AMERICAN GOVERNMENT I
AMST205—Spring 2005
Colin
S. Cavell, Ph.D.
Course Room
No.: S17-229
Office
Hours: By appointment
only
Office No.: S17-263
VOICE: 17438775 (W) 17729091
(H)
Theories
in government that influenced the framers of the US Constitution, Federalism,
political participation, public opinion, the media, political parties and
interest groups at the national and local government levels.
Grading Policy: 20%
for Attendance*; 20% for the Class Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20%
for the Research Paper; and 20% for the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be
distributed outlining the requirements for your Class Presentation and for your
Research Paper.
Attendance Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance
sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. If your unexcused absences exceed 25% of the
total number of lectures of the course in this semester, you will be
automatically withdrawn from the course and be given a grade of (WF) which will
be counted towards your GPA. As well,
you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each
day's class. This means that you must
read the pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to
discuss and debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and
answer questions related to the issues being covered. NOTE:
TURN OFF all cell phones during class.
* Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary must
be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s), the
internet, or any other source(s). Times
New Roman font is strongly recommended; however, if you use an alternative
style, make sure your font does not resemble italic or bold text. Also, Comic Sans MS font is not allowed.
Required
Texts:
Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay.
1787/2003. The Federalist Papers. New Introduction and Notes by Charles
R. Kesler. Edited by
Ketcham, Ralph, ed. 1787-8/2003. The Anti-Federalist
Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates. New York: Mentor Books. [ISBN 0-451-52884-0]
Information
NOTE: Until The Federalist Papers and The
Antifederalist Papers books arrive in the UOB
Bookstore, you will be required to print out the relevant readings from off the
Internet. Go to
[http://userspages.uob.edu.bh/cscpo/amst205.htm] for the readings.
Feb. 21: Introduction to American National
Government: What Is Politics?
Feb.
23: The Declaration of Independence (1776)
Readings: Information USA [CD-ROM]: The Declaration of
Feb. 26: The First U.S.
Constitution
Readings: Articles of Confederation (1777-1788) [Print from the AMST 205 class website @
http://userspages.uob.edu.bh/cscpo/amst205.htm]
Feb. 28: The Second
U.S. Constitution: An Enduring Document
(1787-Present)
Readings: Information USA [CD-ROM]: The U.S. Constitution
Mar. 2: The Second U.S. Constitution: An Enduring Document (1787-Present)
Readings: Information USA [CD-ROM]: The U.S. Constitution
Mar. 5: Need for More Energetic Central Government I
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: John
Dewitt # I & II vs. Federalist # 1-5, 11, 15, 21-22
Mar. 7: Need for More Energetic Central Government II
Readings: Ketcham, Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison
and John Jay: Patrick
Henry (6/5/1788 & 6/7/1788) vs. Federalist # 23, 36, 70-71, 72, 77
Mar. 9: Nature of Democracy
Readings: Ketcham, Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: Patrick Henry (6/5/1788), Pennsylvania Minority & Brutus # I vs. Federalist # 10, 14, 21, 48-50, 55, 58
Mar. 12: Dangers from War Between the States
Readings: Ketcham, Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison
and John Jay: Federal
Farmer I & II & Amendments Proposed by the Massachusetts Convention
(2/7/1788) vs. Federalist # 6-7
Mar. 14: Responsibility
and Checks in Self-Government
Mar. 16: Controlling
the Effects of Faction
Mar. 19: The
Judiciary
Mar. 21: Federalism
Mar. 23: Extent
of Union & States' Rights
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: Pennsylvania
Minority & Brutus # I vs. Federalist # 10, 32-33, 35-36, 39, 45-46, 84
Mar. 26: Nature
and Powers of the
Mar. 28: Separation
of Powers
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: Centinel
# I, Pennsylvania Minority, Brutus XVI, & Additions Proposed by the
Virginia Convention vs. Federalist # 9,
37, 47-51, 66, 75, 78
Mar. 30: Government
Resting on the People
Apr. 2: Government Resting on the People
Apr. 4: Regulating Elections
Apr. 6: Probable Success of Representation in House of
Representatives
Apr. 9: Probable Success of Representation in the Senate
Apr. 11: Effective
Representation in the House of Representatives
Apr. 13: Midterm Exam
Apr. 16-20: Mid-semester break [No classes]
Apr.
21: Prophet's birthday—Holiday [No classes]
Apr. 23: Effective
Representation in the Senate
Apr. 25: Executive
Power
Apr. 27: Election
of the President I
Apr. 30: Election
of the President II
May 1: Labor
Day
May 2: Necessity
of a Consolidated
May 4: Balance
Between States and Federal Government
May 7: Defense,
Standing Armies
May 9: Confederation
or Republic
May 11: Taxation
May 14: Slaves
and the Slave Trade
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: Slavery
and the Constitution, Cato # V, Amendments Proposed By the Rhode Island
Convention, Brutus # IV & Melancton Smith (6/20/1788) vs. Federalist # 42, 54-55
May 16: Slaves
and the Slave Trade
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: Slavery
and the Constitution, Cato # V, Amendments Proposed By the Rhode Island
Convention, Brutus # IV & Melancton Smith (6/20/1788) vs. Federalist # 42, 54-55
May 18: Balancing
Stability & Energy of a Republican Form of Government
May 21: Security
Against Foreign Dangers
May 23: Need
for a Bill of Rights
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: John
DeWitt # II, Centinel # I, Pennsylvania Minority,
Federal Farmer II & Additions Proposed By the Virginia Convention vs. James Wilson 10/6/1787 &
Federalist # 24, 26, 38, 84-85
May 25: Need
for a Bill of Rights
Readings: Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. & Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison and John Jay: John
DeWitt # II, Centinel # I, Pennsylvania Minority,
Federal Farmer II & Additions Proposed By the Virginia Convention vs. James Wilson 10/6/1787 &
Federalist # 24, 26, 38, 84-85
May 28: An
Appeal to Reason, Patriotism, & Greatness [Research Papers Due]
May 30: An
Appeal to Reason, Patriotism, & Greatness
June 1: Ratification
of the Constitution [Last Day for In-Class Presentations]
June 4: Conclusion
June 6: Last day of class; Review
June 13: Final Exam
June 23: Last day for
submitting grades