POL S 102--Introduction to American and California Government and Politics
POL S 102--Introduction to American and California Government and Politics
Room: Chemistry and Geology, Room 333, M, W 2:00 p.m.--2:50 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Carole Kennedy
Office:
Nasatir Hall, Room 128
Office hours: T 3-4 p.m., W Noon--1 p.m. and Th 10-11 a.m. and by appointment
Telephone: (619) 594-0400
E-mail:ckennedy@mail.sdsu.edu
Course information
Lectures Notes on the Presidency
California State Government Lecture notes
Lecture notes on U.S. Electoral System and Voter Turnout
Lecture notes on Public opinion. Lecturer: Mike Binder.
Lecture notes on Political Participation. Lecturer: Neil Baer.
Lecture Notes on Louisiana Politics, Lecturer: Rich Ledet.
Wasserman Book web-site. This is where you can take multiple choice practice tests and read chapter summaries.
Download a text version of the class syllabus
XIV. May 6th
Assignment due in section:
Coursepack, Brudney, et.al., Exercise 8.3 Evaluating Presidential Performance.
Rep. Issa Launches New Davis Recall
For Monday, May 5th:
Former congressman rejected in effort to sue Bush over war
Appeals Court Weighs Bush's War Powers Act of Congress Needed for Iraq Invasion, Suit Says ", March 12, 2003.
Backers Surrender After Latest Blow to Anti-War Suit, March 19, 2003
Wasserman, chapter 3--The Presidency
For Wednesday, April 30th:
Wasserman, chapter 4--Congress.
For Monday, April 28th:
Initiative would give Democrats budget reins
Issa says he won't bankroll recall effort
For Wednesday, April 23rd:
Stone, California Politics Supplement (The big white booklet in your Wasserman set of books).
For Wednesday, April 9th: Wasserman, chapter 7
For Monday, April 14th:
Read coursepack Schudson and Fox and Piven articles. Be able to answer the following study and discussion questions in section next Tuesday (April 15th):
1. Are Americans better or less well informed about politics than people who live in liberal democracies in other parts of the world?
2. Have Americans always been politically ignorant?
3. What is the fatal flaw of the political heuristics approach?
4. Is political knowledge the sole requirement of democratic citizenship?
5. What does Rosenblum suggest are two essential traits of democratic character? Have we seen these traits in the American body politic since the War against Iraq began?
6. How can so many, knowing so little, and voting in such small numbers, build a democracy that appears to be relatively successful?
For Fox and Piven article:
Study questions for Piven and Cloward:
1. Piven and Cloward contend that voters and non-voters differ significantly on what criteria?
2. Do Piven and Cloward agree with Schudson in his assertion that we have a reasonably successful democracy?
1. What were the "two massive colliding forces" in the 2000 election?
2. Is your sexual behavior a political matter? What issues in the 2000 election concerned sexual behavior?
3. Were social issues the top priority among voters in 2000?
4. Which candidate won the female vote and which candidate won the male vote in 2000?
5. What was the top issue on voter's minds in the 2000 election?
6. How did the 2000 electorate split on issues such as school prayer and gun control?
7. Does Green conclude that we witnessed a culture war in the 2000 election?
Study questions for Amy:
1. What's the difference between a "single-member-district system" and proportional representation?
2. What countries use single-member-district systems and which countries use P.R?
3. According to political scientists, what is the fundamental flaw in the single-member-district system? only those who vote for the winning candidate get any representation of their views.You have the right to vote, but not the right to be represented.
4. How do single-member districts limit opportunities for third party candidates and consolidate the two-party system?
5. What are some advantages of PR according to Bogdanor?
Bush Official Blasted Over Religion Talk Life, Liberty and Barking
Statute becomes Justice Department's Weapon of Choice
Gallup Poll shows one-half of young people expect to strike it rich
Texas gets ready to execute 300th inmate
The Pentagon Papers, a web site with viewing information about the upcoming movie on FX.
Flag Act has a price for college women's basketball player
Fight Al-Qaeda Bombs, Not Bongs
A Reich and a Wrong Way to Protect the U.S.
Capitol Hill Blue reports: "Warning! The next car you buy or trip you make may cause your car dealer or travel agent to report you to the federal government. Car salesmen and travel agents are being drafted into the war on terrorism. Many of them don't like it. The USA Patriot Act, that sweeping anti-terrorism law that creates massive new police powers, also brings auto dealers and travel agents into the category of businesses who must report transactions to Uncle Sam as part of new anti-money laundering requirements. This means new training, new audits and new paperwork along with more costs for what many consider to be questionable benefits...Some of the lower-profile provisions are only now emerging into view to a shocked public. Mark Lewis, owner of the Fresno-based Mark Lewis Travel Network, said the new regulations could kill a small businesses like his."
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_1820.shtml.
This was the original icon for the Total Information Awareness project. It scared people and they came up with a new, less threatening one.
Defense Department's Total Information Awareness web site
U.S. public turns to Europe for news
Deliver us from Ashcroft, holy cow! even the conservative Washington Times thinks Patriot II is bad news!
The American Civil Liberties Union discusses TIA
Big Brother is closer than you think
Information about the Wyden Amendment, that limits TIA.
Civil Rights Teeter as they did in WWII
