COURSE SYLLABUS: POLITICAL SCIENCE 311,

POLITICAL PARTIES AND PRESSURE GROUPS

FALL 2002

THREE SEMESTER HOURS CREDIT

I. LOCATOR INFORMATION

Instructor's Name: Dr. Andrew J. Dowdle

Class Location: JKSA 204 Class Time: TR 11 am -12:20 pm

Office Location: TS 207B E-Mail: adowdle@uncfsu.edu

Office Hours: TR 9:30-11 pm, MWF noon - 1pm, MR 5-6 pm

OR BY APPOINTMENT

Office Phone: 672-1347

Class Website: http://spacer.uncfsu.edu/f_dowdle/poli311.htm

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A study of the history, structure, and functions of American political parties and pressure groups, their relationship to democratic government, and their techniques of political action.

III. TEACHING STRATEGIES

This course is taught primarily through lecture and supplemented by student presentations.

IV. EVALUATION/GRADING SCALE

Fayetteville State University expects all students to conduct themselves in a responsible manner as adults who understand that they are accountable for the choices they make as students. Students are expected to attend all class meetings scheduled for the courses in which they are registered. Instructors are expected to maintain an accurate written record of student attendance in order to meet veterans’ benefits and other requirements. At the end of each quarter, instructors will record absences for all students all students on the official grade sheets. Absence from class for whatever reason does not does not excuse students from full responsibility for class work or assignment missed. Students will be allowed to make up work only if the instructor excuses the absence. Illness needs to be documented by a note from the infirmary or family doctor. Funerals require a copy of the obituary or funeral program. School activities need to be pre-approved by the class instructor.

The final grade for this class will be based on four components. Students will have two in-class tests, including the final examination. Students will not be allowed to make up tests without a doctor’s note in cases of illness or some written documentation (i.e. funeral program) in cases of family tragedy. Students will also be required to complete an eight-ten page research paper that is due November 29 and keep a copy in their possession. Students are also required to make one presentation to the class based on material assigned to them by the instructor.

COMPOSITION OF FINAL GRADE

Midterm Examination - 35%

Final Examination - 35%

Research paper - 20%

Presentation - 10%

GRADING SCALE

92-100 A

83-91 B

73-82 C

64-72 D

Below 63 F

VI. TEXT:

Berry, Jeffrey M. The Interest Group Society, 3rd edition. New York: Longman, 1997.

Sabato, Larry J. and Bruce Larson. The Party's Just Begun, 2nd edition. New York: Longman, 2002.

VII. COURSE SCHEDULE (tentative):

AUGUST 22- Orientation

AUGUST 27 - Interest Groups in American Society

Read Berry Chp. Two.

AUGUST 27- SEPTEMBER 3 - Pluralism and Alternative Paradigms

Read Berry Chp. One.

SEPTEMBER 5 - Interest Group Membership

Read Berry Chp. Four.

SEPTEMBER 10-12 - 9/11 Symposium

SEPTEMBER 17 - Interest Group Leadership and Lobbying

Read Berry Chp. Five.

SEPTEMBER 19 - Interest Group Tactics

Read Berry Chps. Six and Eight.

SEPTEMBER 24 - Do Interest Groups Matter?

Read Berry Chp. Seven.

SEPTEMBER 26 - Interest Groups and the Political Environment

Read Berry Chp. Nine.

OCTOBER 1 - Interest Groups and the "Privileged" Role of Business

Read Berry Chp. Ten.

OCTOBER 3 - Review for Midterm Examination

OCTOBER 8 - Midterm Examination

OCTOBER 10 - No Class

OCTOBER 15 - Political Parties in American Society

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. One.

OCTOBER 17 - Party Systems

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. Two.

OCTOBER 22 - The Roles of National, State, and Local Parties

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. Three.

OCTOBER 24 - The Role of Party Activists

OCTOBER 29 - The Role of the Party Electorate

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. Four.

OCTOBER 31 - Party Realignments

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. Five.

NOVEMBER ]5 - Party Nominations

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. Six.

NOVEMBER 7 - SPSA

NOVEMBER 12 - General Elections

Read Sabato and Larson Chp. Seven.

NOVEMBER 14-26 - Student Presentations

NOVEMBER 28 - No Class

DECEMBER 3- Review for Finals

DECEMBER 6: Finals for Seniors

DECEMBER 9: Last Day of Class

Final Examination - at time scheduled by registrar’s office