| Click on the date
of the class or topic to go to the notes. I generally try to post notes on the weekend, so please be
patient if they are not on-line right away. Remember, the notes are not substitutes
for reading the textbook or for attending class. You remain responsible for all material covered in the
text whether or not it is discussed in class or appears on my notes pages.
If you misplace an assignment or study guide, you will find it here or
under Paper Assignments. Tony Ball
|
| Date(s) |
Topic |
Assigned
Reading (to be done prior to class) |
| 1/18 |
Introductions,
Overview of American Democracy |
None |
| Part I: Our Constitutional System |
| 1/23 |
The
Scope and Manner of Government |
Chapter
1 |
| 1/25 |
The Constitution:
History |
Chapter
2, pages 22-43 |
| 1/30 |
The
Constitution: Change |
Chapter
2, pages 43-51 |
| 2/1 |
Federalism |
Chapter 3 |
| 2/6
and 2/8 |
The
First Amendment Rights |
Chapter
4, pages 79-96 |
| 2/13 |
Group
Exercise: Applying the First Amendment to Real People |
TBA
(To Be Announced) |
| 2/15 |
The
Constitutional Rights of Criminal Defendants |
Chapter
4, pages 96-102 |
| 2/20
and 2/22 |
The
Constitutional Right to Privacy |
Chapter
4, pages 102-105, additional material TBA |
| 2/27
and 3/1 |
The
Constitution and Equality |
Chapter
4, pages 105-131 |
| 3/6 |
Test #1
(Covering Chapters 1-4; Classes 1/18 through 3/1); Paper Assignments
Distributed |
None |
| Part II: Links Between the People and
Government |
| 3/8 |
Public
Opinion and Political Action |
Chapter
5 |
| 3/13 |
The
Mass Media |
Chapter
6 |
| 3/15 |
Political Parties |
Chapter
7 |
| 3/20
and 3/22 |
Spring
Break: No Classes |
|
| 3/27
and 3/29 |
Campaigns
and Voting Behavior |
Chapter
8 |
| 4/3 |
Interest
Groups |
Chapter
9 |
| 4/5 |
Test
#2 (Covering Chapters 5-9; Classes 3/8 through 4/3); Budget
Exercise Assigned |
None |
Part III: Institutions
and Policymaking |
| 4/10 |
Congress |
Chapter
10, additional material TBA |
| 4/12 |
The
Presidency |
Chapter
11 |
| 4/17 |
The
Federal Bureaucracy |
Chapter
12 |
| 4/19 |
The
Federal Courts |
Chapter
13 |
| 4/24 |
Taxing,
Spending and Social Welfare |
Chapter
14, Budget Exercises Due |
| 4/26 |
Test
#3 (Covering Chapters 10-14; Classes 4/10 through 4/24) |
None |
| 5/1 |
Final
Paper Presentations |
Final
Papers Due |
| 5/3 |
Final
Paper Presentations; Wrap-Up |
None |
The
Final Examination
will be on 5/15,
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The final will be cumulative, meaning it will cover material from
the entire course.
|
