DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLS 150 Section 3 Spring 2008
Kerr Course Title: Democracy in
Office: DU 476 Course Meeting Place: DU 461
Office hours: MWF Course Meeting Time: MWF
and by appointment
Phone: (815) 753-1818 (office)
What This Course Is.
POLS 150, Democracy in America, studies American political and social institutions primarily through the political thought, writings, and speeches of three categories of people: 1.) the nation’s founders and the framers of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution whose work structures the political controversies reappearing through subsequent generations; 2.) office holders who bore responsibility for dealing with these controversies and who both changed and preserved constitutional institutions and democratic thought and practice; and 3.) the influential non-office holders whose thought helped shape public opinion, social change, and law, and whose thought provided insight into both the goodness and badness of American democracy. Among the latter, Tocqueville’s commentary, is still (160 years after its publication) commonly regarded as the best ever written in this regard and is also what gives this course its name and its spirit.
Why a Constitutional and Democratic Focus?
Emphasis is placed on the US Constitution because, as the central legitimating symbol of American political life, citizens need to understand how it frames political controversy and how it influences political and social change. To that end, we will study important debates concerning both democratic institutions and the meaning of liberty and equality from the Founding until now. Such debates include whether we needed a national government and how the framers thought it could be kept from being oppressive; disputes about what political/economic conditions make American democracy possible; successive waves of controversies about whether the suffrage (voting rights) should be expanded; whether the Founders’ Constitution was democratic; whether it was a slave or a free Constitution; whether it recognized the humanity of the Negro, as African-Americans were then called; whether the national government should regulate the economy and provide welfare; disputes about what democratic representation is; whether separation of powers prevents democracy or makes it possible; whether religion is an indispensable political institution or a persistent political problem; what makes one a citizen; what law-abidingness means and whether it is or is not a duty; and the relation of women to democratic government and society.
The persistent and over-arching theme of this class will be the disputed question “What is democracy?” In keeping with its disputed nature, we will study a range of opposing answers. Considerable attention will be given to the perennial dispute on whether democracy, in the most humanly and ennobling sense, is possible primarily through local institutions (as maintained in the American political tradition by the anti-Federalists and Tocqueville); or whether it is possible primarily through national institutions (as maintained by the Progressives, the New Deal, and the Great Society). This dispute turns on whether democracy is understood to involve (or be) primarily “self-government” in that oneself and one’s neighbors are primarily responsible for solving the day-to-day problems of living together (as the Jeffersonian tradition down to the Republican contract with America maintains); or whether democracy is understood to involve (or be) a greater degree of national-level government to regulate the nation’s economy in order to promote “economic democracy” and secure rights (as the Hamiltonian tradition down to modern “civil liberties” and “civil rights” maintains).
Both this over-arching theme and the nature of the readings present a distinctive approach to American democracy and government. The approach is historical, cultural, and philosophic, particularly emphasizing the mutual interdependence of governmental and social institutions. It is further distinguished by its purpose that (unlike POLS 100) is not necessarily to introduce students to the sub-field of American politics, or even to the political science major/minor (although it does that). It is aimed at all students whether or not they enter the course intending further study of political science. Its aim is deepening citizen’s understanding and awareness of persistent issues, arguments, and themes of American democracy’s development.
Required Texts and
Commons Bookstores usually has more of them).
de Tocqueville. Democracy in
2000 (originally published in 1833). Translated, Edited, and with an Introduction by Harvey C. Mansfield and Delba Winthrop.
3. Peter Lawler and Robert Schaefer ed. American Political Rhetoric. Fifth Edition.
Rowman &Littlefield, 2005.
*As we will be reading and referring to particular passages in these texts, it is essential that each student brings a copy of these editions to class.
Attendance at each class meeting is both expected and required. Attendance is defined as “being present when attendance is taken at the beginning of each class and remaining until class is dismissed.” Please do not come late to class, as this is both discourteous and disruptive. Students who come to class after attendance has been taken will be considered absent. If there are special circumstances regarding this matter, please discuss them with the instructor as soon as possible. Students with extended absences due to illness should notify the instructor as promptly as possible during the absence and produce appropriate documentation indicating the nature and duration of the illness. This note should be provided to the instructor at the first class upon returning. The student’s final grade will be reduced half a letter grade for each absence over 5.
