**Sample Syllabi**
PS 141 Intro to American Government
PS 305 Campaigns and Elections
PS 360 Political Theory
PS 361 American Political Thought

Campaigns and Elections

PS305--Fall Semester, 2000

Mel Kulbicki, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science

“...one may consider the time of Presidential election as a moment of national crisis...As the election draws near, intrigues grow more active and agitation is more lively and wider spread. The citizens divide up into several camps, each of which takes its name from its candidate. The whole nation gets into a feverish state, the election is the daily theme of comment in the newspapers and private conversation, the object of every action and the subject of every thought, and the sole interest for the moment. It is true that as soon as fortune has pronounced, the ardor is dissipated, everything calms down, and the river which momentarily overflowed its banks falls back to its bed. But was it not astonishing that such a storm could have arisen?”

--Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America

“Most voters lived their lives outside of the realm of political discourse, but prime-time television was part of their daily fare and it could be used to pierce their world.”

--Bob Woodward: The Choice (on the 1996 election)

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

This is an advanced course on the American political process. Topics to be discussed will include the nature and function of the American two-party system, the New Deal Coalition, campaign practices and strategies, the role of primaries, conventions and caucuses, the American voter, the role of the electoral college, campaign finance, campaign and election reform and the impact of the mass media. The course will emphasize the national political process, focusing on the most recent presidential elections. Attention will also be paid to congressional and subnational elections as well. The objectives of the course are: (a) to understand the workings of contemporary electoral politics; (b) to understand the impact of reform; (c) to evaluate the current state of The Regime. There are no prerequisites for this course though I expect more background from upper division students than from beginners. This course will rely heavily on discussion and class debates though I will on occasion offer a more formal lecture.

WHERE TO REACH ME

Office: 331 Life Sciences Building Direct Phone: (717) 815-1269 Campus Ext: 1269

e-mail: mkulbick@ycp.edu FAX: (717) 849-1619

Secretary: Mrs. Rosemary Wivagg 305 Life Sciences (717) 815-1329 Campus Ext: 1329

Note: There are many ways to get in touch with me. Because of this, I must remind you that there is only one of me and over 160 or so of you in all of my classes. And, I have many obligations beyond the classroom. Please do not clutter my e- or v-mail with pleasantries or chatter. I reserve the right not to respond to routine pleasantries or queries that are easily answered before or after class or during office hours. With this said, I really enjoy talking to students in person. Please feel free to stop in during office hours. A major advantage of not attending a mega-university is that the smaller schools offer a more personal touch. While e- and v- have a place, they are really distancing and even dehumanizing. Having said this, if you must reach me and cannot do so during office hours, I prefer that you use e-mail rather than v-mail. I lose too many games of phone tag with v-mail. The best use of the phone is to reach me during office hours. By the way, I don’t miss office hours, but I am sometimes in my secretary’s office around the corner or in the mailroom down the hall. Please be patient.

OFFICE HOURS

MW 10:00 to 10:45; TTH 11:00-12:00; M 6:00 –6:25 p.m. & by Appointment

Office hours begin on 8/31 and end on 12/1. Appointments only during the last full week of class and during the final exam period. Office hours are your time. You are encouraged to stop in during office hours to talk about any problems or suggestions you may have concerning the course; about careers (especially graduate school, law school, or the benefits of majoring or minoring in political science); or just about politics or things in general. If professional or college obligations necessitate postponements, I will post a notice on my office door. If you want to talk to me and find the scheduled hours to be inconvenient, feel free to make an appointment. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and Fridays after 12 noon are generally not available for appointments.

REQUIRED TEXTS

Wilson Carey McWilliams: Beyond the Politics of Disappointment

Stephen J. Wayne: The Road to the White House: 2000

Jules Witcover: No Way to Pick a President

R.R. Bob Greive: The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Political Victory…and Defeat

[This is an excellent “nuts and bolts,” “how-to-do-it” book. It you ever are involved in an actual campaign, this is the book to consult.]

C-SPAN: You are encouraged to watch C-SPAN’s The Road to the White House which is usually televised on Sunday evenings. It is really an important contribution to American political discourse and a vital asset for courses in campaigns and elections. There are other fine and relevant C-SPAN programs aired regularly. Watch as many as you can.

CLASS ATMOSPHERE

I like to maintain an informal atmosphere where we can talk honestly, take intellectual risks and explore the material with integrity. Laughter, encouragement, questions, discussion and argument are all parts of this class. Scoffing is never allowed. I believe that there is no such thing as a “dumb question.” By the way, I take inattentiveness, sleeping, working on some other course’s work, etc. as personal affronts. I expect you to be prepared for each class by having done the reading in advance.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

College rules let each professor set her or his attendance policy. It is my strong belief that higher education is more than merely reading books and parroting assignments on examinations. I believe that successful higher education is a complex experience involving various interactions among students and faculty, a (but perhaps not the) key part being the dynamics of the classroom. I will therefore take role regularly after the Add Period ends. Habitual absence will have negative impact on your final grade.

