Introduction to Political Science, Spring, 2023

PL SI 111, 9:30 to 10:45, Tue and Thurs, Peck 0304

Professor Mark Somma, msomma@siue.edu; office Peck 0411
Office Hours: by appointment

Examinations and Quizzes:

Three examinations will be given. Each examination is worth 100 points. The first two examinations,
Feb. 17th and Mar. 30th, will be taken in-class without any notes or reference materials available. The
third examination will be on Blackboard.

Two written assignments are also due, Jan. 31 and Mar 14.. The assignments are due on the day that
they appear in the syllabus. Late assignments are not accepted for credit. See the syllabus for more
details on the assignments. A total of 100 points is available for the written assignments. Submit your
assignment to me as a pdf or Microsoft Word document via email.

So, a total of 400 points is available in this course. Grades will be based on your total percentage score.

Strict adherence to university policy on cheating and plagiarism will be maintained. Any violation
of university policy on cheating and plagiarism will be reported to the appropriate university
officials.

Attendance:
Missed examinations can only be made up after requesting a makeup.

It is the student's responsibility to withdraw properly from any class he/she does not intend to
complete. Failure to withdraw may result in a failing grade.

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order
to meet course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible so that the necessary
accommodations can be made.

Cheating and Plagiarism: "Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive
acts for the purpose of improving one's grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include
assisting another student to do so. Typically, such acts occur in relation to examinations.
However, it is the intent of this definition that the term 'cheating' not be limited to examination
situations only, but that it include any and all actions by a student that are intended to gain an
unearned academic advantage by fraudulent or deceptive means. Plagiarism is a specific form of
cheating which consists of the misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of others by
misrepresenting the material (i.e., their intellectual property) so used as one's own work." Penalties for
cheating and plagiarism range from a 0 or F on a particular assignment, through an F for the course, to
expulsion from the university. Disruptive Classroom Behavior: "The classroom is a special environment
in which students and faculty come together to promote learning and growth. It is essential to this
learning environment that respect for the rights of others seeking to learn, respect for the professionalism
of the instructor, and the general goals of academic freedom are maintained. Differences of viewpoint or
concerns should be expressed in terms which are supportive of the learning process, creating an
environment in which students and faculty may learn to reason with clarity and compassion, to share of
themselves without losing their identities, and to develop and understanding of the community in which
they live ... Student conduct which disrupts the learning process shall not be tolerated and may lead to
disciplinary action and/or removal from class."
 Readings:
Required readings are on Blackboard.

Jan 10 Basics in Quantitative Analysis

Read “Twentieth Century Political Science” on Blackboard
Read “An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy” on Blackboard

Jan 12 No class today. Video on Blackboard. “Language of Analysis”

Jan 17-19 Hamilton v Jefferson: The American Political Debate

Read “US Constitution” on Blackboard

Jan 24 Hamilton v Jefferson: The American Political Debate

Read “Future of History” by Francis Fukuyama on Blackboard

Jan 26 No class today. Video on Blackboard. “Hamilton v Jefferson”

Jan 31 Basics in Political Economics

Read “Arguing with Zombies” and “On the Disassembly Line” on Blackboard
Write a 3-page essay using the Hamilton-Jefferson debate to assess a
contemporary US political issue. Do not use hyperbolic language; write an
argument, but don't be argumentative. Do not set up straw men to knock down; do not
engage in personal attacks. Be humble; these are complex questions not easily answered.
Punctuation, spelling, organization, and sentence structure count. Edit and proofread your
work.

Feb 2 No class today. Video on Blackboard. Basics in Political Economics

Read “Arguing with Zombies” on Blackboard

Feb 7-9 Basics in International Relations

Read “Clash of Civilizations” and “Corporate Military” on Blackboard

Feb 14 Review for 1st exam

Feb 16 1st Examination in-class

Feb 21-23 Presidential Elections (and Primaries) and Voter Behavior

Read “Why Trump Was Good for GOP……..” by David Shor on Blackboard

Feb 28-Mar 1 Basics in Congressional Committees and Elections

Read “Congress The Electoral Connection” and “Home Style” on Blackboard
Read “Jacobson Strategic Challengers” on Blackboard

Mar 7-9 Spring break

Mar 14 Basics in Interest Groups
Read “The Logic of Collective Action” on Blackboard
Read “Kingdon Policy Windows” on Blackboard

Write a 3-page essay assessing the chances of Republican, Democrats or both

in the 2022 Congressional elections. Use material from Mar 1-3 on Congress.

Mar 16 Basics in Interest Groups

Read “The Logic of Collective Action” on Blackboard
Read “Kingdon Policy Windows” on Blackboard

Mar 21 Basics in Media and Politics:

Identity, Monetizing Celebrity and the Activist Catalog

Mar 23 No class today. Video on Blackboard “Basics in Media and Politics:

Identity, Monetizing Celebrity and the Activist Catalog”

Mar 28 Review for 2nd exam

Mar 30 2nd Examination in-class

Apr 4-6 Basics in the Supreme Court

Read “Federalist 78” on Blackboard
Read “Letter from Birmingham Jail” on Blackboard
Read “Cynical Realism” on Blackboard

Apr 11-13 The Rise of Executives and Administrative Evil

Read “The Two Faces of Power” on Blackboard
Read “The Problem of Administrative Evil” on Blackboard

Apr 18-20 Basics in Environmental Policy

Read “Tragedy of the Commons” and “All the News is Bad” on Blackboard

Apr 25 Review for third exam

Apr 27 3rd exam on Blackboard

Final Thoughts

University education can be very difficult. No one goes through the process unscathed. This course, like
many others, is intended to be challenging. If you begin to feel out of control or afraid that you do not
understand the material, or if you just want to talk about it, come and see me. Don't sit around and worry
until it is too late. I want to help you.