLinks to an external site. of the university. Always treat your peers and instructors respectfully. 
• Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty (Links to an external site.) will result in a grade of “0” for the given exam/assignment, and students will also be subject to the UW’s disciplinary procedures. All material submitted online may be subject to VeriCite or other plagiarism detection software.
• Please inform an instructor if you have a disability that will require accommodation.  You will be provided with any accommodation mandated by the Americans With Disabilities Act, state and local regulations, and university policy. 
• Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/) (Links to an external site.). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/) (Links to an external site.).

Assignments and Grading:  There will be two in-class mid-terms and one in-class final exam.  All exams will be non-cumulative and weighted equally.  A study guide will provided roughly one week before the exam. The remainder of the grade will be calculated by your participation in section, participation in discussion forums, and any other work assigned at the discretion of your TA.

3 Exams: 25% each

Section participation: 25%

Grade appeals process: 

1. If you would like to appeal your grade, please wait 24 hours after receiving your assignment. After 24 hours have elapsed, submit a typed and printed appeal and that explains why you deserve a better grade and the graded assignment to the TA. Please note that your entire assignment will be regraded.
2. Once the TA has reviewed your appeal, he or she will set up a virtual "appointment" to discuss your appeal.
3. If you are still unsatisfied with your grade, the TA will take your assignment and appeal to the professor. Please note that the professor will not review your appeal until the TA has made an assessment of your appeal.
4. Note that if you request a re-grade by the professor your grade may be lowered, raised, or left unchanged once you have submitted your grade appeal.
5. All grade appeals must be submitted within one week of the graded assignment being handed back.

Class Schedule

Note:  Readings from Lowi et al. are marked with “PP.”  The supplemental readings can be found either at the hyperlink or in the "course readings" folder under the "Files" tab (these readings are marked with an asterisk.)

9/29 Class Introduction

I. The Founding and American Constitutional Development

10/4 

Basic Political Science Approaches:  PP Ch. 1

Amy Goldstein, "Governor’s political party is biggest factor in whether a state has imposed mask mandate, study finds."  (Links to an external site.)

Julia Azari, "Forget Norms. Our Democracy Depends On Values (Links to an external site.)"

Jamelle Bouie, "There's a Reason the Election of 1800 Still Sings Out to Us (Links to an external site.)"

10/6-11`  Constructing the Constitution:  PP Ch. 2

Michael Klarman, The Framer's Coup, Ch.8*

10/13-18 Federalism and Separation of Powers:  PP Ch. 3

10/18-25 Civil Rights and Civil Liberties:  PP Ch. 4-5

Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter From A Birmingham Jail"

Dara Lind, "Cops do 20,000 no-knock raids a year. Civilians often pay the price when they go wrong"

Megan Ming Francis, CIvil RIghts and the Making of the Modern American State, ch.6.*

10/27 FIRST IN-CLASS MIDTERM EXAM

II The Formal Institutions of Government

11/1-3 Congress,  PP Ch. 6

The Enduring Debate, Reading 22*

Sarah Binder,"Mitch McConnell is Wrong. Here's the Filibuster's 'racial history." (Links to an external site.) 

Grace Segers, "This is How Infrastructure Week Might Finally End" 

11/8-10: The Executive Branch, PP Ch. 7-8.

 The Enduring Debate readings 27, 28, 32, 33 (*)

11/15 Judiciary PP CH. 9.

Adam Liptak, "Justice Breyer on Retirement and the Role of Politics at the Supreme Court"

Ian Millhiser, "The Supreme Court is Drunk on its Own Power"  

11/17 Movie: "Supreme Revenge" 

11/22 Second In-Class Midterm Exam. Class cancelled 11/24

III. Politics and Informal Institutions

11/29 Public Opinion PP Ch. 10, 

Geofrey Skelly, "Why Was The National Polling Environment So Off In 2020?" (Links to an external site.)

12/1 Elections PP Ch. 11

Ross Douthat, "A Case for the Electoral College"

Jesse Wegman, Let the People Pick the President, Ch. 3.*

12/6 Political Parties PP Ch. 12

12/8 Interest Groups PP Ch. 13

The Enduring Debate reading 59(*)

FINAL EXAM Wednesday, December 15 2:30-4:20  

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