Lecture visiting professor: American Political Institutions

Syllabus

This is a block course to run from 8 to 19 April 2013. Classes will most likely be held at Jinonice campus daily during this time.    

AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

Faculty OF Social Sciences

CharlesUniversity

April 2013  

Charles D. Hadley                                                                                  Phone:   [phone]

Department of Political Science                                                             E-mail:   [e-mail]

University of New Orleans                                                                             [e-mail]  

REQUIREMENTS:  

Lecture:

You are encouraged to raise your hand to ask questions on specific lecture or reading points which you feel need clarification. Do not hesitate to ask questions because the discussion could clarify important points for all students.

Reading:

The required reading is approximately 26 pages per class meeting were it spread out over the eight (8) classes.  The lecture outlines and associated reading are PDF files keyed to each class date, e.g., "Apr9L" is a lecture outline and "Apr9Ra," "Apr9Rb," "Apr9Rc," "Apr9Rd," and "Apr9Re" are readings for April 9.  [The PDF "Read Me" file explains the association of the lecture outline(s) and reading.]  The pound sign (#) before any reading indicates that it is required. The syllabus also includes supplemental reading and resources, e.g., The "Elections" Section, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2012.

Examination:

There will be a comprehensive essay final examination which covers the lectures, required reading, and video "Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of [Chief Justice] Earl Warren."

Assignments:

April 8             Introduction: Course overview and "The American Political System"

#American Political System schematic

#2012 Presidential Election Ballot (Louisiana)  

April 9             Selecting the President: A Process of Reform in Continued Flux

 Lecture: "The Public Funding of Presidential Elections"

 #Federal Election Commission, "The FEC and the Federal Campaign Finance Law" (10 pgs.); "Public Funding of Presidential Elections" (11 pgs.); and "Citizens Guide" (9 pgs.) (All three were updated February 2011.)

 "Campaign Finance 2010," (collection of articles from The New York Times on the U.S. Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and the impact of IRS 501(c)(4) organizations on the 2010 national elections) (30 pgs).

 #"Super PACs in 2012 Presidential Candidate Nominations and Election" (38 pgs)

 Lecture: "National Democratic Party/Convention Delegate Selection Reforms"

 #Kevin J. Colman, Joseph E. Cantor, and Thomas H. Neale, "Presidential Elections in the United States: A Primer." (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress, April 17, 2000), pp. 1-48.

 Lecture:  "Selecting US Presidents by Accident of Design"

 #"Republican Anxiety Over 2012 Election Calendar" (16 pgs)  

April 10      The President: Role, Limitations, and Power Lecture:  "The President: Public Expectations"

Lecture:  "The President in Office"

#Presidential Power? (8 pgs.)  

April 11           The Congress: An Organized Counterbalance to the President?

 Lecture:  "The Organization and Operation of U.S. Congress"

 #Robert B. Dove, Parliamentarian, United States Senate, "From a Bill to a Law: Enactment of a Law" (Updated February 1997) (28 pp.) http://thomas.loc.gov/home/laws_made.html.

 Charles W. Johnson, Parliamentarian, United States House of Representatives, "How Our Laws are Made" (Updated June 30, 2003) (59 pp.) http://thomas.loc.gov/home/laws_made.html.

 #"How Public Views Congress and Their Own Representative"

 #R. Eric Petersen, "Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress." (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, November 4, 2010). (10 pp.)  

April 12           The U.S. Court System: Establishment, Organization, and Operation

 Lecture:  "Establishment of U.S. Supreme Court Power; Its Organization and

Operation in the Court System"

 #"The Supreme Court of the United States: Organization and Operation" (18 pp.) http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/about.html.

 #U.S. Court System Map, http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/

 #U.S. Supreme Court Members

 #Department of Justice Organization Chart

 #Federal Court Appointment Process

 #October Term 2011

 The Supreme Court Historical Society, History of the Court, Historical Documentary Feature, "Five Justices & the Grand Commission: Deciding the 1876 Election" and "FDR & the Court-Packing Controversy" (online videos) http://www.supremecourthistory.org/history-of-the-court/historical-documentaries/  

April 15           The U.S. Supreme Court in American Society

 Video: "Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of [Chief Justice] Earl Warren"

 Lecture:  "The Responsibility and Powers of the Courts"  

April 16           Political Parties, Presidential Elections, and the Future of American Politics

 #American Political Parties Since 1789 (schematic) and "Political Parties" on Ballots in the 2012 Presidential Election.

 Lecture:  "Race, Religion, and American Political Parties"

 #How Racist Are We? Ask Google. (4 pgs.)

 Lecture:  "The Future of American Politics: A Continued Revolt of the Moderates?"

 #"FEC Report on 2008 Presidential Campaign Expenditures"

 #Sophistication of the 2012 Election Campaigns (28 pgs.)

 #Predicting the 2012 Presidential Election (19 pgs.)  

April 17           Review  

April 18           FINAL EXAMINATION  

April 19           Individual meetings with students over course grades  

Supplemental Documents/Data Sources:  

"The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription," The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html (accessed March 15, 2010)  

"The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html (accessed March 15, 2010).  

"The Bill of Rights [Amendments 1-10]: A Transcription," The U.S. National Archives & Records Admin. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html (accessed March 15, 2010).  

"The Constitution: Amendments 11-27" The U.S. National Archives & Records

Administration http://www.arch

Annotation

AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS (Charles D. Hadley, University Research Professor Emeritus of Political Science, The University of New Orleans): The course examines the structure of the American system of government and the political process - the Presidency, Congress, the Supreme Court, and the election/selection process associated with each one.

It also examines the interaction of each with the other, e.g., the President with Congress, with the Supreme Court, with political parties. The Supreme Court plays a central role in the political system through its decisions directly affecting the powers of the President, powers of Congress, lower courts (including those of the states), and the conduct of elections.

Because the only national rules governing the political process set the day on which the national general election is held, the age/gender/race qualifications to participate in the process, and the public funding of the presidential selection process, the political or election process is a complicated one governed by the laws of the 50 individual states and rules of the national political parties. State laws not only structure the ballot, they also define access to the ballot, voter registration procedures, and the voting procedures themselves, all of which have been litigated before he Supreme Court.

The course concludes with an explanation of the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections in the context of the events that shaped them.