DEADLINES AND OTHER EXPECTATIONS

I play by NFL rules. In other words, when the National Football League allows touchdowns that come close but don’t quite cross the goal line if the player made a good effort or had problems that day, then I will accept papers, reports, etc. if they are a “little bit” late. This also applies to all other course requirements and expectations. (The “real world” works this way too.)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

You are expected to do the assigned readings, to attend every class, and to actively participate in class discussions. You are also expected to keep abreast of current issues and trends in the Republic by reading the national newspapers and opinion journals as often as possible. I intend to keep my lectures to a minimum and to run this course as a seminar. You will be called upon to share your insights into the assigned reading and to prepare short topics for class discussion. You may be required to attend evening lectures or watch televised campaign events. Grades will be determined by:

a research paper (includes proposal) 25%
full period midterm 20%
a final examination 25%
half period test 10%
participation, attendance and homework 20%

TOTAL: 100%

THE PAPER: Students in this course will be required to submit a major paper dealing with a topic relevant to the course. It should ask a question and answer it. It is due November 21. Students may choose to work collaboratively or individually on this assignment. If your work together, each group member will get the same grade. The paper should be about 10 pages in length with references and notes. The expected length of group papers will be greater, roughly about twice as long. I will provide a cover sheet for your paper. Paper Proposals, a one page brief outline of the question you are asking along with a statement of its importance and research plan, is due September 19. An Outline and Status Report of the paper will be due on October 13. This report should include a tentative bibliography and any questions or difficulties you are having with your research. The quality of your paper proposal and outline/status report will be factored into your grade for this assignment.

Students may be expected to make some sort of public presentation based on their research and writing. Even if I don’t require a presentation, you should consider submitting your work to our Department Journal, Past and Present or for Scholarship Day in the Spring. Such presentations can be very important for admission to grad or law schools or for your resume as you enter the workforce.

A NOTE ON RESOURCES: I will not be impressed by your inability to obtain books and articles or other research material. The library is very well stocked with appropriate materials for this course. There is also an efficient inter-library loan service (check with a librarian) and a number of other libraries (e.g., UMBC, Penn State/York, Martin Memorial, Franklin and Marshall, Dickenson, Johns Hopkins, etc.) within convenient driving distance from York College. Consider using the INTERNET or other electronic resources. And, of course, do not neglect the news and talk shows on TV and public radio, especially C-SPAN’s election coverage, especially The Road to the White House.

PARTICIPATION, ATTENDANCE AND HOMEWORK: Since this in an upper division course, participation is required and graded. This does not mean that you must talk during every class. It does mean that you must be prepared, respond thoughtfully when called upon and, in general, be engaged in the course. I plan to hold several debates on selected topics in the course. Some of these will be announced in advance. Others will be organized in class. I am not interested in the results. I will not grade or reward the “winners.” However, I will penalize those who are unprepared, those who make no contribution or who are disengaged from the class. See the section on attendance for my policy on this topic.

THE EXAMS: The three exams will in all likelihood be a combination of objective and essay questions. The final exam will be comprehensive. All exams may include material from the readings, from class and student reports and comments.

STATEMENT OF STANDARDS

· Students involved in incidences of academic dishonesty will receive a grade of “0” or “F” for the course and may be suspended from the College.

· York College recognizes the importance of effective communication in all disciplines and careers. Therefore, students are expected to organize, analyze, synthesize and articulate course material competently in all assignments and tests. Students should possess and use communication skills appropriate to their fields of study, recognize the need for revision as part of the writing process, and use the standard conventions of the English language in writing and speaking. Students may be asked to revise assignments that do not demonstrate effective use of these communication skills.

· It is rude and therefore unacceptable to come to class late or to leave early. Don’t bother coming if you cannot be on time. If you have a genuine reason to leave class early, please let me know before class begins. Coming late or leaving early is disruptive of the rhythm and mood of the class.

BAD WEATHER AND CLASS CANCELLATIONS

If there is heavy snow or an icy situation, York College may cancel classes or implement a compressed class schedule. All office hours and appointments are canceled if there is compressed start. Listen to WSBA 910 AM, WARM 103 FM or WGAL TV8 or some other local radio or TV channel if the weather is bad. Please do not clog my v- or e-mail with “Do we have class?” inquiries. Check with the mass media of the college switchboard instead. The compressed start schedule for this course is as follows:

REGULAR CLASS TIME HOUR DELAY 2 HOUR DELAY

12:30-1:45 Regular Time Regular Time

READING ASSIGNMENTS & TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

This schedule is an approximation but it should be a good guide to what we will be discussing on any given week. It is possible (maybe even likely) that the order of reading may change and materials may be added to or deleted from the syllabus, as circumstances require. Please have the reading done so that class time can be as productive as possible.