Proper participation in class is both required and rewarded. As this is a course concerning the discussion of ideas, simple attendance without participating in discussion is insufficient. The good student will be present and attentive in class as well as actively participating in class discussion by answering questions about the assigned readings, raising their own questions, and volunteering thoughtful observations about the material. Proper class participation also requires that the student behave with proper courtesy and regard for others’ comments. Because most of our classes will involve reading and discussing passages from the assigned texts, students should bring the appropriate readings to each class. Frequent class discussion will foster a classroom environment that will be far more interesting and rewarding than a classroom environment in which the instructor simply lectures every day.
There will be 6 quizzes given throughout the semester. Only 5 of these quizzes will count toward the final grade-the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. However, the remaining ten quizzes comprise 20% of the final grade in the course. The quizzes will consist of 3 or 4 short answer questions to be completed at the beginning of class on the dates specified in this syllabus. Each quiz will cover the class lectures and assigned readings from the preceding week as well as readings assigned for the day of the quiz. Make-up quizzes will be given only with adequate documentation that the absence was unavoidable. The make-up quizzes will be significantly more difficult than the original. It is in the student’s best interest to avoid make-up quizzes if at all possible.
There will be 1 short essay (900-1000 words) assigned on the date specified in below in the syllabus (Monday, March 3rd). Essays are to be handed in at the beginning of class on the due date given in the syllabus below (Friday, March 28th). Late papers will be accepted up to three days after the due date; however, these papers will be docked one letter grade for each day they are late. The 1000-word limit will be taken seriously. Please provide a word count on the first page of your essay. Any paper exceeding the 1000-word limit will be docked one letter grade. Any evidence of plagiarism will be treated in accordance with university and department policies and procedures.
There will be 2 examinations in this course-a midterm examination to be taken in class
(Friday, February 29th) and a comprehensive final examination to be given on the date assigned by the university (Monday, Mayth from ). Students will be expected to bring blue books to both exams. Make-up examinations will be given only with adequate documentation that the absence was unavoidable. The make-up exam will be significantly more difficult than the original. It is in the student’s best interest to avoid make-up exams if at all possible.
Final course grades are based upon the required written assignments, quizzes, and exams, as well as the regularity and quality of class participation, less any penalties due to extended unexcused absences and other non-completed course requirements. The instructor will not give a formal grade for class participation, although she reserves the right to raise a student’s grade if she judges that student’s participation to have been exceptionally good. Grades will not be lowered merely for lack of active class participation.
The instructor will make every reasonable effort to be available to you. If you cannot come during her scheduled office hours, please e-mail her to schedule a mutually convenient appointment. Her office number, phone number, and e-mail address are at the beginning of this syllabus. If you call during her office hours and are unable to reach her, first try to call again in a few minutes. If she is still unavailable, please e-mail her and she will get back to you promptly.
STATEMENT CONCERNING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable
accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those students with
disabilities that may have some impact on their coursework and for which they
may require accommodations should notify the Center for Access-Ability
Resources (CAAR) on the fourth floor of the
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE WEBSITE
Undergraduates are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site on a regular basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study, researching career options, tracking department events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach this site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu/
1. Class Participation--The best way to prepare for each class is to do the readings at least once
(some require more than one reading) prior to the first day we begin each unit. You will be
much better able to participate in discussion and to grasp the class discussions if you have
2. Good Note Taking—Good note taking is important to your success in this class. Learn to
listen carefully to the arguments made and write them down as best as you can. Review your
notes after class to see if they make sense. By reviewing them soon after they are taken,
sometimes you can remember things that will make sense out of what is confusing. Be sure to
write down the questions asked by the instructor and those asked by other students. If you
write down their questions, as well as their answers, you will benefit.
3. Establish Study Groups—Get together with other students periodically to go over one
another’s notes. If you got 50% of the lecture and your study partners got 50%, perhaps among
you all, you will have 75%. What remains unclear can be discussed with the instructor.
