Political Science 1
Introduction to American National Government
Professor R. Newnham

Readings:

Grading: Class Project: THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
    A five to seven page paper is due on Monday, April 26 which answers this question: in your view, should President Clinton be impeached and removed from office? First, I would like to know what happened -- what were the events that led to the President's impeachment? Second, what is your view of these events? Is the whole process a justified effort to remove a President who broke the law, or an unjustified political "witch hunt" by Clinton's opponents?
    I expect you to use at least 5 sources -- newspapers, newsmagazines, websites, etc. The textbook may be used as a source, but should not be the primary one. Your report will cite all sources used in a properly-formatted bibliography and properly-formatted footnotes or endnotes. (See How to Make a Bibliography or Turabian for more detailed directions and technical tips.) Also, you will turn in your sources with the paper. Papers will be turned in a two-pocket folder, with the paper in one pocket and the documentation in the other.
    In order to see that you are on the right track, I expect to receive a one-page (typed) term paper topic assignment on Feb. 15. This assignment will have one paragraph explaining your argument for the paper and a list of at least three outside sources which you could use in the paper.

Quizzes:
Short quizzes will be given on a roughly weekly basis in class. About 12 will be given, and the two with the lowest grades will be dropped. Missed quizzes will receive a zero.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEANS THAT MISSING CLASS WILL HURT YOUR GRADE VERY QUICKLY.
 

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Class Schedule:
Note: Readings are to have been READ COMPLETELY by the dates given.
Take notes and be ready to discuss.

Week 1 Introduction
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 1 and Ch. 2
Week 2 The US Constitution
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 3 (also start Ch. 4)
Week 3 Congress
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 5
Week 4 The Presidency
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 6
Week 5 The Judiciary
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 7
Week 6 The Bureaucracy
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 8
    Term Paper Topic Assignment Due Monday
Week 7
    Review; Midterm Exam Friday
Week 8 Public Opinion
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 9
Week 9 Political Parties
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 10
Week 10 Elections
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 11
Week 11 Interest Groups and the Media
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 12 and Ch. 13
Week 12 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 14 and Ch. 15
Week 13 Domestic Policy
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 16 and Ch. 17
Week 14 Foreign Policy
    Berman and Murphy, Ch. 18
Week 15 Conclusion and Final Review
    Papers and articles are due Monday
Finals Week Date, time, and location of final exam TBA
 

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