Week 1 Aug. 28-Sept. 1 Introduction

Begin reading: Whitcover

Witcover: Introduction, Chapter 16

McWilliams: Chapter 1

Week 2 Sept. 4-Sept. 8 The Electoral College

[no class Sept. 4] Wayne: Chapter 1, pages 310-316

Whitcover: Chapter 14

Week 3 Sept. 11-15 Politics Then and Now

Witcover: Chapters 1-5

Week 4 Sept. 18-Sept. 22 The Media

Wayne: Chapter 7

Week 5 Sept. 25-Sept. 29 $$$$$$$$$

Witcover: Chapters 6-8

Wayne: Chapter 2

Week 6 Oct. 2-Oct. 6 The Political Environment

Wayne: Chapter 3

Witcover: Chapter 15

Week 7 Oct. 9-Oct. 13 Nominations

Witcover: Chapter 9

Wayne: Chapter 4

Week 8 Oct. 16-Oct. 20 Conventions

[no class Oct. 16-17] Wayne: Chapter 5

Witcover: Chapters 10, 11

Week 9 Oct. 23-Oct. 27 Campaigning

Wayne: Chapter 6

Witcover: Chapter 12

Week 10 Oct. 30-Nov. 3 Debates

Wayne: Chapter 7 (pages 232-238)

Witcover: Chapter 13

Week 11 Nov. 6-Nov. 10 Election Discussion and post-mortem

Wayne: Chapter 8

Week 12 Nov. 13-Nov. 17 1980, 1984

McWilliams: Chapters 2, 3

Week 13 Nov. 21-Nov. 24 1988

[No classes Nov. 22-24] McWilliams: Chapter 4

Week 14 Nov. 27-Dec. 1 1992, 1996

McWillliams: Chapter 5, 6

Week 15 Dec. 4-8 1998

McWilliams: Chapter 7

Week 16 Dec. 11-12 OPEN

[No class Dec. 13]

Finals: Dec. 14-Dec. 19 To Be Scheduled

Dec. 20: Commencement

SOME INTERESTING AND RELEVENT CLOSING QUOTATIONS

“A popular government, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both.”

--James Madison in a letter to W. T. Barry

“Until you’ve been in politics, you’ve never really been alive. It’s rough and sometimes it’s dirty and it’s always hard work and tedious details. But, it’s the only sport for grownups—all other games are for kids.” --Robert Heinlein

(Plaque on the desk of Senator Edward Kennedy (D. Mass.)

Alone in his bedroom on a dark and stormy night, the presidential candidate was putting the finishing touches on his announcement speech when the Devil appeared before him.

“Worry not,” the Devil said. “I can grant you a victory in the Iowa caucuses. I can give you the New Hampshire primary, the South, New York, California and all the rest. I will even guarantee you the nomination of your party. But in return, you must sell me your soul.

“You must betray all decent principles. You must pander, trivialize and deceive. You must gain victory by exploiting bigotry, fear, envy and greed. And you must conduct a campaign based on lies, sham, hype and distortion.”

“So?” the presidential candidate replied. “What’s the catch?” --Roger Simon

from the Preface of Road Show

“I’m not an old, experienced hand at politics. But I am now seasoned enough to have learned that the hardest thing about any political campaign is how to win without proving that you are unworthy of winning.” --Adlai Stevenson

“There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible and wrong.”

--H. L. Mencken

“The Divine Afflatus” in A Mencken Chrestomathy

“Our debates have been like the mating of pandas in the zoo—the expectations are high, there is a lot of fuss and commotion, but there’s never any kind of result.” --Bruce Babbitt (Speech in Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 4, 1988)

“Politics I supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” --Ronald Reagan

(Los Angeles Herald Examiner, March 3, 1978)

“Ernest, don’t mistake motion for action.” --Marlene Dietrich to Hemingway

(cited in Heinz Eulau, The Politics of Academic Culture)

“No government is better than the men who compose it.”

--John F. Kennedy (campaign speech, Oct. 16, 1960)

PS360

POLITICAL THEORY

Spring, 2001

Mel Kulbicki, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science

"What unifies the Great Tradition stretching from Socrates to Nietzsche is not a set of doctrines but a series of great debates around a small core of permanent questions; the agreement, such as it is, is on the search, defined by the questions and their permanently paramount importance for man as man, in all times and places."

--Thomas L. Pangle

The Ennobling of Democracy

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES

This course is intended to be an introduction to the study of political theory by means of careful analysis of seminal thinkers of the Western political tradition. It is reading intensive. Topics to be discussed will include the nature and limits of politics, the problem of justice, the role of power, the social contract and political obligation, history and alienation, the nature of the modern state and the impact of ideology. This course will be taught primarily by questioning students on the assigned readings to stimulate sharp and incisive class discussion. There are no pre-requisites for this course beyond your willingness to learn and to involve yourself with some challenging ideas. This course is cross-listed as a philosophy course. [Area II Core requirement]

REQUIRED TEXT

Michael L. Morgan: Classics of Moral and Political Theory (second edition--1996)

Course Guide: (prepared and distributed by your professor)

WHERE TO REACH ME

Office: 331 Life Sciences Building Direct Phone: (717) 815-1269 Campus Ext: 1269

E-mail: mkulbick@ycp.edu FAX: (717) 849-1653

Secretary: Mrs. Rosemary Wivagg: 305 Life Sciences (717) 815-1329 Campus Ext: 1329