* The following schedule is meant to serve as a broad outline of the course. The instructor reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to the schedule if necessary.
Overview of the course syllabus
Introduction: What is liberal education and how does the
study of democracy in
Horace Mann, “Go
Martin Luther King, Jr., “The Purpose of Education,” 1948, RP pp.175-176
I. What is American democracy? How American ideas of democracy have both changed
and stayed the same.
B. The Declaration of Independence, in Lawler, pp.1-4.
MONDAY 01/21 NO CLASS-DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
C. At the Founding: Two kinds of “popular government” and the problem of “faction.”
1. How the Founders distinguished between two kinds of popular governments:
“democracy" and “republic.” Federalist Papers #14 in RP, p.161; Federalist Papers #63
in RP, pp.60-61; and Federalist Papers #39 in Lawler, pp.45-49.
FRIDAY 01/25 QUIZ #1
2. The problem of “faction” in “popular governments” and the Founders’ solution.
Federalist Papers #10 in Lawler, pp.15-21.
D. Jeffersonian Democracy: Thomas Jefferson, Agriculture vs. Manufacturing as ways of
social life (1782), RP, pp.161-162. First and Second Inaugural Addresses (1801, 1805) in
RP, pp.3-11. “On Citizenship,” RP, pp.33-35.
E. Tocquevillian Democracy:
1. Equality of Conditions. DA “Author’s Introduction,” pp.3-7; pp.45-53; pp.479-482.
FRIDAY 02/01 QUIZ #2
2. Majority Rule. DA “The
Principle of the Sovereignty of the People of
“The Omnipotence of the Majority in the
Effects,” p.165; pp.235-245; pp.250-251.
4. Rights. DA
“The Idea of Rights in the
F. Slavery and Democracy:
1. Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia (1784), Lawler, pp.247-248.
2. Abraham Lincoln, “Address Delivered at the Dedication of the Cemetery at
3. William Lloyd Garrison, (1843) in RP, pp.11.
4. Frederick Douglass, speech at
Fourth for the Negro” in RP, pp.12-24.
5. Abraham Lincoln, “Reply to
G. Economic Democracy: The Progressives, the New Deal, and the Great Society.
1. Theodore Roosevelt, “Two Noteworthy Books on Democracy,” in RP, pp.25-27.
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Commonwealth Club Campaign Speech,” (1932) in Lawler,
3. Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Message on
the State of the
Rights”) (1944) in RP, pp.28-29.
B. Johnson, “Commencement Address at the
in Lawler, pp.208-210.
H. Civil Liberties Democracy
I. Civil Rights Democracy
Martin Luther King, Jr., “I Have a Dream” speech (1963) in RP, pp.30-33.
II. What political institutions enable American democracy to exist?
FRIDAY 02/15 QUIZ #3
1. Who did the original Constitution provide who could vote? For what offices? For Congress: US Constitution
Article I, Section 2, Clause 1 and Article I, Section 3, Clause 1 in Lawler,
pp.405-406. For President:
2. What are voting and elections for? How important did the Founders think that the
right to vote is? Federalist Papers #52 in RP, pp.38-39.
3. Who should have a right to vote? Federalist Papers #39 in Lawler, pp.45-46.
4. What is “universal suffrage”?
Convention of 1821, in RP, pp.39-43.
b.) DA, “Universal Suffrage,” pp.53-55, p.187, p.230.
WEDNESDAY 02/20 HAND OUT THE MIDTERM EXAM REVIEW GUIDE
5. Voting and Equality (of social conditions) and voting. Review Tocqueville, DA,
a.) Extending the right to vote to women
1.) The argument from rights. “The
2.) The argument from practical considerations. Jane Addams, “Why Women
Should Vote,” (1910) in RP, pp.47-49.
WEDNESDAY 02/20 CONTINUED:
3.) Is voting a right of democratic citizenship? Minor v. Happersett (1875) in RP,
(1920) in Lawler, pp.419, 421.
b.) Extending the right to vote to blacks
1.) US Constitution, 15th Amendment (1870) in Lawler, p.420.
2.) Lyndon B. Johnson, “Address on Voting Rights,” (1965) in RP, pp.52-58.
c.) Extending the right to vote to 18 year olds.
