Pols 339 Legislative Politics
Course Syllabus
Texts | Objectives
| Description | Requirements | Grades | Policies
Course Texts
The following books are required for the course.Anthony King. 1997. Running Scared: Why America’s Politicians Campaign Too Much and Govern Too Little. Free Press.
Burdett A. Loomis. 2000. The Contemporary Congress. Third edition. St. Martin’s Press.
David E. Price. 2000. The Congressional Experience. Second edition. Westview Press.
Course Objectives
The legislature is the heart of democratic governance. An effective and vibrant democracy, thus, requires a healthy legislature. Unfortunately, American confidence in their national legislature has been declining over the past few decades, calling into question the soundness of our democratic political system. In this course, we will evaluate the effectiveness of American democracy by examining what legislatures and legislators do and, most importantly, why they do it. Such a study should, on the one hand, produce a more realistic understanding of the inherent limitations of legislatures and, on the other hand, suggest the changes necessary to enhance their governing ability.More generally, this course helps you develop several of the goals of the baccalaureate degree: an ability to inquire, think, and analyze; an ability to write, read, speak, and listen; an historical consciousness; an understanding of values; and an understanding of human behavior and human institutions.
Course Description
This courses studies legislative politics in two parts. Part one of the course first establishes the political and institutional context in which Congress and state legislatures operate. We then focus on the representation function of legislatures. Particular attention is paid to the definition of constituencies and the role of interest groups, incumbency, and money in legislative politics. The second half of the course examines the deliberation and law making functions of legislatures, including committee organization, party and presidential leadership, and the legislative process.This course is centered on your readings, my occasional lectures, frequent class discussions, and student presentations. You should read the assigned material on time and attend enthusiastically all class meetings.
Course Requirements
Students must complete the following:(1) Two Take Home Essay Exams
The course website lists the essay questions and due dates. Your responses (6-8 pages, double-spaced, 1" margins) should demonstrate critical thinking about issues raised in class and by the readings.
(2) Profiles
You will be assigned to a four-person group responsible for profiling a state, selected congressional districts in that state, and members of Congress representing the state and districts. Each group must first complete State and District Profiles (4 pages only) describing the geographic, demographic, economic, social, political, and other characteristics of your assigned state and districts for your fellow students. The State and District Profiles are due Monday, February 17. Second, each group must complete Legislator Profiles (4 pages only) describing the personal background, policy priorities and actions, interest group vote ratings, committee and leadership positions, and financial supporters of the legislators from your assigned states and selected districts. The Legislator Profiles are due Monday, April 7. Include a brief citation of your sources in each profile. The course web site lists some helpful research resources for the profiles. Each group will do a PowerPoint presentation of their profiles for the class. See the course schedule for the report dates.
(3) Comparative Legislative Analysis
Each student must complete a paper (6-8 pages, double-spaced, 1" margins) analyzing and comparing how and how well two legislators profiled by your group, as well as two other profiled legislators, represent their states or districts. The comparative legislative analysis is due April 24. The course web site provides some helpful research resources and citation guidelines. Please note that, depending on your particular portfolio needs, this paper may satisfy Goals 10, 11a, or 11b of the University Portfolio Project.
(4) Participation
Students are expected to be active members of the class. Beyond being physically present in the classroom, active students stay current in their readings and engage fully in the class lectures, discussions, and presentations. Attendance will be taken throughout the semester and factored into your final participation score. In addition, your participation in the profile assignments will be evaluated by your fellow group members and taken into consideration.
Course grades are based on the following distribution:
Take Home Essay 1 20% Take Home Essay 2 20% State and District Profiles 10% Legislator Profiles 10% Comparative Legislative Analysis 20% Participation 20% All scores are given on a 100-point scale. Grades are assigned as follows:
A+ 96.7 - 100 A 93.3 - 96.6 A- 90.0 - 93.2 B+ 86.7 - 89.9 B 83.3 - 86.6 B- 80.0 - 83.2 C+ 76.7 - 79.9 C 73.3 - 76.6 C- 70.0 - 73.2 D+ 66.7 - 69.9 D 63.3 - 66.6 D- 60.0 - 63.2 F 59 or less
Course Policies
Late essays and papers are penalized ten points for every day late. Missed presentations will be severely penalized. Cheaters will be punished in accordance with Chapter UWS 14--Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures outlined in the UWEC Student Services and Standards Booklet.
| Professor Rodd Freitag Schneider 200E Phone: (715) 836-5044 Fax: (715) 836-2944 Updated: January 14, 2003 |
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