Department of Politics

111. INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS

January "Iowa Caucus Edition" 2004

Dr. Robert W. Sutherland, Instructor

Amanda Swygart-Hobaugh, Consulting Librarian in the Social Sciences

22 January 2004

CAUTION: The Course Outline on Line should be checked frequently for updates. Reading assignments are subject to change, so the online syllabus is the only definitive version. Changes in reading assignments will not be made within 24 hours immediately preceding class meetings.

HOW TO REACH THE INSTRUCTOR: 305 South Hall, Ext. 4226, early in the day (8-9am). Other times by appointment arranged before and after class or by e-mail. I rarely check my voice mail and often forward my calls to the South Hall Faculty Secretary, so a prompt response from me is best gained by e-mail.rsutherland@cornellcollege.edu

#16--Appointments at the Writing Studio

#17--9:30 AM Final Examination

LEARNING OBJECTIVES -- DAY #2

Before class meets, you should be able to explain the essential differences between authoritarian and repubican kinds of government and to answer the following questions:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES -- DAY #3

1. How is national interest related to foreign policy?
2. What concerns does Edwin Coulter have with the way national security is defined and to what extent have they been superceded by events. Distinguish with particular care between what Coulter calls the "threat system" vs. its alternative. (see especially pp. 262, 264, & 268-69)
3. What are the organizing principles of national security structures?
4. What do diplomats do and what customs are required to support it. Explain in some detail the methods of third party diplomacy & the limited role of international law in settling disputes.
5. What is a balance of power and explain at least two reasons why it is important in international relations, especially given the end of the Cold War and Huntington's thesis.
6. What precedent exists for the U.N.? What purposes does it serve and how is it organized. Why has it declined as an effective peacekeeper?
7. Why is general war among nations an unlikely event today, according to Coulter? What kind of war has replaced it and how is such low-intensity conflict related to terrorism?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES -- DAY #4

1. Define: ideology. Describe the origin of the concepts of "ideological right" and "ideological left."
2. Identify and explain the pairs of characteristics which Coulter calls "tendencies of the left" and "tendencies of the right."
3. How is political democracy related to these ideologies, why does Coulter consider it to be so fragile, even as it seems to triumph and spread?
4. Which of the prerequisites for political democracy are more cultural than constitutional?
5. Explain the four key individuals for the evolution of classic liberalism and the ideas most associated with each.. What is neo-liberalism? What impact have Clinton-Gore Democrats had on neo-liberalism?
6. What fundamental difference distinguishes classic from modern conservatism? What are the main features of the "New Right" How is it extended by "libertarians" & "neoconservatives?"
7. What supplement to Coulter's discussion is necessary to update it for Election 2004?
8. What is classic socialism and from what early sources did it draw? How has it been extended by the two distinct versions of social democratic parties? What is the likely future of state socialism, according to Coulter?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES -- DAY #5

1. What is "enlightened imperialism," out of what background does it come, and what debate surrounds the US role in such imperialism?
2. What is the theory of "hegemonic stability" and what is the underlying logic for the strategy of empire?
3. What do "realists" claim will eventually befall imperial powers, no matter how strong? Give three reasons for such an outcome and be able to explain each in detail. Key terms: free riders, balance-prone powers, strategic overextension, challenges invited by extended deterence, deteriorating competitive advantage of states burdened by providing security, the cost/benefit test.
4. Why is insecurity likely to increase the more the US commits itself to the strategy of empire?
5. Who is Paul Wolfowitz and why is he important?
6. What are his views on American policy toward Iraq and out of what background have they developed?
7. What criticism are leveled against Mr. Wolfowitz and how does he respond to them?
8. Who is Bernard Lewis and what does how does he distinguish between 2 kinds of terrorism?
9. How is the first kind related to European totalitarianism; how is the second dramatically different (for a more complete answer review Professor Ferguson's comments on why New York is so much an object of hatred)?
10. What traditions of writing and thought support development of democratic institutions in the Middle East?
11. Give an example of Dr. Rice partnership with President Bush; what do each bring to their common task; when & why will it end?
12. What criticism has been leveled at her and why? How as the partnership survived the challenges it has faced?
13. How has the political split over Iraq been reflected within the President's advisors. Why are the labels often used to identify the two sides misleading, according to Frum and Perle. Give two examples.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES--DAY#6

