POLITICAL SCIENCE 110
American Government
SPRING, 2002

INSTRUCTOR:	BILL DANIEL
OFFICE:	130 Founders Hall
HOURS:	10:00 - 11:00 MWF, 3:00 -4:00 TTh, or by appt.
PHONE:	826-3914
E-MAIL:	wrd1@axe.humboldt.edu or wrdaniel05@pacbell.net
WEB URL:	http://www.humboldt.edu/~wrd1
TEXTS:	A. G. Block & Charles M. Price, eds.; California Government and Politics Annual - 2001-2002 Van Horn, et.al.; Politics And Public Policy, 3'rd ed. (Van Horn) William Crotty, ed; America's Choice 2000 (Crotty) Harold J. Sullivan; Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Sullivan)

Political Science 110 satisfies Title V requirements re American and California Government and Constitutions. As such, the purpose of this course is to acquaint students with:

• The political philosophies of the Framers of the Constitution and the nature and operation of United States political institutions and processes under that Constitution as amended and interpreted
• The rights and obligations of citizens in the political system established under the Constitution
• The Constitution of the State of California within the framework of evolution of Federal-State relations and the nature and processes of state and local government under that constitution
• Contemporary relationships of state and local government with the Federal Government, the resolution of conflicts and the establishment of cooperative processes under the constitution of both the state and nation, and the political processes involved

In addition, this course is also a part of the American Indian Civics Project, an endeavor designed to acquaint students with, and promote respect for, the many contributions American Indians have made, and continue to make, to politics and government in the U S.

The central focus over most of the course will be on public policy and the various institutions (governmental and non-governmental), and processes by which policy is made. We will also analyze Van Horn's evaluation of these institutions and processes. The Annual readingsare a group of articles taken from the California Journal. These areticles provide current information about government and politics in California and will be used to give meaning to many of the concepts we will be considering in class. Since the 1950's and 1960's the U S Supreme Court has devoted considerable attention to civil rights and liberties in the U S. The events of September 11 and their aftermath have again focussed attention on this essential topic. Though written prior to September 11, the Sullivan book presents an analysis of some of the more recent Court decisions and offers some clues as to what the Justices might do in the near future. The 2000 election was unique and perhaps even monumental. We will be using the analysis of Crotty and friends as a way of evaluation the extent to which elections contribute to political democracy in the U S. Also, because we will be using "current events" for our analysis, you are strongly encouraged to keep "current" on political events. You are strongly encouraged to subscribe to a decent newspaper, such as the New York Times, Sacramento Bee, or L A Times, or listen to such radio broadcasts as Morning Edition, or All Things Considered, heard on KHSU, or the Lehre News Hour, seen each week night on KEET.

Your grade in this course will be determined of the basis of your performance on two (2) hour exams (30% each,) and a comprehensive final exam (40%,) The exams will be essay in nature.

This course may be taken credit/no credit, with the standard rules for determining such a grade in effect. Your attendance in class is very important, for this is the only way you can contribute to class discussion. The exams will be structured so that those who miss class often will be penalized. Make up exams are given only in case of a legitimate absence, illness or sanctioned school activities, and only in the case of prior notification. Such exams will always be given after the regularly scheduled exam is held, and will be different from that exam.

CLASS SCHEDULE

01/23-01/25	Introduction. The environment of Politics and Policy; Van Horn, Ch. 1
01/28-02/01	Culture, the Economy, and Public Policy; Van Horn, Ch..2; Annual, pp 76-93
02/04-02/08	Constitutional Principles; The Constitution (also found in the Appendix to Sullivan), and the Federalist Parers #s 10, 51, and 78
02/11-02/15	Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations; Annual p 75
02/18-02/20	Politics of the Boardroom; Van Horn, Ch 3
02/22	FIRST HOUR EXAMSample Exam
02/25-03/08	Executive and Bureaucratic Politics; Van Horn, Chs 4 & 6; Annual, pp 3-12
03/11-03/15	Legislative Politics; Van Horn, Ch 5; Annual, pp 25-39
03/18-03/22	R & R
03/25-04/12	The Courts, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights; Van Horn, Ch. 7; Annual, pp 13-24, and Sullivan
04/15	SECOND HOUR EXAM (Seems Appropriate to me!)
04/17-22	Parties, Interests, and the mass media, Van Horn, Ch.8; Annual, pp 40-47& 70-74
04/24-05/03	Elections, Campaigns and Democracy; Crotty, et al; Annual pp 48-70
05/06-05/10	Evaluating and reforming institutions; Van Horn, Chs 9 & 10
05/15	Final EXAM 8:00 - 9:50
	NIRVANA