Note: There are many ways to get in touch with me. Because of this, I must remind you that there is only one of me and over 150 or so of you. And, I have many obligations beyond the classroom. Please do not clutter my e- or v-mail with pleasantries or just chatter. I reserve the right not to respond to routine pleasantries or queries that are easily answered before or after class or during office hours. With this said, I really enjoy talking to students in person. Please feel free to stop in during office hours. A major advantage of not attending a mega-university is that the smaller schools offer a more personal touch. While e- and v- have a place, they are really distancing and even dehumanizing. Having said this, if you must reach me and cannot do so during office hours, I prefer that you use e-mail rather than v-mail. I lose too many games of phone tag with v-mail. The best use of the phone is to reach me during office hours.

OFFICE HOURS

MW 10:00 to 10:50; TTH 12:30-1:30; M 6:00 –6:25 p.m. & by appointment

Office hours begin on 1/22 and end on 4/27. Appointments only during the last week of class and during the final exam period. Office hours are your time. You are encouraged to stop in during office hours to talk about any problems or suggestions you may have concerning the course; about careers (especially graduate school, law school, or the benefits of majoring or minoring in political science); or just about politics or things in general. I will make every effort to be available during the above times. If professional or college obligations necessitate postponements, I will post a notice on my office door. If you want to talk to me and find the scheduled hours to be inconvenient, feel free to make an appointment.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance is mandatory! You are expected to attend all classes, to do the assigned reading as scheduled, participate in class discussions and submit all papers and homework on time. Failure to be prepared in class will have negative consequences on your final course grade. (Note: being prepared means having read the assignment with some care and thought. It does not mean having the material mastered. This may take a lifetime even for the most careful scholars.) My grading obligation is to verify that you have done the assigned readings and to make a judgment as to your understanding of the course material. To this end, you must assemble a portfolio of work meeting the following standards:

To earn a grade of "C" you must

1. submit a five page or so paper on a single thinker of your choice and receive a grade of "C” or better. There must be at least two sources in this brief paper.(*)

2. submit a five page or so paper on a theme of your choice and receive a grade of "C” or better. There must be at least two sources in this brief paper. (*)

3. do any and all homework on time (often a short paragraph or 1 page paper) and attend class regularly

4. participate in class on occasion.

(*) rather than a thinker/theme set of papers, you may elect to write a paper on Ancient (pre-Machiavelli) theme or topic of your choice and a Modern (post-Machiavelli) theme or topic. In other words, if you choose this option, you could write two “thinker” papers or two “theme” papers as long as one dealt with Ancient thought and one with Modern thought. Let me know before you start paper one what you select.

To earn a grade of "A" you must

1. submit the work required in (1) to (4) above to get a "C" and have at least a “B” or an “A” on the two short papers.

2. submit a longer third paper of 8-10 pages or so. The topic will be assigned during a required office conference which you must schedule with me. There must be at least five sources used in this paper. You must receive an "B" or better on this assignment. The deadline for this conference is Friday, March 24.

3. Submit any and all homework.

4. participate actively in class on a regular basis

A grade of "B" may be awarded to students who have completed the "C" assignments (including participation) exceptionally well) OR to those who have not received the requisite grades on the writing assignments and/or who have not participated adequately enough to earn an "A." A student who is at the "C" level may try for a "B" by taking a final essay exam (blue-book length) during the final exam period. This may be a “take-home” exercise.

A grade of "D" may be awarded to students who habitually miss class, miss deadlines, submit less than satisfactory work, fail to submit assignments and/or never participate in class. A “D” grade may be moved to the “C” level by doing well on the optional take-home. A grade of "F" may be awarded if the deficiencies are even more extreme.

Papers may be re-written once within a suitable time. If you choose to do so, you should speak with me during office hours first. A rewrite does not necessarily lead to a higher grade.

Homework: I will, on occasion, assign brief (1 paragraph or 1 page) assignments. These will be un-graded. I expect you do them thoughtful and turn them in on time. Not submitting them on time may impact on your final grade.

A note on participation: I recognize that not every student feels comfortable participating in class or with the particular subject matter of the course. If you submit a one or two page summary and review of an article dealing with material in this course from either Political Theory, The American Political Science Review, Polity, or Interpretation, I will consider this to rise to an acceptable level of course participation.

EXTRA CREDIT

Given the nature of the grading system in this course, it does not seem to make much sense to offer an extra credit option. I will, however, entertain arguments for extra credit in special or desperate cases. See me in my office during office hours if you want to explore this possibility.

