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PLS 325: |
I'D RATHER BE WATCHING |
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The United States is the only democratic government that has
a legislative branch.
— Paraphrase of remark by former Senator Daniel
Patrick Moynihan1
Anyone who likes laws and
sausages shouldn't watch either one being made.
— attributed to Otto von Bismarck
You know how they say, Don't ever
ask how laws or sausages are made?
Well, I can attest to the wisdom of that with the exception of kielbasa
made with tofu.
— Dennis Kucinich (D, Ohio)2
Instructor: John L. Korey
· Office: 94-316
· Office Hours (Subject to change. For current information, see http://www.csupomona.edu/~jlkorey/schedule.html.)
- M 11:45-12:45
- W: 11:45-12:45 & 3:00-3:45
- F: 11:45-2:00.
· Email: jlkorey@csupomona.edu. (So that I will recognize that your email is from you, and isn't spam, include the term "PLS 325" on the subject line of any messages you send me. Please use your Cal Poly email. In particular, do not send me any attachments using other than your Cal Poly account.)
· Phone: 909/869-3885
TEXTS:
· Davidson, Oleszek, and Lee, Congress and Its Members, 11th edition
· Black, From Inspiration to Legislation: How a Bill Becomes a Law
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Each of the following will count for one-fifth of your
course grade: multiple choice quizzes, three essay exams, and a case study.
· Quizzes. Quizzes will be based on the reading assignments for the week and on class material presented since the previous quiz. There will be 8 quizzes. The lowest two scores will be dropped. If you miss a quiz, even for a good reason, it will be one of the ones dropped. (No exceptions.) If you miss more than two quizzes, you must make up the third (and subsequent) missed quizzes. Note: except as announced otherwise, quizzes will begin promptly at the start of class and will end 20 minutes thereafter, or when the last person present is finished, whichever comes first. Although they will cover the same general topics, lectures and readings are intended to be complementary, not duplicative. Attending class and taking good notes will not substitute for studying the readings, nor vice-versa. Quiz dates and reading assignments are as follows::
Passports.
1) At the beginning of each session immediately prior to a session in which a quiz is scheduled, you may submit one 4 by 6 index card with your name and a description of the key points in the readings for that quiz (see schedule below). These passports may be turned in only at the start of class, and may not be turned in for another student. 2) At the end of each session that includes a lecture, you may summarize your notes from that session on another 4 by 6 index card. As you leave, turn in the card with your name on it. Passports will be given a distinctive marking and returned to you at the start of the next quiz. You may consult them (but nothing else) during the quiz. Note: not for use during essay exams.
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Quiz # |
Readings |
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Davidson, Oleszek, and Lee |
Black |
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1) Mon., 10/1 |
1, 2, 5 |
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2) Fri., 10/12 |
3, 4, 16 |
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3) Wed., 10/24 |
8 |
1-3 |
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4) Wed., 10/31 |
9 (pp. 272-283, 288-303) |
4-6 |
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5) Mon., 11/5 |
6, 9 (284-288) |
7-9 |
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6) Wed., 11/14 |
7, 13 |
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7) Wed., 11/21 |
10-12 |
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8) Wed., 11/28 |
14-15 |
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· Essay (Blue Book) Exams: October 15, November 7, and December 5 (9:10-11:10)
· Case Study: You will be assigned to do a case study of a bill that is, or has been, under consideration by the current (110th) Congress. Your case study of this bill should be divided into the following sections3:
o Introduction. A brief background summarizing the topic and the outcome (at least so far). If the outcome is still in doubt, what are the likely prospects?
o Underlying sources of disagreement (such as party, region, ideology).
o Resources. What resources did each side have and how well did they use them? What strategies did they employ and how effective were they? Remembering that politics is the art of the possible, what, if anything, might have been done by the losing side to produce a different outcome?
o Process. How important was committee action in shaping the outcome? How important was floor action? How did House or Senate rules influence the outcome? In terms of Lowi's classification (see Davidson and Oleszek, pp. 426-429 and 455-473), what type of policy is involved? How, if at all, has this influenced the process?
o Key actors. How important a role did the congressional party leadership play? The president and his staff? The bureaucracy? What were the roles played by other actors (congressional staffers, interest groups, the media, public opinion, etc.), on both sides of the battle?
o Key roll calls. What roll calls, including votes in committee and on floor amendments, were crucial? What were the voting alignments on these roll calls?
o The Two Congresses. In what ways, if any, does this particular case illustrate Davidson and Oleszek's "two Congresses" theme?
I will not tolerate plagiarism. If you are unclear about what does and does not constitute plagiarism, discuss this with me prior to the due date.
Written case studies (about 8-10 pages in length, double-spaced) are due on Wednesday, November 28. Unless an extension has been granted, late work will receive a penalty of 10 points if it is turned in by December 5 and an additional 10 points thereafter.
Do not put your paper in a binder; simply staple it in the upper left-hand corner. Document your sources using endnotes (like footnotes, but at the end you can use the notes in the back of Davidson and Oleszek as a model). Do not include a list of references, or list of works cited — if your endnotes are done properly they will contain all needed reference information. Keep a copy of your paper for your files.
On either Wednesday, November 28, or Friday, November 30, you and the other students assigned the same bill will be asked to form a panel to compare and discuss your findings and conclusions. Your panel presentation will not be graded separtately, but will be taken into account in grading your overall performance on the case study.
GRADES:
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87.00-100.00 |
A |
67.00-69.99 |
C |
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83.00-86.99 |
A- |
63.00-66.99 |
C- |
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80.00-82.99 |
B+ |
60.00-62.99 |
D+ |
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77.00-79.99 |
B |
57.00-59.99 |
D |
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73.00-76.99 |
B- |
53.00-56.99 |
D- |
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70.00-72.99 |
C+ |
00.00-52.99 |
F |
Note: if you do not complete all requirements (the
three essay exams, the case study, and at least six quizzes), and have not
received approval for an incomplete grade contract, you will receive a grade of
"WU," regardless of how well you have done on the work you have
completed. (You may, prior to the end of the Winter Quarter, complete the
missing work and I will grade it (subject to applicable late penalties) and, if
warranted, submit a change of grade [assuming that the Records Office will
accept it].)
Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, etc. before the start of class. Recording of lectures, however, is OK.
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NOTES
1 As cited in James Q. Wilson, American Government, Brief Version, 7th edition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005), p. 199.
2 Jeff Bercovici, "Dennis the Menace," Radar Report January 25, 2007 http://www.radaronline.com/features/2007/01/dennis_kucinich_2.php Accessed January 26, 2007
3 Loosely derived from Stephen E. Frantzich, "Congress: the Legislative Process," News for Teachers of Political Science, 54 (Summer 1987), p. 9.