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Introduction toIntroduction to

AmericanAmerican

Government(s)Government(s)Professor: Johnathan Gay, Esq.Professor: Johnathan Gay, Esq.

606-743-4005 (O)606-743-4005 (O)

606-662-9630 (H)606-662-9630 (H)

859-797-5759 (C)859-797-5759 (C)

**

151 University Drive, West Liberty, KY 41472151 University Drive, West Liberty, KY 41472**

jgay@kyinnovation.comjgay@kyinnovation.com

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Class WebsiteClass Website

http://westlibertygov141.blogspot.cohttp://westlibertygov141.blogspot.co

http://westlibertygov141.blogspot.com/http://westlibertygov141.blogspot.com/http://westlibertygov141.blogspot.com/

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Course DescriptionCourse Description

The purpose of this course is toThe purpose of this course is to

introduce students to the politicalintroduce students to the political

science that underpins Americanscience that underpins Americangovernments. At the end of thisgovernments. At the end of this

course students should be familiarcourse students should be familiar

with the major institutions in Americawith the major institutions in America

that play a driving role in Americanthat play a driving role in Americangovernment. We will pay specialgovernment. We will pay special

attention to: the role of the courts;attention to: the role of the courts;

public opinion in a multimedia era;public opinion in a multimedia era;

foreign policy, the two major politicalforeign policy, the two major political

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Course FocusCourse Focus

In addition to giving you an overallIn addition to giving you an overall

explanation of the federalexplanation of the federal

government system in America, wellgovernment system in America, well

pay special attention to some of thepay special attention to some of the

following:following:

The PresidencyThe Presidency

The EconomyThe Economy

Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

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ReadingsReadings

Textbook chapters TBATextbook chapters TBA

Outside reading list TBA I hope toOutside reading list TBA I hope to

have a comprehensive list by Jan. 12,have a comprehensive list by Jan. 12,

2009.2009.

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Textbook:Textbook:

The Struggle for DemocracyThe Struggle for Democracy

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Course RequirementsCourse Requirements

1) Four exams1) Four exams 10 points each10 points each

(40%)(40%)

2) Comprehensive final2) Comprehensive final

20 points20 points

(20%)(20%)

3) Create a political blog3) Create a political blog 15 points15 points

(15%)**(15%)**

4) Essay4) Essay (10 Pages)(10 Pages) 1515

points (15%)***points (15%)***

5) Participation5) Participation 10 points10 points****10% **** and Attendance

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BlogsBlogs

A weblog shortened to blog is a websiteA weblog shortened to blog is a website

where entries are made [and] displayed inwhere entries are made [and] displayed in

reverse chronological order.reverse chronological order.

Blogs are a way for you to express yourBlogs are a way for you to express yourpoliticalpolitical

opinions on an issue in a way that could beopinions on an issue in a way that could be

educational, opinionated, etc. Blogs areeducational, opinionated, etc. Blogs aretools fortools for

campaigns, whether those campaigns arecampaigns, whether those campaigns areforfor

candidates or causes or ideologies.candidates or causes or ideologies.

Examples in KY:Examples in KY:

10.10. www.pageonekentucky.comwww.pageonekentucky.com

(left/liberal/Dem)(left/liberal/Dem)

http://www.pageonekentucky.com/http://www.pageonekentucky.com/http://www.kyprogress.blogspot.com/http://www.pageonekentucky.com/

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Essay AssignmentEssay Assignment

Write an introductory essay on aWrite an introductory essay on a

Federal government issue of yourFederal government issue of your

choosing.choosing.

Once youve determined what issueOnce youve determined what issue

you want to write on, get finalyou want to write on, get final

clearance from me. (I just want toclearance from me. (I just want to

ensure that this is actually a federalensure that this is actually a federalissue.)issue.)

Write the essay from the standpointWrite the essay from the standpoint

of Federal policy (this can includeof Federal policy (this can include

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Socratic MethodSocratic MethodSocratic method is used in contemporary legalSocratic method is used in contemporary legaleducation by many law schools. In a typicaleducation by many law schools. In a typicalclass setting, the professor asks a question andclass setting, the professor asks a question andcalls on a student who may or may not havecalls on a student who may or may not havevolunteered an answer. The professor eithervolunteered an answer. The professor eitherthen continues to ask the student questions orthen continues to ask the student questions ormoves on to another student.moves on to another student.

