Fayetteville State University

College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Government and History

Course Syllabus: POLI 410: The American Chief Executive

I. Locator Information

Semester/Year: Fall 2001_____________________________

Semester Hours of Credit: three (3) hours _____________________

Time Class Meets: MW 1:30-2:50 PM _________________________

Building and Room Number: JKSA 204 __________________________

Instructor’s Name: Dr. Andrew J. Dowdle _________________________

Office Location: 207B Taylor Science_____________________________

Office Telephone: 672-1247/672-1573____________________________

Office Hours: MW (12:30-1:30PM), TR (9-11 AM and 12:30 - 1 PM), and MT 5:30-6 PM OR BY APPOINTMENT

E-mail: adowdle@uncfsu.edu

Website: http://spacer.uncfsu.edu/f_dowdle/poli410.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

POLI 410 is a study of the origin, background, and evolution of the Office of the President of the United States, with a review of the president's powers in the areas of politics, administration, and legislation.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course covers subjects such as the constitutional nature of the office, the evolution of the presidency, the relationship between the president and other government institutions, presidents and the media, and president as administrators. This course is designed to introduce graduate students to the controversies, paradigms, and methods in the field of presidency.

This course is designed to introduce students to the analysis of executive politics and decision-making. Students will: (1) become familiar with a wide range of the literature on the executive offices of the United States, particularly the presidency, (2) become sensitive to the requisites of theory-building and research design in the area of executive politics, and (3) become acquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of alternative methods and approaches to the analysis of executive politics. Therefore, students should become better prepared for their roles as politically active citizens and leaders.

Students should learn the "facts" and "concepts" surrounding the study of executive politics and be prepared to synthesize material, applying it to new observations. Students should also develop basic skills (empirical and normative, quantitative and qualitative) of political inquiry. Students should learn to appreciate the complexity of political issues and how to engage with seriousness and civility in dialogue and debate about them. Students will be given the chance to demonstrate their knowledge of the material and their ability to synthesize it through a variety of methods. The instructor will evaluate the student’s ability to perform these tasks by using a combination of examinations, papers, and class discussion/presentations.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The professor expects all students to conduct themselves in a responsible manner as adults who understand that they are accountable for the choices they make. Students are expected to attend all class meetings scheduled for the courses in which they are registered. 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. School activities need to be preapproved by the class instructor. While occasional absences are often unavoidable, class participation is an important part of the academic experience. Any punitive decisions because of excessive absences will be based on university policy.

GRADING

The final grade for this course consists of two tests, one presentation, and a term paper. Since active learning lies at the heart of undergraduate education, students will be required to lead class discussions on the assigned readings. The paper will be twelve-fifteen pages in length, typed, and double-spaced. You are required to keep an additional copy of the paper in your possession. Each assignment will be assigned a numerical value instead of a generic letter grade. The papers will be due December 3 @ 5 pm.

COMPOSITION OF FINAL GRADE

Midterm Test - 35%

Final Test - 35%

Research Paper - 15%

Presentation - 10%

Class Participation – 5%

GRADING SCALE

92-100 A

84-91 B

74-83 C

64-73 D

below 64 F

REQUIRED TEXTS

George C. Edwards III and Stephen J. Wayne. Presidential Leadership: Politics and Policy Making, fifth edition. (St. Martin’s, 1999)

Gerald M. Pomper, editor, The Election of 2000. (Chatham House, 2001).

Additional readings on the class website

ASSIGNMENTS

August 22: Introduction

August 27: Leadership

Read Edwards Chapter One

August 29: What Do Presidents Do?: Presidential Roles

September 3: No class (Labor Day)

September 5: How Do Presidents Do What They Do?

Presidential Power

September 10: Origins of the Presidency

Read Edwards Chapter One Presidential Power

September 12 and 17: The Public Presidency

Read Edwards Chapters Four and Five

September 19 and 24: The Managerial Presidency: Inside the EOP

Read Edwards Chapters Six

September 26, October 1, and 3: The Managerial Presidency: Outside the EOP

Read Edwards Chapters Seven and Nine

October 8: Class Discussion: Is the Presidency Too Strong or Too Weak?

October 10: Review for Midterm

October 15: Midterm Examination

October 17: Presidents as Individuals

Read Edwards Chapter Eight

October 22: The President and Congress

Read Edwards Chapter Ten

October 24, 29, and 31: Simulation

November 5 and 7: No class

November 12: The President and Foreign Affairs

Read Edwards Chapter 14

November 14: Overview of The Nomination Process

Pomper, Chapter Two and Edwards, Chapter Two

November 19: The Transition of 1968-1972

Video

November 26: Overview of Presidential General Elections

Read Pomper, Chapters Five and Six (Student-led discussions)

Read Edwards, Chapter Three

November 28: Media and Public Opinion in Presidential Elections

Read Pomper, Chapters Three and Four (Student-led discussions)

December 3: Class Discussion: Has the “New” Nomination Process Succeeded or Failed?

December 5: Review for Final

December 10: Video

Final Examination (at time scheduled by university)