The American Presidency

POLS 308- Section 1

Fall 2009

Room: DU 459

Time: MWF 9-9:50am

Instructor: Neil Wright

Office Hours (Dusable 476):

Mondays: 9:55-11:25am

Wednesdays: 9:55-11:25am

Contact:

Email: nwright3@niu.edu

Phone: 815.753.1818

Course Overview:

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the theoretical justifications for the American Presidency, its historical development, the role it has played and currently plays in the American political system, and the various contemporary debates concerning the presidency. We will examine the formal and informal powers of the office, the factors influencing presidential leadership and success, the influence of the presidency on American politics and American political culture, and how these have changed over time. The instructor will encourage students to think critically about these issues and challenge them to consider the appropriate role for and powers of the President.

Prerequisite: At least sophomore standing or consent of department. Recommended: POLS 100 or 150.

Required Texts:

Kernell, Samuel. Going Public: New Strategies of Presidential Leadership. 4^th Edition. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2007. ISBN:9781568028996

Milkis, Sidney and Michael Nelson. The American Presidency: Origins and Development, 1776-2007. 5^th Edition. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2008. ISBN: 9780872893368

Neustadt, Richard E. Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents: The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan. New York, NY: The Free Press, 1990. IBSN:9780029227961

Pika, Joseph A. and John Anthony Maltese. The Politics of the Presidency. 7^th Edition. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2008. ISBN:9780872894686

Note: There are several other readings and supplemental materials that will be distributed or presented by the instructor in class. If you fail to attend these classes, it is your responsibility to see to it that you receive them.

Preparation, Attendance, and Participation: It is imperative that students complete and give serious thought to each session's readings. Come to class prepared to discuss the readings and to ask for any needed clarification. It is also imperative that students attend class. Attendance will be taken at the start of each class. Students not in the room when attendance is taken will be considered absent. Students who leave class early without prior permission will also be considered absent for that class. Attendance accounts for half of your participation grade. Exams and quizzes will cover lecture material. Students are responsible for any material missed due to an absence. Also, remember that your participation grade is an important factor in your evaluation... and obviously, one cannot participate in a class if they are not present in that class. All students will be expected to actively participate in class discussions. The instructor will see to it that he fosters a classroom environment conducive to open, civil, and productive discussion.

Classroom Decorum: This is a 50 min class, so come on time. Late arrivals are not only disruptive to your peers but to your instructor as well. Cell phones and other communication devices should be turned off (except in special circumstances cleared with the instructor). Be respectful both in your behavior and comments. We will discuss issues many feel passionate about and though lively debate is encouraged, disrespectful comments will not be tolerated.

Grading:

Blog:

Blog Entries and Responses: Students will be assigned to blog groups. Member 1 from your blog group will post a blog entry and the other group members will then respond. Member 2 will post the next blog entry and so on. Due dates for entries and responses are listed in the course schedule. Throughout the course, each student will submit a total 2 three-page original blog entries and 4 one-page blog responses in their group's Discussion Board forum on BlackBoard. Your blog entries and responses are essentially short papers, which I expect to be of the quality you would submit as such. This means they are structured like a formal essay, use standard formatting, and cite sources properly. Your first entry will make an argument about some controversial topic related to the presidency discussed in the course (the topic is up to you, but you must run your topic by me first). Be sure to utilize concepts and information from the course effectively. Your second entry will provide an analysis of a recent news article (you must provide a link to your article in your entry), relating it back to ideas discussed in the course. Responses must engage in dialogue with the original entry, making a case for your disagreement, agreement, and/or points of contention with the original entry. The instructor will make himself available for any help you might need with this and other assignments.

Research Paper:

Each student will submit a 10 page research paper on some aspect of the modern presidency. Topics must be relevant to the course and approved by the instructor. Topics must be approve by October 23^rd. Students should utilize standard formatting and cite their sources properly. Excellent papers will include the concise and coherent development of a strong thesis backed by compelling evidence. Although you are encouraged to make use of materials covered in class, this paper must also include at least 3 scholarly sources outside the course material.

PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA BLACKBOARD. ALL PAPERS WILL BE RUN THROUGH SAFEASSIGN.

Quizzes: 6 Quizzes will be given over the span of this course. Only the highest 5 quiz grades will count toward final grades. Quizzes will cover the required text materials, material presented in class/discussions, and all other supplementary material, including hand-outs and videos. They will be administered on dates to be determined by the instructor. There will be NO MAKE-UPS granted for quizzes.

Tests: There will be a mid-term and final exam. Both exams will consist of a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Students will need to bring their own bluebooks. The final exam will not be cumulative.

Points Breakdown:

Blackboard Blog: 100pts (30 pts per blog entry, 10pts per blog response)

Class Participation and Attendance: 50pts

Quizzes: 50pts (6 quizzes, lowest dropped)

Research Paper: 100pts

Mid-Term Exam: 100pts

Final Exam: 100pts

Grading Scale:

Incompletes

Incompletes will only be given in rare circumstances, such as illness, death in the immediate family, or other unusual and unforeseeable circumstances. Incompletes are given at the discretion of the instructor and only when it is possible that the completion of the remaining work could result in a passing grade. An incomplete must be resolved within the appropriate time limit or it will automatically be changed to an F. The student is responsible for seeing that incompletes are made up before the expiration date.

Academic Dishonesty

Regarding plagiarism, the NIU Undergraduate Catalog states: "Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources without identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university." The above statement encompasses a paper written in whole or in part by another; a paper copied word-for-word or with only minor changes from another source; a paper copied in part from one or more sources without proper identification and acknowledgment of the sources; a paper that is merely a paraphrase of one or more sources, using ideas and/or logic without credit even though the actual words may be changed; and a paper that quotes, summarizes or paraphrases, or cuts and pastes words, phrases, or images from an Internet source without identification and the address of the web site. Still unsure what constitutes plagiarism? Take a lot at this website: http://polisci.niu.edu/polisci/audience/plagiarism.shtml

Students with Disabilities

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those students with disabilities that may have an impact on their course work must register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of the Health Services Building (753-1303). CAAR will assist students in making appropriate instructional and/or examination accommodations with course instructors. It is important that CAAR and instructors be informed of any disability-related needs during the first two weeks of the semester.

Department of Political Science Web Site

Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study, research career options, tracking department events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu

Undergraduate Writing Awards

The Department of Political Science will recognize, on an annual basis, outstanding undergraduate papers written in conjunction with 300-400 level political science courses or directed studies. Authors do not have to be political science majors or have a particular class standing. Winners are expected to attend the Department’s spring graduation ceremony, where they will receive a certificate and $50.00. Papers, which can be submitted by students or faculty, must be supplied in triplicate to a department secretary by the end of March. All copies should have two cover pages – one with the student’s name and one without the student’s name. Only papers written in the previous calendar year can be considered for the award. However, papers completed in the current spring semester are eligible for the following year’s competition even if the student has graduated.

Political Science Website

Students are encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science website on a regular basis. This central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study, and researching career options. Undergraduates may find this website especially useful in tracking down department events and for accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach this site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu/.

Tentative Schedule:

BB= Reading available in the “Course Documents” section on BlackBoard

MN= Sidney M. Milkis and Michael Nelson

PM= Joseph A. Pika and John Anthony Maltese

K= Samuel Kernell

N= Richard Neustadt

Note: The instructor reserves the right to adjust the schedule and readings as he deems appropriate.