BAD WEATHER AND CLASS CANCELLATIONS

If there is heavy snow or an icy situation, York College may cancel classes or implement a compressed class schedule. Office hours and appointments are canceled if there is compressed start. Listen to WSBA radio [910AM] if the weather is bad. Please do not clog my v or e mail with “Do we have class?” inquiries! The compressed start schedule for this class is as follows:

Regular Class Time 1 Hour Delay 2 Hour Delay

TTh 9:30-10:45 10:00-10:50 10:50-11:30

STATEMENT OF STANDARDS

Students involved in incidences of academic dishonesty will receive a grade of "O" or "F" for the course and may be suspended from the College.
York College recognizes the importance of effective communication in all disciplines and careers. Therefore, students are expected to organize, analyze, synthesize and articulate course material competently in all assignments and tests. Students should possess and use communication skills appropriate to their fields of study, recognize the need for revision as part of the writing process, and use the standard conventions of the English language in writing and speaking. Students may be asked to revise assignments that do not demonstrate effective use of these communication skills.
It is rude and therefore unacceptable to come to class late or to leave early. Don't bother coming if you cannot be on time. If you have a genuine reason to leave class early, please let me know before class begins. Coming late or leaving early is disruptive of the rhythm and mood of the class. I expect you to show respect and sensitivity to your fellow students and to the idea of higher education.

A Personal Note: Over the years I have had a greater than expected problem with plagiarism in this course. Perhaps this is due to the difficulty of the reading. Please talk to me if you are having trouble . Do not put me in a situation where I must fail you for academic dishonesty.

COURSE GUIDE

I have prepared a course guide for you benefit. I expect you to read it all as soon as possible. It is protected by common law copyright and should not be quoted outside of this course without my permission.

CLASS SCHEDULE

I would like to cover all of the thinkers listed below. However, this is seldom possible if class discussion proceeds well. We will begin with Plato and proceed through the text as our discussion leads us and as time permits. While I have arranged the course in chronological order, it is very possible that we skip around and pursue themes and issues in an a-historical approach. In any case we will cover Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Rousseau. The additional thinkers listed are suggestions. You and I will select other thinkers you would like to discuss. An hour of study for each hour of class time would seem to be minimal given the nature of this material. Remember, this is a reading intensive course.

Week 1 Jan. 17-19 Introduction

Week 2 Jan. 22-26 Plato

Week 3 Jan. 29-Feb. 2 Plato

Week 4 Feb. 5-9 Plato

Week 5 Feb. 12-16 Aristotle

Week 6 Feb. 19-23 Augustine

Week 7 Feb. 26-March 2 No Classes

Week 8 March 5-9 Machiavelli FIRST PAPER DUE 3/8

Week 9 March 12-16 Hobbes

Week 10 March 19-23 Hobbes

Week 11 April 26-30 Locke

Week 12 April 2-6 Rousseau

Week 13 April 9-11 Rousseau SECOND PAPER DUE 4/10

Week 14 April 17-20 Marx

Week 15 April 23-27 Marx “A” PAPER DUE 4/26

Week 16 April 30-May 4 Nietzsche

Week 17 May 7-10 Finals OPTIONAL FINAL

READING ASSIGNMENTS

I would like to have you read all of the material in the text but this is not possible in a single course. You should try to read as much as possible of each thinker that we cover in class The sections listed below will form the basis for class discussion. Even so, we may not finish it all. Read the introductory material on each philosopher for some context and background. Note: J.S. Mill is on the reading list but I am not planning to discuss him unless the class dynamics generate a need for his thought. I also intend to allude to Lucretius, Vietus, Descartes, Hegel and Heidegger. I know the reading is difficult and ambitious. I do not expect you to master it. I do expect you to demonstrate that you have wrestled with it (you need not win) and have some thoughts of your own. Don't hesitate to see me if you have any anxiety or need help in any way. It is normal to flounder and feel lost at times. I'll try to help the best I can. This course has no pre-requisites so I understand that much of this will be very new and probably very strange to you.

Plato: selections from The Republic

To the Piraeus and Cephalos pp. 32-35 327a1-332d6

Thrasymachus pp. 40-54 336a1-354c

358a5-358c5

The Ring of Gyges pp. 56-58 358e3-362d8

The City of Pigs pp. 61-68 368c4-376d3

The Gods and the Poets pp. 70-71 379a1-380c5

p. 74-75 386a1-386c2

p. 76-77 388e3-389a6

Music p. 85-86 398c1-399c5

The Guardians pp. 97-100 413c1-417b7

Is Plato Serious? pp. 120-140 449a1-474b

The Cave pp. 167-172 514a1-520d

Parents and Children pp. 185-187 539a-542b

Plato's Political Science pp. 187-208 543a1-571

Aristotle: selections from The Nicomachean Ethics

Appetites, Friendship p. 250-251 1094a1-1094b15

and Politics pp. 275-276 1118b9-1119b20

pp. 343-344 1155a1-1155b15

Six Regimes pp. 351-353 1160a31-1161b10

selections from The Politics

The Polis pp. 385-394 Book 1, 1-9

Ideal Regimes pp. 398-406 Book 2, 1-9

The Citizen pp. 407-411 Book 3, 1-4

Governments pp426-440 Book 4, 1-14

The Good Life pp. 445-450 Book 7, 13

Augustine: selections from The City of God

Sin and the Soul pp. 481-489 Chap. 1-13

Machiavelli: selections from The Prince

Princes, Politics, and Fortune pp. 502-555 Intro., Chaps. I, V, VI, VIII,

X, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XXI,

XXII, XXIII, XXV

selections from The Discourses on Livy pp. 556-580, Greetings, Bk 1 I,II; Bk 2, II; Bk 3, I, IV

