The US Presidency

Political Science 4/567

Spring 2008

 

Location: 112 Lillis

Time:  MW 10-11:20 am

 

 

Professor: Joseph Lowndes                                                                              tel: 346-1478

Office: PLC 919                                                                    email: jlowndes@uoregon.edu

Office hours: Thurs 9am-12pm

 

Graduate teaching fellow:  Abdurrahman Pasha                                              tel:346-4128

Office: PLC  261                                                                      email: apasha@uoregon.edu

Office hours:

 

Course description:

In this course we will examine the origins and historical development of the US presidency, the institutional context in which presidential leadership takes place, and the extent and limits of presidential authority.  Among the topics we will explore are the following: the nature of executive power; founding debates about the role of the executive; historical nature of the institution, the presidency in political culture the dynamics of presidential selection; and the role of the president in wartime.  

 

Requirements for PS467:

  • Students are expected to attend all class sessions, having completed the readings and prepared to participate in class discussions.   
  • One in-class midterm exam, worth 35% of the final grade
  • One four-to-five page paper (double-spaced) worth 25% of the final grade.
  • One final exam worth 40% of the final grade.

 

There will be no late papers or make-up examinations without a note form a physician or the dean’s office.  Neither can we reschedule examinations ahead of time.  So, please review the schedule and plan accordingly. 

 

Requirements for PS567:

  • Students are expected to attend all class sessions, having completed the readings and prepared to participate in class discussions.   
  • One twenty-page research paper.  Topic and research reading list must be cleared by me in consultation with student by the end of fifth week.

 

 

Class Policies

  1. CLASSROOM CONDUCT: We are all accountable to create a climate of mutual respect in the classroom. While differences of opinion and perspective are vital and will be encouraged, common courtesy as well as University policy prohibit personal attacks and discriminatory conduct.
  1. READING: This is a reading intensive course. Students must come to class having read all the assigned materials and prepared to engage in active discussion.
  1. RE-GRADING OF EXAM: You may request the re-grading of materials that have been graded by the instructor or the GTF.  If you wish to make such a request, you will be asked to provide a written explanation of why you wish to have the assignment re-graded.  
  1. EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE: Please identify yourself and the name of our course in all correspondence with the instructor and GTF. Do not expect an immediate response to your email—it is not appropriate to ask a question about an exam on the night before it is to be taken.
  1. ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Wireless devices including Blackberries and cell phones must be turned off prior to class. I strongly prefer that laptops not be used during class, you must see me personally if you would like to be exempted from this rule. 
  1. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM: All work submitted in this course must be your own and produced exclusively for this course. The use of sources (ideas, quotations, paraphrases) must be properly acknowledged and documented. For the consequences of academic dishonesty, refer to the Schedule of Classes published quarterly. Violations will be taken seriously and are noted on student disciplinary records. If you are in doubt regarding the requirements, please consult with the instructor before you complete any requirement of the course. Please review the University’s policies at:   http://studentlife.uoregon.edu/judicial/conduct/sai.htm
  1. DISABILITY SERVICES: If you have a documented disability and anticipate needing accommodations in this course, please make arrangements to meet with me soon. Please bring a notification letter from Disability Services outlining your approved accommodations. For information on Disability Services, go to http://ds.uoregon.edu/DS_home.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course materials:

There are five required texts for the course, available at the UO Bookstore:

  • Milkis and Nelson, The American Presidency: Origins and Development 1776-2002. CQ Press, Fourth Edition.
  • Pfiffner and Davidson, Understanding the Presidency. Longman, Third Edition.
  • Skowronek, Stephen, Presidential leadership in Political Time: Reprise and Reappraisal.  University of Kansas Press, 2007
  • John McCain, Worth the Fighting For
  • Barack Obama, Audacity of Hope OR Hillary Clinton, Living History

 

*****All other readings for the course will be available on Blackboard*****

 

Week One:  What is Executive Power?

March 31: Course introduction

 

April 2:    

1.      Pfiffner, Readings 1-3

2.      Machiavelli, The Prince, selected sections

 

Additional reading for 567: Mansfield, Taming the Prince

 

Week Two: Origins of the US Presidency

April 7:  

1.      Milkis and Nelson, Chapters 1 and 2

 

April 9:

1.      Pfiffner, Readings 7, 8, 9, 10

 

Additional reading for 567: Finish Mansfield, Taming the Prince

 

 

Week Three:  Theorizing Presidential Politics

April 14:

      1.   Skowronek, Chapters 1

      2.   Pfiffner: Reading 11: “The Presidency in the Political Order”

 

April 16:

1.      Skowronek,  Chapter 2

2.      Pfiffner, Reading 36: Neustadt  

 

Additional reading for 567: Steven Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make

    

Week Four:  The Historical Presidency 1

April 21: 

1.      Milkis and Nelson, Chapters 3 and 4

 

April 23:

1.      Milkis and Nelson, Chapter 6: “The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln”

 

 

Additional reading for 567: Finish Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make

 

 

Week Five:  The Historical Presidency 2

April 28:

1.      Milkis and Nelson, Chapters 8, 11

 

 April 30: In-class midterm exam

1.      Milkis and Nelson, Chapter 12

 

Additional readings for 567:

1.      Milkis, “The President in the Vanguard: Lyndon Johnson and the Civil Rights Insurgency”

 

Week Six:  Bush and the Imperial Presidency

May 5:

1.       Skowronek, Chapter 3, 4

 

May 7:

2.      Skowronek, Chapter 5

3.      Pfiffner, Reading 47, 48

 

 Additional readings for 567:

1.      Sanders, “Presidents and Social Movements: A Logic and Preliminary Results”

 

Week Seven: The Presidency as Myth and Symbol

May 12: Take-home essay questions distributed

1.      Anne Norton, “The President as Sign”

2.      Pfiffner, Reading 12

 

May 14:

1.      Pfiffner, Reading 14, 17

 

Additional reading for 547:

     1. Michael Rogin, “Ronald Reagan the Movie”

 

Week Eight: Presidential Campaigns 1  

May 19: Take-home essays due at beginning of class

1.      Begin John McCain, Worth the Fighting For

 

May 21.

1.      Worth the Fighting For continued

 

Additional reading for 547:

1.      Richard Bensel, “A Calculated Enchantment of Passion: Bryan and the ‘Cross of Gold’ in the 1896 Democratic National Convention”

 

Week Nine: Presidential Campaigns 2

 

May 26: No class – Memorial Day:

 

May 28:   Begin Obama, Audacity of Hope OR Clinton, Living History

 

Additional reading for 547: tba

 

 

Week Ten: Presidential Campaigns 3

June 2:  

1.       Obama, Audacity of Hope OR Clinton, Living History

 

June 4:  Course wrap-up

 

Final Exam: Tuesday, June 10, 10:15am