These subsequent questions can take a fewThese subsequent questions can take a fewforms. Sometimes they seek to challenge theforms. Sometimes they seek to challenge the

assumptions upon which the student based theassumptions upon which the student based theprevious answer until it breaks. Furtherprevious answer until it breaks. Furtherquestions can also be designed to move aquestions can also be designed to move astudent toward greater specificity, either instudent toward greater specificity, either inunderstanding a rule of law or a particular case.understanding a rule of law or a particular case.Finally professors use the Socratic method toFinally professors use the Socratic method to

allow students to come to legal principles onallow students to come to legal principles ontheir own through carefully worded questionstheir own through carefully worded questions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plato-raphael.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plato-raphael.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Plato-raphael.jpg

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Class AttendanceClass AttendanceMandatory Unless ExcusedMandatory Unless Excused

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Academic HonestyAcademic Honesty

Do your own workDo your own work

Borrow ideas, always, but NEVERBorrow ideas, always, but NEVER

steal wordssteal words

Always, always, always attributeAlways, always, always attribute

Ronald Regan: Trust, but verify.Ronald Regan: Trust, but verify.

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Class DisruptionClass Disruption

Dont do it.Dont do it.

Turn off cell phonesTurn off cell phones

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Special Needs?Special Needs?Confer with instructor. AllConfer with instructor. All

efforts will be made toefforts will be made toaccommodate you.accommodate you.

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Office HoursOffice Hours

After class, by appointment.After class, by appointment.

Accessible by telephone and emailAccessible by telephone and email

Can arrange to meet you whenCan arrange to meet you whennecessary.necessary.

Th St l f (Th St l f (

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The Struggle for (aThe Struggle for (a

republican form of)republican form of)

DemocracyDemocracy

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Why Have aWhy Have a

Government?Government?

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Types of GovernmentTypes of Government

OligarchyOligarchy

MonarchyMonarchy

DemocracyDemocracy RepublicRepublic

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Americas DemocracyAmericas Democracy

Republican: Governed by a charterRepublican: Governed by a charter

Democratic: The voters ultimatelyDemocratic: The voters ultimately

decide most issues, but there aredecide most issues, but there are

checks and balances.checks and balances.

Representative: The voters exerciseRepresentative: The voters exercise

their opinions through electedtheir opinions through elected

officials.officials.

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Benchmarks of OurBenchmarks of Our

DemocracyDemocracy Popular Sovereignty: Ultimately thePopular Sovereignty: Ultimately the

people rule and that determines ourpeople rule and that determines our

governments legitimacygovernments legitimacy

Political Equality: One Man, OnePolitical Equality: One Man, One

VoteVote

Political Liberty: The rights thatPolitical Liberty: The rights that

guarantee your ability to be involvedguarantee your ability to be involved

in your political systemin your political system

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Some Problems withSome Problems with

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

The Tyranny of the MajorityThe Tyranny of the Majority

Voters can be very uninformed andVoters can be very uninformed and

irrationalirrational

Majorities threaten minoritiesMajorities threaten minorities

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The StruggleThe Struggle

The policy of American governmentThe policy of American government

is nearly always arrived at ONLYis nearly always arrived at ONLY

following struggle.following struggle.

Regional StruggleRegional Struggle

Ethnic StruggleEthnic Struggle

Industry StruggleIndustry Struggle

Ideological StruggleIdeological Struggle

Purely political strugglePurely political struggle

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Political StructurePolitical Structureof all Americanof all American

Government(s)Government(s)

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A constitutionA constitution

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FederalismFederalism

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

State GovernmentsState Governments

County GovernmentsCounty Governments City GovernmentsCity Governments

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The PThe P

WordWordPolitics Ugh!!Politics Ugh!!

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PoliticsPolitics

Public OpinionPublic Opinion

Interest GroupsInterest Groups

The partiesThe parties ElectionsElections

The News MediaThe News Media

The Old News MediaThe Old News MediaThe New News MediaThe New News Media

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Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Three Branches (plus)Three Branches (plus)

CongressCongress

ExecutiveExecutive

CourtsCourts

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The FourthThe Fourth

Branch??Branch??The Federal BureaucracyThe Federal Bureaucracy

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What Does the FederalWhat Does the Federal

Government Do?Government Do?

