Congress & Presidency
Political Science 166
Spring 2001
WWW Resources
See also Professor Munger's
Links Page
Syllabus
Michael C. Munger
michael.munger@duke.edu
Office: Perkins Library, Room 214b
Office Phone: 966-4301
Home Phone: 844-0154 |
M W F 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
West Duke 108B
Office Hours: 1:30 -2:30 pm, T, Th
and by appointment |
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Policy in the United States is made within a framework of “divided government”:
Some powers the Constitution awards to the President, and others are controlled
by the Congress. The two branches have a relationship that can be
characterized as both adversarial and cooperative. In particular,
the executive controls most of the machinery of implementation and enforcement,
and has the power to make appointments to government departments and regulatory
agencies. Congress controls “the purse,” with power over agencies’
budgets, as well has having final say over who can be appointed.
Further, Congress can pass legislation the creates, or destroys, agencies
and departments.
Understanding this tension between Congress and the President is fundamental
to understanding the U.S. policy process. In this course, we will
look at the two branches in detail, and examine both theories and case
studies of how they interact.
I encourage you to read a newspaper every day, at least for the duration
of the class. We will often talk about “current events” in
class, and try to place these events in the context of the larger political
system we are studying.
PAPER:
You will be asked to write a 10 page paper, which you will present
in class at the end of the semester. This paper should be a specific policy
recommendation for change, or continuation, of an actual policy being considered
by Congress, or advocated by the President. Your main task is to persuade
the rest of the class that your argument works. This is NOT a term paper;
you will be making a real world policy argument, and are welcome to use
whatever evidence, or materials seem relevant. I will ask questions,
and so will the rest of the audience, to try to ferret out weaknesses in
your argument. A 1 page outline of your paper is due the last class
period before spring break, on Thursday, March 9.
GRADES:
Grades for this class will be derived from the students performance
on a midterm exam, a final exam, and the ten page paper, as well as class
participation. These will have the following weights:
| ITEM |
WEIGHT
|
1. Midterm
In class, 60 minutes, combination multiple choice & short answer. |
20%
|
2. Final Exam
Essay format, in scheduled exam period (5/1, 9 am - noon). |
35%
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3. 10-page policy paper and Presentation
These papers will be graded on both content and style. Must be
typed. |
35% (20% paper, 15% presentation)
|
| 4. Class Participation |
10%
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| TOTAL |
100%
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TEXTS:
The main texts for the course are:
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Jeffrey Birnbaum and Alan Murray, SHOWDOWN AT GUCCI GULCH
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Melvin Hinich and Michael Munger, ANALYTICAL POLITICS
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Burdett Loomis, THE CONTEMPORARY CONGRESS
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Richard Neustadt, PRESIDENTIAL POWER AND THE MODERN PRESIDENTS
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Bob Woodward, THE AGENDA: INSIDE THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE (this is an Audio
Tape!)
In addition, there are occasional handouts and other assignments that will
be distributed as the semester progresses.
READING SCHEDULE:
Organizational Meeting: January 10
January 15: No Class--MLK Day!
Week 1 (Jan 15, 17 and 19): The Rules of the Game
Reading:
Week 2 (Jan 22, 24, and 26): The President: The Power to
Persuade
Reading:
Week 3 (Jan 29, 31, and Feb 2): Congress I: Organization
and Structure
Readings:
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Fenno, “Congressmen and Committees: A Comparative Analysis” (Reserve)
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Nelson Polsby, "The Institutionalization of the U.S. House of Representatives,"
American
Political Science Review, Vol. 62, No. 1. (Mar., 1968), pp. 144-168.(JSTOR)
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Loomis, Chapters 1-5
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GW Bush's Inaugural Address 2001 go
get it!
Week 4 (Feb 5, 7 and 9): The Problem of Institutional Design--Collective
Choice
Readings:
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Hinich and Munger, Chapter 3
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Mayhew, “Congress and the Electoral Connection” (Reserve)
Week 5 (Feb 12 and 14): Congress II: Decision Making and
Delegation
Reading:
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Kingdon, “Models of Legislative Voting” (Reserve)
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McCubbins and Schwartz, “Congressional Oversight Overlooked” (Reserve)
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Loomis, Chapters 6, 7, 9, and 10
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Hinich and Munger, Chapter 5
Feb 16: Review for Midterm
Week 6 (Feb 21 & Feb 23): Policy Case I: The Tax
Reform Act of 1986
Reading:
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Birnbaum, et al., entire.
Weeks 7-8 (Feb 26, 28 and March 2, 5, 7, and 9): The Organization
of the Executive Branch
Reading:
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Neuestadt, Chapters 4-8
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Executive Branch on the Web: White
House
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Loomis, Chapter 8
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P. J. O'Rourke, Parliament of Whores, pp. 27-94 (optional) (Reserve)
NOTE: 1 page outline of paper topic due on March 9!!!!
NOTE: No class on March 12, 14, or 16: Spring
Break!
Week 9 (March 19, 21, and 23): Policy Case II:
The Deficit Reduction Act of 1993
Reading:
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Woodward, The Agenda, Entire
Week 10 (March 26, 28 & 30):
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Ferguson, “From Normalcy to New Deal” (On Reserve)
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Hinich and Munger, Chapters 6, 7 and 9
Week 11 (April 2 and 4) Impeachment
Reading:
Weeks 12-14 (April 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23):
Paper Presentations (12 Minutes, Maximum)
Last Class (April 25): Finish Paper Presentations, and Course
Review
EXAM FOR THIS CLASS: