S Y L L A B U S

American Politics

POLI 100

W 4:30 – 7:00 SS204

Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Davis, Assistant Professor

Office: Admin. 612

Phone: 410.455.2181

Email: davisj@umbc.edu

Web site: http://research.umbc.edu/~davisj/ampol.html

Office Hours: TTH 1:30 - 3:00 and by appointment

"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

- James Madison

Course Objective: The goal of this course is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the American political system. You should finish this class with knowledge of the institutional, historical and philosophical aspects of American democracy. My goal is to help you learn the material in the most effective and enjoyable manner possible. Please feel free to ask questions, make suggestions and offer opinions.

Grades: Grades will be calculated as follows:

1. Midterm 25%

2. Final Exam 40%

3. Written work 35%

Exams: Exams will consist of multiple choice questions.

Writing Assignment: The writing assignment will be handed out in the near future

Required Book: Text: We the People: An Introduction to American Politics by Ginsberg. Lowi and Weir (2003).

Course Outline

1. Introduction

Political Community

Text: Ch. 1

2. The Founding and the Constitution

Text: Ch. 2, A10 – A16

3. Federalism

Text: Ch 3

4. Civil Liberties

Text: Ch. 4

5. Civil Rights

Text: Ch 5, A17 - A23

6. Public Opinion

Text: Ch. 6

7. Midterm

8. The Media

Text: Ch. 7

9. Participation and Voting

Text: Ch. 8

10. Political Parties

Text: Ch. 9

11. Campaigns and Elections

Text: Ch 10

12. Groups and Interests

Text: Ch. 11

13. Congress

Text: Ch. 12

14. The Presidency

Text: Ch. 13

15. The Federal Courts

Text: Ch. 15

16. The Bureaucracy

Text: Ch. 14

17. Paper discussion

18. Final Exam

Please remember that this syllabus is a general course outline - deviations may be necessary.