Hobbes: selections from Leviathan

Man, Mind, Nature pp. 584-735 Part 1: Of Man

and Politics Intro., Chaps. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10,

11, 13, 14, 15

Part 2:Of Commonwealth

Chaps.17,18, 19, 21,29

Locke: selections from The 2nd Treatise

Property, Politics pp. 739-815 Chaps. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

and Government 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16

Rousseau: selections from The Second Discourse

History and Human Nature pp. 847-907 all, (especially. note 10

selections from The Social Contract pp.908-979

Govt., Legislators, Bk.1, Intro, I, II,

Citizens and Civil VI, VII, VII

Religion Bk.2, I, II, III, VII,

VII, Bk. 4, I, VIII

J. S. Mill: selections from On Liberty

Liberty and Speech pp. 1033-1100 especially Chap. 2

Marx: pp. 1142-1204 especially p. 1162

selections from Estranged Labor

selections from The Communist Manifesto

Nietzsche: selections from Beyond Good and Evil pp.1208-1259

PS361 {Fall, 2001}

American Political Thought

Professor Mel Kulbicki, Ph.D.

"As a nation, we are rather given to asking what we are, what we stand for, what our goals are. It is surprising that this should be so, for we have a national existence of two centuries during which our true being might well have become clearly manifest to us; and we have a written Constitution that was deliberately framed, extensively debated, and has been voluminously interpreted, and which is the official definition of our political essence. Our difficulties in this regard are probably not greater that those of other nations, but our experience is so long and our fundamental law so amply interpreted in civil war, jurisprudence, and scholarship that we are led to wonder not only about the meaning of our essence but about its elusiveness."

Joseph Cropsey: Political Philosophy and the Issues of Politics (1977)

“America is a passionate idea or it is nothing. America is human brotherhood or it is chaos.”

Max Lerner: Actions and Passions (1949)

Course Description and Objectives

This is an advanced course in political theory focusing on the development of the uniquely American understanding of politics. Its objectives are: (1) to introduce you to the major sources of American political thought, (2) to look for themes and patterns within the tradition of American political thought and (3) to appreciate the role of ideas in shaping the American polity. The approach will be philosophical/historical. While there are no formal prerequisites for this course, you will be expected to be familiar with the basic facts of American government and to have a working knowledge of American history. If you have any doubts about your readiness for this course, please see me during the first week of the course.

Where to Reach Me

Office: 331 Life Sciences Building Direct Phone: (717) 815-1269 Campus Ext: 1269

e-mail: mkulbick@ycp.edu FAX: (717) 849-1653

Secretary: Mrs. Rosemary Wivagg 305 Life Sciences (717) 815-1329 Campus Ext: 1329

Note: There are many ways to get in touch with me. Because of this, I must remind you that there is only one of me and over 170 or so of you in all of my courses. And, I have many obligations beyond the classroom. Please do not clutter my e- or v-mail with pleasantries or just chatter. I reserve the right not to respond to routine pleasantries or queries that are easily answered before or after class or during office hours. With this said, I really enjoy talking to students in person. Please feel free to stop in during office hours. A major advantage of not attending a mega-university is that the smaller schools offer a more personal touch. While e- and v- have a place, they are really distancing and even dehumanizing. Having said this, if you must reach me and cannot do so during office hours, I prefer that you use e-mail rather than v-mail. I lose too many games of phone tag with v-mail. The best use of the phone is to reach me during office hours.

Office Hours

MW 11-12 TTH 11-12 M 6:00-6:30 p.m. F 9:15-9:45

Office hours begin on 8/28 and end on 11/30. Appointments only after 11/30. You are encouraged to stop by during office hours to talk about any problems or suggestions you may have concerning the course; about careers, grad or law school or just about politics or things in general. I will make every effort to be available during the above times. Occasionally professional or college obligations may necessitate postponements. If you find the scheduled hours to be inconvenient, feel free to make an appointment.

Required Texts

All students are expected to purchase the following books:

Robert Booth Fowler: The Dance with Community: The Contemporary Debate in American Political Thought
Michael Levy: Political Thought in America (second edition)
Thomas West: Vindicating the Founders

You are also required to watch the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. It is readily available in most video stores and is available in AV. It will also be shown on campus on November 18 as part of the College’s film series.

To earn a grade of "C" you must:

1. submit two (2) five page (or so) papers and receive an average grade of “C” or better. These papers must be grounded in the class readings and discussion. They should begin with a clear thesis statement and follow standard footnote conventions. These papers must be turned on time and MUST reflect material from the class and the assignments to date. Papers can be re-written if desired.