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Determines the LowerDetermines the Lower

Boundaries of FreedomBoundaries of Freedom

Civil Rights and LibertiesCivil Rights and Liberties

Freedom of speechFreedom of speech

Freedom of religionFreedom of religion PrivacyPrivacy

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Sets Economic and SocialSets Economic and Social

Welfare PoliciesWelfare Policies

The Commerce ClauseThe Commerce Clause

Social SecuritySocial Security

Law and orderLaw and order

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Conducts Foreign Policy &Conducts Foreign Policy &

National DefenseNational Defense

TreatiesTreaties

Foreign AidForeign Aid

Commits TroopsCommits Troops Conducts WarConducts War

Carries out EspionageCarries out Espionage

Connecting the MainConnecting the Main

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Connecting the MainConnecting the Main

Factors of Political Life inFactors of Political Life in

AmericaAmerica See Page 19(?) Figure 1.1: TheSee Page 19(?) Figure 1.1: TheAnalytical FrameworkAnalytical Framework

Policy Pyramid or Policy PipelinePolicy Pyramid or Policy Pipeline

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The PolicyThe Policy

Pipeline/PyramidPipeline/PyramidThe Well: Society, Economy, PoliticalThe Well: Society, Economy, Political

Culture (shaped by popular culture),Culture (shaped by popular culture),

International System, ConstitutionalInternational System, Constitutional

Rules (interpretation)Rules (interpretation)

The Pump: The Political System:The Pump: The Political System:

Public Opinion and the News Media,Public Opinion and the News Media,

Interest Groups and SocialInterest Groups and SocialMovements, Political Parties,Movements, Political Parties,

ElectionsElections

The Tap: Government- The President,The Tap: Government- The President,

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The Wellsprings ofThe Wellsprings of

American Public PolicyAmerican Public Policy

Society: The people, or the voters, dividedSociety: The people, or the voters, divided

as they are in their disparate groups,as they are in their disparate groups,

ethnicities, religions, etc.ethnicities, religions, etc.

The Economy: How scarce resources areThe Economy: How scarce resources areallocated. In American, that means aallocated. In American, that means a

regulated free marketplace.regulated free marketplace.

Political Culture: In American, egalitarian,Political Culture: In American, egalitarian,

independent spirited, competitiveindependent spirited, competitive

Constitution: The hard rules we live by.Constitution: The hard rules we live by.

International System: How we postureInternational System: How we posture

ourselves to deal with others outsideourselves to deal with others outside

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The Pump: PoliticalThe Pump: Political

LinkagesLinkages Public Opinion: Peoples opinions travel in herds.Public Opinion: Peoples opinions travel in herds.

Whats hot today may be cool tomorrow. Still,Whats hot today may be cool tomorrow. Still,very powerful.very powerful.

The News: They shape our public opinion byThe News: They shape our public opinion by

telling us whats newsworthy and by covering it intelling us whats newsworthy and by covering it ina certain way.a certain way.

Interest Groups and Special Interests: TheseInterest Groups and Special Interests: Thesegroups tell us whats important to our interests.groups tell us whats important to our interests.Unions, NRA, Civil Rights Movement, etc.Unions, NRA, Civil Rights Movement, etc.

Parties: Rs and Ds these give us a way to hangParties: Rs and Ds these give us a way to hangour hats w/out the burden of deep research.our hats w/out the burden of deep research.

Elections: Very structured in America. TheseElections: Very structured in America. Thesecycles set the rhythms by which our electedcycles set the rhythms by which our elected

officials conduct public policy.officials conduct public policy.

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The Spout:The Spout:

Governmental LevelGovernmental LevelThe PresidentThe President

CongressCongress

Supreme CourtSupreme CourtThe Bureaucracy: They do help makeThe Bureaucracy: They do help make

public policy and theirpublic policy and their

enforcement/administration of publicenforcement/administration of public

policy makes their opinions verypolicy makes their opinions very

influential and ensures a certaininfluential and ensures a certain

amount of autonomy.amount of autonomy.