1.) US Constitution, 26th Amendment (1971) in Lawler, p.425.
6. Are there any principled limits on the right to vote consistent with democracy, in
terms of either rights or practice?
a.) DA , pp.187-193.
b.) “The Motor-voter Act,” (1994) Carol Moseley-Braun in RP, pp.59-60.
7. Who/what should voters have a right to vote for (directly)?
a.) The Constitution’s answer: They should be able to vote for their representatives, but not directly for laws, in RP, pp.60-61.
1.) Why was the Senate originally selected by state legislatures and why was that
changed by the 17th Amendment? Federalist Papers #63, Lawler, pp.84-86.
2.) Why is the President elected through the “Electoral College” rather than
through “direct popular election”? US Constitution, Article II, Section 1,
Clauses 2-4, and 12th Amendment in Lawler, pp.411-412; 418-419.
3.) Why is the Supreme Court appointed rather than elected? Federalist Papers
#78, in Lawler, pp.120-126.
b.) The Progressives’ answer: Voters should be able to legislate directly (initiative
and referendum) because representation has failed.
1.) Theodore Roosevelt, “The Heirs of Abraham Lincoln,” (1913) in RP,
2.) Theodore Roosevelt, “The Recall of Judicial Decisions,” (1912) in RP, pp.61-68.
c.) Constitutional limits on citizen’ right to vote for representatives
1.) Fixed terms of office/progressive arguments for recall/”term limits”
2.) Constitutional requirements to hold office: age, residency, and citizenship. US Constitution Article I, Section 2, Clause 2, and Article I, Section 3, Clause 3. Article II, Section 1, Clauses 3 and 5. In Lawler, pp.405, 406; 411-412.
FRIDAY 02/29 MIDTERM EXAM (In class, short answer, fill in the blank, definitions of
key vocabulary terms, and who said what). Be sure to bring BLUEBOOKS!
MONDAY 03/03 PAPER TOPIC ASSIGNED
B. Representation, Political Parties, and Interest Groups
1. The Founders’ Concern: What should democratic representation do?
a.) Alexander Hamilton, Publius Letter, III (1778), “On the Character of the Legislator,”
in RP, pp.59-60.
b.) Federalist Papers #10 in Lawler, pp.15-21; #57 in Lawler, pp.79-81; #71 in Lawler,
pp.87-88; #52 in RP pp.38-39.
c.) DA, p.165, pp.166-172.
C. Separation of Powers
1. What is separation of powers and why is it necessary? Federalist Papers #47 in Lawler,
2. What is separation of powers for?
a.) To secure liberty and protect us from tyranny
1.) Federalist Papers #48, #51, and #71 in Lawler, pp.27-31, 34-38, and 87-88.
2.) Justice Brandeis in Myers v. US (1926) in RP, pp.89-90.
b.) To make possible an energetic executive “independent” of the legislature
1.) Federalist Papers #37 in RP, pp.90-92 (combining stability and energy)
2.) Federalist Papers #70 in Lawler, pp.86-87.
3.) DA , “Foreign Affairs” pp.217-220.
c.) To make possible an independent judiciary to enforce the Constitution and laws
1.) Federalist Papers #78 in Lawler, pp.120-121.
2.) Thomas Jefferson, “Against Judicial Review,” (1815) in RP, pp.92-93.
MONDAY 03/10-FRIDAY 03/14 NO CLASS-SPRING BREAK
MONDAY 03/17 HAND BACK AND DISCUSS MIDTERM EXAMS
D. Federalism: What is it and why do we have it?
1. US Constitution, Article I, Sections 8 and 9, in Lawler, pp.408-409. 10th Amendment, in
2. Distinction between “federal” and “national.” Federalist Papers #39 in Lawler, pp.45-49.
a.) Important terms: “the federal government,” “the national government,” “the general
government,” “sovereignty,” and “division of sovereignty.”
