Lehrman American Studies Center

Course Objective

This course is intended as an intensive introduction to the basic institutions and principles of American government, with particular attention to historical and constitutional foundations, political theory of the American Founding, federalism, separation of powers, civil rights and civil liberties, the three coordinate branches of the federal government, and contemporary domestic and foreign policy concerns.

Course Requirements

• The final grade for the course will be based, in part, on three (3) exams and a comprehensive final exam. The exams will be a combination of both multiple-choice and essay questions, and will include material in the assigned reading which is not covered in the class lectures. The exams will be administered on the following dates:
  • Exam #1: Thursday, July 10
  • Exam #2: Thursday, July 17
  • Exam #3: Thursday, July 24
  • Final Exam: Thursday, July 31, 2:00-4:40pm

• Each student will be required to write a 10-15 page research paper critically discussing a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court.

• The final grade for the course will be calculated as follows:
  • Exam #1: 15%
  • Exam #2: 15%
  • Exam #3: 15%
  • Final Exam: 30%
  • Research paper: 25%

• Grading Scale

A 95-100

A- 90-94

B+ 87-89

B 83-86

B- 80-82

C+ 77-79

C 73-76

C- 70-72

D 60-69

F 0-59

Class Participation

1. All assigned reading must be completed in advance, and every student is expected to come to class, with the assigned readings for the class period, fully prepared to be active participants.
2. Although class participation is not formally calculated into the final grade, students who consistently contribute to class discussion in a meaningful way will have their final grade increased one grade level. Student contributions to class discussion should be directly relevant to the lecture and demonstrate that the student completed the assigned readings.

Class Attendance

1. Attendance is absolutely required, and every student is expected to come to class on time, fully prepared to be active participants.
2. Students should consult The Catholic University of America Student Handbook, or the instructor, with any questions regarding the class attendance policy.

Exam Policy

1. Makeup exams will not be administered under any circumstances unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. In cases of illness, or because of a very serious reason, such as the death of a family member, written documentation must be obtained from the student’s health care provider or the Vice President for Student Services.
2. All exams are graded anonymously. Students who do not take an exam on the regularly scheduled day waive their right to have their exam graded anonymously.
3. Students should consult the instructor with any questions regarding the exam policy.

Academic Integrity

1. Every student taking this course agrees to uphold the principles set forth in the Undergraduate Student Honor Statement, and to abide by the regulations of the University.
2. Any student who is guilty of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism, will receive a grade of F for the course, and the incident will be reported to the Office of the Provost, for appropriate action.
3. Students should consult The Catholic University of America Student Handbook, or the instructor, with any questions regarding academic dishonesty.

Extra Credit

• Students may obtain extra credit during the course of the semester by attending a screening of A Man for All Seasons (1966), 12 Angry Men (1957), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), each of which will be complemented by a significant reading assignment and a lecture relating to the theme of the movie. After each movie, a short quiz will be administered, in which each student may earn up to five (5) points, which will be added to an exam grade, for a total of fifteen (15) points.

Required Texts

• Wilson, James Q. American Government, brief 8th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008.

• For information on the 2008 presidential election, students should peruse http://realclearpolitics.com/ on a daily basis.

• Reading Assignments from the required texts may be supplemented, and substituted, at the discretion of the instructor.

Reading Schedule

A. Declaring Independence: A Revolution Prevented

• McClellan, James. “Whether a Bill of Rights Was Necessary.” 52-59 in Liberty, Order, and Justice: An Introduction to the Constitutional

Principles of American Government, 3rd ed. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2000.

B. Political Theory of the American Framing

• McDonald, Forrest. “Systems of Political Theory.” 57-96 in Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origins of the Constitution. Lawrence, KA: University Press of Kansas, 1985.

C. The Constitution

• Wilson, American Government, 9-22.
• The Constitution.
• Federalist No. 10.
• Federalist No. 51.

D. The Bill of Rights

• Wilson, American Government, 22-31.
• Federalist No. 84
• McClellan, James. “Whether a Bill of Rights Was Necessary.” 401-403 in Liberty, Order, and Justice: An Introduction to the Constitutional Principles of American Government, 3rd ed. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2000.
• Arkes, Hadley. “On the Dangers of the Bill of Rights: Restating the Federalist Argument.” 58-80 in Beyond the Constitution. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990.
• The Bill of Rights.

E. Federalism

• Wilson, American Government, 72-92.
• Federalist Nos. 45, 46.
• McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819).
• Heart of Atlanta Motel v. U.S., 379 U.S. 241 (1964).
• Katzenbach v. McClung, 379 U.S. 294 (1964).
• U.S. v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000).

F. Separation of Powers

• U.S. v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp., 299 U.S. 304 (1936).
• Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, 343 U.S. 579 (1952).

G. The Judiciary

• Wilson, American Government, 296-323.
• Federalist No. 78.
• Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803).

H. Civil Liberties

• Wilson, American Government, 33-52.

I. Religious Liberty

• Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990).
• Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. Hialeah, 508 U.S. 520 (1993).

J. Terrorism and Civil Liberties

• Wilson, American Government, 52-54.
• Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507 (2004).

K. Civil Rights

• Wilson, American Government, 56-70.

L. Due Process of Law

• Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973).
• Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992).
• Stenberg v. Carhart, 530 U.S. 914 (2000).

M. Equal Protection of the Laws

• United States v. Caroline Products Company, 304 U.S. 144 (1938), Footnote 4.
• Craig v. Boren, 429 U.S. 190 (1976).
• U.S. v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996).
• Califano v. Webster, 430 U.S. 313 (1977).
• The Equal Rights Amendment

N. Congress

• Wilson, American Government, 200-235.

O. The Presidency

• Wilson, American Government, 237-269.

P. Making Domestic Policy

• Wilson, American Government, 326-344.

Q. Making Foreign and Military Policy

• Wilson, American Government, 347-358.