Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 399A"
COURSE NAME: "Special Topics in Political Science: The American Presidency"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session II 2012

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Gray Lawrence
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 16:00-18:00
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a course of political synthesis aimed at the elusive target of the general student. It will examine how the office of the American president developed over the past hundred years and became the office of modern executive leadership for the United States. The imprint of the Founding Fathers and the development of the Presidency during the 19th century will be examined at the beginning of the course. The focus will then turn to the past one hundred years or so. In the writings about twentieth-century presidents, there is the tacit assumption in the literature that the way the institution turned out was best for the nation. It is no denigration of either their commitment or their patriotism to say that most American Presidents have fallen short of the challenges of an impossible job. Therefore an examination of the modern American Presidency cannot be treated as a success story. At the end of the first decade of the 21st century the presidency today is no more capable of grappling with the difficulties of globalization, terrorism, and environmental change than was the law-office approach of Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897. This course will be an effort in understanding the lines of relative success and failure of the American presidency in terms of electoral mandates, institutional continuity, and alternating executive styles.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The methodology is to isolate the prominent themes and issues concerning the modern American presidency. Through class lectures, discussion and readings the following themes will be covered: the origins and early development of the American presidency, the definition of modernity in the American presidency, the emergence of “stardom” as a trait of the Oval Office, the role of the mass media, why particular strategies and tactics are used, and why does an election turn out the way it does.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Expected Incoming Student Competency: The course is generalist in aim and designed for students who demonstrate a high level of scholastic achievement/ability, both written and analytical. Although previous coursework in basic political science is recommended, it is not mandatory.

Expected Course Outcome Competencies: Upon completion of this course the student will be able to: describe and explain the transformations that have historically characterized the American presidency; explain the nature and functioning of the office of the American president; evaluate the issues and debates that are part of the American presidential campaign; analyze the internal party dynamics within a presidential electoral process, understand the external influences such as private financing and media appeal that are part of every presidential campaign.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
The Road to the White House 2012	Stephen J. Wayne		0000

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Mid-Term Exam		15
Research Paper		20
Film Review Essay		15
Book Review Essay		15
Class Discussion and Oral Presentation		15
Final Exam		20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Course Requirements:

1. Mid-Term Examination
2. A research paper of 10 pages due on the last day of class before the day of the final exam. The subject of the paper will be announced in class. Sources for the paper will be the readings available in the library.
3. A film review essay of 3 pages covering a film from the attached list that is due on the last day of class before the day of the final exam.
4. A book review essay of 3 pages due on the last day of class before the day of the final exam.
5. Oral report. Each student will participate in a two-member presentation of a fifteen minute oral report. The topic selection will be made during the first week of class and will come from the attached oral report topics list.
6. At least one tutorial will be held with each student during the term to discuss progress in reading and writing assignments.
7. Final Exam

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
JCU Policy

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Class Lecture Themes and Reading Assignments:

Lesson 1: Introduction. The President as Father of the Country. George Washington

Lesson 2: The War President as a Symbol of National Unity. Abraham Lincoln

Lesson 3: The Father of the Modern Presidency. Theodore Roosevelt.

Lesson 4: “Fat Pope, Thin Pope”. Alternating Executive Styles from Coolidge to Carter.

Lesson 5: The New Deal and a New Modern President. FDR

Lesson 6: Bureaucratic Innovators as National Leaders. Truman and Eisenhower

Lesson 7: The White House and the Culture of Celebrity. JFK

Lesson 8: Presidential Leadership and the Dark View of Humanity. Nixon

Lesson 9: Enigmatic Conduct and Presidential Leadership: the Conservative as Innovator. Reagan

Lesson 10: Mid-Term Exam

Lesson 11: The Triumph of Pubic Relations over Public Policy. From Clinton to Obama

Lesson 12: Selecting a Presidential Candidate. The Primary season, the nominating system, an evaluation of the general election.

Lesson 13: Money and Votes. Modern campaign finance and the costs of running for office. Modern Political Action Committees (PACs) and where the money comes from.

Lesson 14: Voting in American Elections. Voter turnout and the partisan basis of politics. The New Deal realignment and evolving political alliances in the post-World War II years. Voter behavior and models of the US voter.

Lesson 15: The Presidential Campaign. From the front porch to the train; from the public rally to the TV set. Campaign organizations and devising a strategic geographic coalition.

Lesson 16: The Mass Media. From horse race journalism to negative advertising. The impact of presidential debates.

Lesson 17: The Presidential Election. Models of voting behavior and the theory of voting.

Lessons 18 and 19: Student Oral Reports

Lesson 20: Final Exam