1. How does Coulter define political parties in such a way as to lead to the conclusion that the U.S. "lacks political parties." (See p. 213: "The American party system is really a 'no-party' system. . . .")
2. Which parties prevailed in what periods and why? Be especially specific about the period after 1932.
3. What does Coulter mean by a "policy realignment without a party realignment?"
4. What is the role of American political parties and how does it reflect the qualities most often associated with American voters?
5. Identify three characteristics of interest groups and what important role do they play in the political process.
6. How do interest groups operate differently in the U.S. compared to European systems?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES -- DAY #7

1. What distinction does Aristotle make between a polity and a democracy; how are both distinguished from political democracies of today?
2. How are constitutional governments distinguished from others?
3. Explain the locus of sovereignty in unitary, confederal, and federal forms of government.
4. Explain the basic federal division of authority in the American constitution; how much importance should be attached to it, according to Coulter? What principles are essential to any authentic federal system?
5. Distinguish the presidential system of government in the United States from the parliamentary system in Great Britain in terms of general characteristics, the role of the political parties, the method of election, and the role of the political minority. Who are Senator Zell Miller and Rep. Ralph Hall and why are they important in understanding American political parties?
6. Describe the locus of executive, legislative, and judicial authority under the presidential and parliamentary systems referred to above.
7. Explain the features of a coalition government and the problems associated with it.
8. Explain the advantages of the parliamentary system over the presidential system according to Coulter.
9. How recently have the Iowa caucuses become important in presidential politics and why do they continue to be so?
10. How do the two party caucuses work? What is crossover mischief? Why do some candidates skip the Iowa caucuses?
11. To what extent do the parties differ in cohesion, both nationally and in Iowa? What is "retail" or "grass roots" politics?

1. Briefly explain (3 sentences or less) six legislative functions
2. What does Coulter consider to be the fundamental power of executive leadership?
3. What confirmation does James Pfiffner offer to support Coulter's answer to the question "How does an executive manage to move a government?"
4. In which of the policy-making powers has President Bush had the least impact and why?
5. Name four administrative responsibilities of judges. What conclusion does Coulter draw from the these duties performed by judges.
6. Who are the regulators and what functions do they aim to perform? How does their structure and powers reflect their aim? Why is the independence of regulatory agencies less important than is often assumed? To what extent do fares for airline tickets reflect the benefits and costs of deregulation?
7. What distinguishes the George W. Bush presidency from the Clinton presidency, according to Michael Barone?
8. Who is Fred Greenstein and what features of presidential leadership in his work enable Fred Barnes to arrive at his conditional conclusion that the 2004 election will be like the 1984 election?
9. To what extent does Carl Cannon disagree with Fred Barnes about President Bush's strengths in presidential leadership
10. How do advocates of the Bush Administration respond to allegations about Halliburton, the Patriot Act, and the Deficit?

    LEARNING OBJECTIVES--DAY#9

    1. Distinguish normative from positive law. Which tends to prevail in the West today and why?
    2. Distinguish criminal (public) from civil (private) law. Why does the strength and superiority of the West rest upon its achievements in civil law?
    3. How does Coulter define the rule of law and to what extent does his treatment of the subject promote doubts about his thoughts on legal concepts?
    4. Explain four stages often associated with the evolution of legal systems and distinguish Roman from the Anglo-Saxon Common law.
    5. Explain the problems Coulter considers important in the qualifications, selection, and tenure of U. S. judges, why the problems persist, and what measures the Supreme Court has adopted to address them? Are Coulter's exalted views and expectations of the judiciary exaggerated?
    6. Define equity law and five writs associated with it.
    7. Distinguish original from appellate jurisdiction. What is summary jurisdiction? What primary purpose is served by state supreme courts? Define "judicial review" and explain its importance for constitutional government.
    8. What is a "frontloaded timetable" and what were Democratic Party leaders thinking when they created it?
    9. What is the "invisible primary" and who has already won it? How has his victory increased a split within the Democratic Party?
    10. What are President Bush's prospects for winning re-election and why? How could he fail?
    11. Why is the 2004 election a crucial one? To what extent does President Bush bear responsibility for the highly devisive and aggressive style of his opposition?
    12. What has traditionally been the role of the center in American politics as election day approaches and to what extent is it likely to play the same role in 2004?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES--TUESDAY, JAN. 20TH