2. submit ten (10) short “homework” assignments. These will be noted but not graded.

3. participate in class on occasion.

To earn a grade of "A" you must:

1. submit the work required in (1) to (3) above to get a "C" and have at least a “B” average on the two short papers.

2. submit a longer third paper of 10-12 pages or so. You MUST schedule an office conference with me and submit a formal proposal and finally a detailed outline or rough draft by the deadlines. Your final paper must be well documented and reveal an awareness of relevant material, sources, etc. beyond what is assigned in the course. You must receive a grade of “B+” or better on this paper.

3. participate actively in class on a regular basis

If you complete all of the requirements for an “A” but fail to get a “B+”, you may take the optional final to possibly get an “A” in the course.

A grade of "B" may be awarded to students who have completed the "C" assignments (including participation) exceptionally well OR who have missed the deadlines set for the “A” paper or receive less than a “B+” on the long paper, AND/OR who have not participated adequately enough to earn an "A." Any student who is at the "C" level may try for a "B" by taking a final essay exam (blue-book length) during the final exam period. You must earn a “B” or better on this exercise.

A grade of "D" may be awarded to students who habitually miss class, miss deadlines, submit less than satisfactory work, fail to submit assignments and/or never participate in class. A “D” grade may be moved to the “C” level by doing well on the optional final. A grade of "F" may be awarded if the deficiencies are even more extreme. An “F” can be raised to a “D” (maybe even a “C”) by doing well on the optional final.

Homework: I will offer topics every week for your consideration. These will require no more than a paragraph or two (never more than a page). They must be submitted on time to count as one your required ten submissions. They will not be graded but they will be recorded and they may serve as the basis for class discussion. All homework responses must be typed or word-processed to be counted.

Optional Final: I will offer a final exam opportunity that may be a take-home exercise or a traditional final exam period essay test. Read the course requirements carefully to see if you want to avail yourself of this opportunity. Extra Credit: Given the grading system in this course, it makes no sense to offer an extra-credit option beyond the possibility of taking the optional final.

Statement of Standards

1. Students involved in incidences of academic dishonesty will receive a grade of "0" or "F" for the course and may be suspended from the College.

2. York College recognizes the importance of effective communication in all disciplines and careers. Therefore, students are expected to organize, analyze, synthesize and articulate course material competently in all assignments and tests. Students should possess and use communication skills appropriate to their fields of study, recognize the need for revision as part of the writing process, and use the standard conventions of the English language in writing and speaking. Students may be asked to revise assignments that do not demonstrate effective use of these communication skills.

3. It is rude and therefore unacceptable to come to class late or to leave early. Don't bother coming if you cannot be on time. If you have a genuine reason to leave class early, please let me know before class begins. Coming late or leaving early is disruptive of the rhythm and mood of the class.

Bad Weather and Class Cancellations

If there is heavy snow or an icy situation, York College may cancel classes or implement a compressed class schedule. Office hours and appointments are canceled if there is compressed start or cancelled class. Listen to the radio or TV for possible announcements if the weather is bad. Please do not clog my v- or e-mail with “Do we have class?” inquiries. If I were in my office reading e-mail or reviewing my v-mail, there most certainly would be class! The compressed start schedule is as follows:

MY REGULAR CLASS TIME 1 HOUR DELAY 2 HOUR DELAY

PS 141 MWF 8:00 8:50 9:00-9:35 10:00-10:25

PS 141 MWF 10:00-10:50 10:30-11:05 11:10-11:35

PS 141 TTH 9:30-10:45 10:00-10:50 10:50-11:30

PS 361 TTH 12:30-1:45 Regular Time Regular Time

PS 141 M 6:30 p.m. Cancelled by separate announcement

Readings Assignments and Tentative Class Schedule

Please come prepared for each class. You are expected to read all of the assigned material. Material may be added to or deleted from the course as necessary. Since the course is discussion-driven, the schedule below can only be approximate. I hope somehow to cover the material in Levy Part VII if time permits.

Week 1 Aug. 28 & 30 Introduction:

Week 2 Sept. 4 & 6 The Dance with Community

Week 3 Sept. 11& 13 (continued) & Levy Part I

Week 4 Sept. 18 & 20 (continued) & Levy Part II

Week 5 Sept. 25 & 27 Levy Part III

Week 6 Oct. 2 & 4 (continued) Deadline for Paper 1

Week 7 Oct. 9 & 11 Vindicating the Founders

Week 8 Oct. 18 (continued) Deadline for A Conference

Week 9 Oct. 22 & 25 Levy Part IV

Week 10 Oct. 30 & Nov. 1 (continued)

Week 11 Nov. 6 & 8 (continued) Outline or Draft Due

Week 12 Nov. 13 & 15 (continued)

Week 13 Nov. 20 The Man who Shot Liberty Valance

Week 14 Nov. 27 & 29 Levy Part V Deadline for Paper 2

Week 15 Dec. 4 & 6 (continued) Final A Paper Due

Week 16 Dec.11 Levy Part VI

Weeks 16 & 17 Dec. 13 to 18 Finals (Schedule to be announced)