FRIDAY 03/21 QUIZ #4
3. DA, pp.62-63; pp.57-58; pp.149-154; and p.245, note 1.
4. Ronald Reagan, “The State of the Union Address,” (1982) in Lawler, pp.60-62.
5. Garcia v. San Antonio (1985) in Lawler, pp.62-66.
E. Religion as a political institution
1. DA , pp.42-44; pp.275-277; pp.278-282; pp.282-288; pp.417-419.
2. US Constitution, 1st Amendment (1791) in Lawler, p.416.
3. George Washington, “Farewell Address,” (1796) in Lawler, pp.43-44.
4. George Washington, “Thanksgiving Proclamation,” (1789) in RP, pp.93-94; James
Abraham Lincoln, “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” (1863) in RP, pp.95-96.
FRIDAY 03/28 PAPER DUE
III. Persistent questions about the meaning of liberty and equality in American democracy
A. Religion as a political problem:
1. Thomas Jefferson, “A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom,” (1786), in RP,
2. Thomas Jefferson, Letter to “Nehemiah Dodge and Others, A Committee of the
Baptist Association, in the state of
3. Thomas Jefferson First Inaugural Address (1801) and Second Inaugural Address (1805)
in RP, pp.3-11.
4. Justice Hugo Black, Everson v. Board of Education (1947) in RP, pp.99-104.
5. Ronald Reagan, “Remarks at an
FRIDAY 04/04 QUIZ #5
B. Women and democracy in
1. Tocqueville’s view of women’s equality and its consequences for democracy. DA,
p.274, pp.278-279, and pp.563-576.
2. A contemporary view of women’s equality and its relation to democracy.
a.) “Change: From What to What,” Keynote speech by Barbara Jordan to the
Democratic National Convention, July 1992, in RP, pp.108-110.
b.) Jeanne Kirkpatrick, “Address to the Women’s Forum” (1984), in Lawler, pp.328-330.
C. Citizenship: What makes one an American? Proposition 187 and the recent
1. Being born here or being naturalized? US Constitution 14th Amendment, in Lawler,
2. Dedication to the proposition that all men are created equal.
a.) The Declaration of Independence, Lawler, pp.1-4
b.) Abraham Lincoln, Reply to
Taney, in RP, pp.121-128.
d.) Abraham Lincoln, “Speech on
the Dred Scott Decision,”
e.) Frederick Douglass, “Speech on the Dred Scott Decision, “
f.) Frederick Douglass, “The Meaning of July
Fourth for the Negro,”
RP, pp.11-13, 20-21;
g.) Stephen A. Douglas, Speech
from the fifth debate at
1858, in RP, pp.113-116.
h.) Abraham Lincoln, Reply to
D. Affirmative Action: Should constitutional rights belong to individuals or to groups?
1. Robert Goldwin, “Why Blacks, Women, and Jews are not mentioned in the
Constitution,” (1987) in RP, pp.76-85.
FRIDAY 04/18 QUIZ #6
2. Bill Clinton, “Mend it Don’t End It,” (1995) in RP, pp.163-168.
3. Ward Connerly, “With
4. Representative J.C. Watts (2000) in RP, p.173.
E. Law-abidingness: Should I obey the law?
1. Remember the Declaration of
of revolution successfully require law-abidingness? Or is lawlessness built into the
foundational principles of American political life?
2. What is law-abidingness?
a.) Is disagreement with the Supreme Court disobedience to the law?
Lincoln, “Speech on the Dred Scott
Douglass, “The Dred Scott Decision, “
WEDNESDAY 04/23 HAND OUT THE FINAL EXAM REVIEW GUIDE
3. Why do/should we obey the law?
a.) Out of enlightened self-interest. DA, pp.225-227.
b.) Because it is self-imposed. DA, pp.229-231.
c.) Out of public spirit. Abraham Lincoln, “The Perpetuation of Our Political
Institutions,” (1838) in RP, pp.137-142.
4. Civil Disobedience: Is law-abidingness sometimes neither good nor a duty? Martin
Luther King, Jr. “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” (1963) in RP, pp.143-153.
WEDNESDAY 04/30 CATCH-UP DAY
FRIDAY 05/02 IN-CLASS REVIEW SESSION FOR FINAL EXAM
MONDAY 05/05 FINAL EXAM (Essay and short answers-including
definitions of key vocabulary terms and who said what). Be sure to bring