POLS 319: The American Presidency Professor: B. Dan Wood; Office: 2098 Allen Building; Phone: 845-1610; EMAIL: bdanwood@polisci.tamu.edu Class: Section 500, 4:40-5:55 pm TR, 1005 Allen Building Office Hours: 4:10-4:40 TR; or by appointment

Course Objectives:

This course focuses on the American presidency as a democratic institution and part of an overall system of political representation. Initially, we will consider the presidency in historical context as the institution has developed through time. We will then pause briefly to consider the institution as it now stands, both its organization and mode of operation. We will analyze presidential decisionmaking, both the form and manner in which it differs across policy areas. We will also study the presidency in relation to the public, the media, and mass representation processes. The latter part of the course will consider the president as part of the U.S. policymaking process. In particular, we will stress its relation to the courts, Congress, bureaucracy, and policy process more generally. Methodologically throughout the course, we shall analyze what we know about the institution from empirical evidence, systematic analysis, and data, in the process drawing generalizations about the institution whenever possible. We will at times consider the details of particular presidential administrations for purposes of exposition. However, this is not a course in particular presidents or presidential administrations. I expect students to take from the course a conceptual understanding of the presidency as an institution, and its relation to other institutions of American government and the nation at large.

Course Format:

The substance of this course consists of information from several sources. In class, we will engage in as much discussion as possible. To that end, you need to read assignments before their due date. Be able to discuss and answer questions about them. We will also follow current events surrounding the presidency to get a "real time" view. Therefore, you must also stay informed of these events.

Please note that there is a web page with study materials, exercises, simulations, and graphics associated with the main textbook at the internet study link .

For other mutual sources of information, I suggest also reading the National Journal and Washington Post; listening to Morning Edition (5-9am) or All Things Considered (4-6:30pm) on National Public Radio; or watching the News Hour with Jim Lehrer (6-7pm) on PBS television. Online, you may also check the White House web page or the Presidency Research Group of the APSA or the CNN AllPolitics site. The online services also have presidential sections (for America OnLine, enter the keyword WHITE HOUSE; for Prodigy, jump WHITEHOUSE; and for CompuServe, enter GO WHITEHOUSE).

You will help to shape the content of the course through participation in oral debates about the presidency with topics drawn from the Ellis and Nelson reader. Of course, you all will be responsible for all assigned readings. Find out the date and topic for your debate presentation by clicking here. Debate presentations will be graded on the basis of originality, clarity, and coherence in relating the debate topic to the course materials. A one point bonus will be given to the best debate presentation prior to each examination. A two point bonus will be given to the best debate presentation for the entire course. All points will be added to the final course grade. Class members will vote on the recipients of these awards. However, I will ultimately decide on award recipients by weighing the class vote and using objective judgment.

Tuesdays will generally focus on that week's assigned readings. Thursdays will generally include your debate presentations. The focus of the later activity should be towards integrating the debates into the overall topics at hand.

There are two examinations, a mid-term and a final. Each examination is worth 30% of your grade for a total of 60% from exams. Exams will consist of a series of essays on course topics. The exams are open book take home and should be word processed. You should not confer with others in completing the exam, and evidence of collusion will result in a grade of zero. For the midsemester exam, you will receive the questions on Tuesday to be due on Thursday of the exam week. For the final exam, you will receive the questions on the last class day to be due at the scheduled time of the final exam. Please do not miss the exams (you know our schedule now and so can plan your schedule well ahead). I will not give makeups unless you 1) notify me or the department in advance (no exceptions); and 2) verify extreme circumstances in writing. An annotated bibliography is worth another 30% of your grade. The exact format and topics will be discussed in class. The annotated bibliography will be graded in stages, with the first revision (worth 10% due in class on April 1^st. This first revision will be returned with comments. You will then have an opportunity to revise your work. The final revision (worth 20%) is due no later than 5 p.m., April 24^th. You may, of course, turn in your written assignments at any time before their due date. Do not turn in late work! You will lose one letter grade for each day late. Another 10% of your grade consists of your Debate Presentations.

Your grade also depends on your participation in and attendance of class. The TAMU attendance policy applies to this course, and I will take daily attendance. If you have perfect attendance, I will add three bonus points to your final grade. If you miss fewer than three unexcused absences I will add one bonus point to your final grade. This could help if you are borderline between letter grades. More important, it will be impossible to do well in the course having missed lecture materials and crucial conceptual discussions.

While I do not grade on a curve (You earn what you earn, and I hope you all earn "A"s!), the typical class average is around a middle or upper "C". Simply completing the course requirements will most likely earn a "C". A "B" requires some demonstration of effort beyond just the requirements. An "A" requires extraordinary performance.

Let me also mention academic integrity. All students are expected to abide by the University policy on exams and written work. In this regard you should not acquire answers for examinations from unauthorized sources, provide answers to others, or engage in plagiarism. As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one’s own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with the definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of the person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have questions regarding the University’s policy on scholastic dishonesty you may consult the following links on scholastic dishonesty.

The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By “handouts,” I mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission.

Students with Disabilities: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protections for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Koldus Building, or call 845-1637.

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