1. What is "soft money" and how is it now being raised? What new regulations are needed to carry out the promise of the new campaign finance law?
2. What agency is responsible for making them? Who makes the decision on these regulations and what party loyalties do they bring to it? What is the decision-making process?
3. On what is the money raised being spent and which party depends on it most heavily? How do defenders of soft money justify their fund-raising efforts?
4. What groups have been most aggressive in trying to stop soft money fund-raisers and what support do they take from the courts?
5. What are the "two starkly different views" of a winning strategy that will put a Democrat in the White House next year? How is the difference expressed by the leading Democrats who are experienced campaign managers?
6. What is a "fortress state" (incl. examples for each party) and what is the ratio of electoral votes for each side? How does the ratio point to a 2004 election outcome that is far short of a rout?
7. What issues motivate the "small number of voters in a small number of states" that matter most in the 2004 elections and how do the parties divide on them?
8. What connections link Clark to the Clintons? Are the connections becoming stronger or weaker? What original view has Gen. Clark taken of these connections and why is he likely to return to it after the election?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES--WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21th

1. What is the difference between voting understood rather as a duty than a right?
2. What two developments in voting transformed elections in 19th & 20th century democracies?
3. What is meant by "initiative," "referendum," and "recall"? Be able to discuss recent, important examples?
4. Why does Coulter greet with relief that absence of these measures at the national level? To what extent do the Economist articles confirm Coulter's conern?
5. Why do legislators sometimes resort to them? With what possible impact on representative democracy?
6. What tentative conclusions are evident from the experiences of California and Switzerland?
7. Why are new communications techologies less a force on the side of political democracy than several American presidents have supposed?
8. To what extent is has China's experience confirmed the success of authoritarian regimes?
9. Who are "hacktivists," why are they important but unlikely to be successful?
10. What hopes inspired "cyber-dreamers" and how do they relate to one of the most fundamental debates about the nature of democracy?
11. What is "protest politics," who participates in it, why, and how? Are these methods popularly supported by voters?
12. What constitutional change seems very likely in the next decade and why do critics of it command attention and respect?
13. What are "intermediate institutions" and what new ones are being proposed to replace old ones?
14. Why are "big-money interests" concerned?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES--THURSDAY, JAN. 22nd

1. What advantages compel nations to look to other bases for representation than simple, popular representation? Why has geographical representation become especially problematic in the U.S., according to Coulter?
2. What are the advantages of unicamalism and why is the U.S. unlikely to benefit from them?
3. Define the following terms: at-large representation, single-member district, proportinal representation, open v. closed ballot.
4. What advantages and disadvantages are associated with the two basic types of representation mentioned above?
5. How does the Electoral College work to encourage third party initiatives?
6. How does simple gerrymandering differ from compound gerrymandering? Why is gerrymandering, in one form or another, inevitable?
7. What concerns does Coulter express about the achieving effective representation in Congress?
8. Why are committees important in every legislature, especially in American government?
9. What is the contribution limit per person for individual candidates, for PACs, for parties? What overall cap applies?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES--FRIDAY, JAN. 23nd

1. What is an electoral "legitimacy crisis" and what features of the 1992 election made it seem probable?
2. What considerations led to an Electoral College in the U. S. Constitution?
3. What amendments have been proposed? What changes in House Rules offer a partial alternative to amendment?
4. In the light of the 2000 election, what doubts led the Economist to dismiss direct presidential elections? What reform of the Electoral College seems more acceptable?
5. What partisan considerations have blocked progress toward direct election in Congress, according to Michael Nelson?
6. How many minority presidents have there actually been and what reasons keep Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. from supporting direct election? What does he propose instead? Why?