About Your Professor

I am a native of Baltimore, Maryland. I earned my B.A. (cum laude) from UMBC (The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, an honors college) and my Masters and Doctorate from The Pennsylvania State University. Before coming to York College in 1976, I taught at Penn State and at Bucknell. My professional activities include authoring over 20 reviews and over 30 articles, papers and columns. I have been fortunate to be the recipient of several grants, including a public lecture grant from The Pennsylvania Council on the Humanities. I work as a news analyst and political consultant (I worked with C-SPAN on their Guide to the 1996 Elections) and have been an officer in several regional professional organizations. I am married with two children and have a cat named Tiggy, short for Antigone. I view myself as ironic, loyal and bemused at the absurdity of much of the world. My hobbies include chess and music, especially jazz. I am deeply concerned about the coarseness and vulgarity of our popular culture. I worry that civility and a sense of citizenship are declining and that the expected and natural partisanship in politics has become poisonous. I enjoy travel, baseball and football, and play a very mediocre game of golf

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR YOUR PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING

Please think hard about the grading system and the deadlines. Deadlines will be taken very seriously in this course! Work may be submitted earlier than scheduled. This is very much encouraged. Unless you do so with regard to the C level papers, you may find it difficult to meet the A level work deadlines. Good time management on your part is essential to success in this course.

“When an American says that he loves his country, he means not only that he loves the New England hills, the prairies glistening in the sun, the wide and rising plains, the great mountains, and the sea. He means he loves an inner air, an inner light, in which freedom lives and in which a man can draw a breath of self-respect.”

--Adlai Stevenson: August 12, 1952

“”But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and civilize me, and I can’t stand it. I been there before.”

--Huck Finn (in Mark Twain’s novel, Huckleberry Finn)

“Let me live where I will, on this side is the city, on that the wilderness, and ever I am leaving the city more and more and withdrawing into the wilderness. I should not lay so much stress on this fact if I did not believe that something like this is the prevailing tendency of my countrymen.”

--Henry David Thoreau

EXCERPTS FROM SOME POPULAR SONGS

America! America! This land is your land

God shed his grace on thee This land is my land

And crown thy good From California

With Brotherhood to the Rio Grand

From sea to shining sea! --Woody Guthrie

--Katherine Lee Bates This Land is Your Land

America the Beautiful

My Country ‘tis of thee God Bless America!

Sweet land of liberty --Irving Berlin

Land where my fathers died

Land of the Pilgrims’ pride

Of thee I sing

--Samuel Francis Smith

America

I’d hammer out danger, How many years must a mountain exist

I’d hammer out a warning, Before it is washed to the sea?

I’d hammer out love between How many years can some people exist

My brothers and sisters Before they’re allowed to be free?

All over this land. How many times can a man turn his head

--Pete Seeger And pretend he just doesn’t see?

If I Had a Hammer The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.

--Bob Dylan

Blowin’ in the Wind

PS141: Fall Semester, 2004

An Introduction to American Government and Politics

Course Description and Objectives

Required Material

Where to Reach Me

Office Hours: MWF 11:00 to 12:00; TTH 9:30-10:30 & by appointment

My Home Page

Attendance Requirements

Names and Desk Signs

Deadlines and Other Expectations

Extra Credit / Make-up Exams

Course Requirements

Statement of Standards

Bad Weather and Class Cancellations

Recommended Reading

Other Recommended Activities

Reading Assignments and Tentative Course Schedule

Some Provocative Closing Quotations

About Your Professor

Mel Kulbicki, Ph.D.

Professor of Political Science

--Alexis de Tocqueville: Democracy in America

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

MW 10:00 to 10:45; TTH 11:00-12:00; M 6:00 –6:25 p.m. & by Appointment

REQUIRED TEXTS

Wilson Carey McWilliams: Beyond the Politics of Disappointment

RECOMMENDED

R.R. Bob Greive: The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Political Victory…and Defeat

[This is an excellent “nuts and bolts,” “how-to-do-it” book. It you ever are involved in an actual campaign, this is the book to consult.]

CLASS ATMOSPHERE

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

STATEMENT OF STANDARDS

BAD WEATHER AND CLASS CANCELLATIONS

READING ASSIGNMENTS & TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

SOME INTERESTING AND RELEVENT CLOSING QUOTATIONS

The Ennobling of Democracy

REQUIRED TEXT

OFFICE HOURS

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

To earn a grade of "C" you must

To earn a grade of "A" you must

EXTRA CREDIT

BAD WEATHER AND CLASS CANCELLATIONS

STATEMENT OF STANDARDS

Where to Reach Me

Office Hours

MW 11-12 TTH 11-12 M 6:00-6:30 p.m. F 9:15-9:45

Required Texts

Recommended Readings

To earn a grade of "C" you must:

To earn a grade of "A" you must:

Statement of Standards

Bad Weather and Class Cancellations

About Your Professor

EXCERPTS FROM SOME POPULAR SONGS

Land where my fathers died