PSC/LES 201

The American Political System

14 Weeks Spring 2024 (January 16th–May 4th)
In Person MW 10-11:15am PAC 3F
Instructor: Isabel Skinner PhD., Assistant Professor, School of Politics and
International Affairs
Email: iwill21@uis.edu
Class Format: In Person, 3 credits, Mondays & Wednesdays 10:00-11:15am PAC 3F
Office hours: Tuesday 10am-12pm PAC 352 or by Zoom
https://uis.zoom.us/j/6369365974 or by appointment
Communication Policy: Students may contact me by e-mail, I will try to respond to you
promptly but please allow two working days to return your message. All coursework
must be submitted in Canvas.
Course Description:
This course examines the historical development, structure, and contemporary
functioning of American politics and places current political phenomenon in proper
context. The course is designed both to prepare political science majors for further
study in the discipline and for non-majors who are interested in learning more about
government and politics in the United States. The course takes a critical look at U.S.
politics and government. Students should be prepared to think critically and
constructively about problems in U.S. politics.
Course Objectives:
Upon the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
• Understand the historical development and contemporary workings of American ideas,
attitudes, and institutions.
• Critically evaluate political philosophies and public policies including issues of diversity
and inequality in the U.S.
• Distinguish between sources and becoming an informed consumer of political
information.
Required Textbook: The required textbook for this course is Morone and Kersh, By the
People: Debating American Government, brief 6th edition (New York: Oxford University
Press, 2023). ISBN: 9780197661505. The book is available for purchase digitally or in
physical copy through the UIS bookstore.
Additional readings or materials may be assigned. These will be posted on Canvas.
Students are responsible for all assigned reading, podcasts, and videos.
Assignments Overview:
In this course, we will work through the textbook together and you will complete weekly
content quizzes. Additionally, attendance in class is required and each class I will give a
brief overview lecture before class discussion. You will be graded on your participation
in these discussions.
Grading Breakdown:
A. 90-100%
B. 80-89%
C. 70-79%
D. 60-69%
F. < 60%

Assignment Grading Weight:

Weekly Chapter Quizzes: 40%

Class Discussion Participation: 45%
Attendance: 15%
Course Schedule:
Week 1: Class 1 – Wednesday January 17th
Introduction
Topic: Class introductions, Syllabus, Class code for a positive environment
Description: For the first week of class we will orient ourselves in the topic of The
American Political System and go over this syllabus. We will also get to know more
about each other, we will create a class code for a positive environment, and I will share
my goals for this course.
• Assigned Reading:
o Please thoroughly read over this syllabus and note important dates in your
calendar or planner. I will reward any important errors found.
• Class Activity
o Introductions
 Who: are you (what should we call you, and what are your pronouns)?
 When: are you graduating/what year are you?
 Why: did you sign up for this course?
 PS: Add a ‘”fun fact” OR a “boring fact” about yourself

Week 2:
Class 2 & 3 – Monday January 22nd & Wednesday January 24th
The Ideas That Shape American Politics
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading: By The People, Chapter 1
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: What are the differences between “negative” and
positive “liberty”? Can you think of examples? Which is more important? What
happens when one groups’ freedom infringes upon another’s?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 1 Quiz by Sunday January 28th at 11:59pm

Week 3:
Class 4 & 5 – Monday January 29th & Wednesday January 31st
The Constitution
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
 o By The People, Chapter 2
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: The Constitution is sometimes called a “living document”
-what does that mean? What does it mean to be an “originalist” or a “pragmatist” when
it comes to interpreting the Constitution?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 2 Quiz by Sunday February 4th at 11:59pm

Week 4:
Class 6 & 7 – Monday February 5th & Wednesday February 7th
Federalism
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 3
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: What are the pros and cons for citizens and non-citizens
of living in states and local jurisdictions with different laws and political institutions (e.g.
state legislatures, election processes)?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 3 Quiz by Sunday February 11th at 11:59pm
● Note: No Office Hours this week

Week 5:
Class 8 & 9 – Monday February 12th & Wednesday February 14th
Civil Liberties
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 4
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: Dr. Skinner argues that if civil rights and liberties are
retracted or expanded for one group (e.g. a minority group) then they are really
expanded or retracted for all Americans. What does she mean? What examples of
how one group’s victory or failure has implications for another group or issue?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 4 Quiz by Sunday February 18th at 11:59pm

Week 6:
Class 10 & 11 – Monday February 19th & Wednesday February 21st
The Struggle for Civil Rights
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 5
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: The expansion of civil rights and liberties has not been
a smooth, perfectly linear process. Can you describe an example when a civil rights
protection from discrimination or a civil liberty to exercise a personal freedom was
weakened, transformed, or curtailed by a Supreme Court ruling or a law created by
elected representatives? What is the consequence of this retraction of freedoms or
protections?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 5 Quiz by Sunday February 25th at 11:59pm

Week 7:
Class 12 & 13 – Monday February 26th & Wednesday February 28st
Public Opinion and Political Participation
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 6
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: What are the reasons for and consequences of low voter
turnout in the US? Do you think states should have voter ID laws? Why or why not?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 6 Quiz by Sunday March 3rd at 11:59pm

Week 8:
Class 14 & 15 – Monday March 4th & Wednesday March 6th
Media, Technology, and the Government
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 7
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: How does the news media’s ability to set the agenda or
 frame the issues they cover influence public attitudes? Can you think of an example
of how different news stations covered different topics or covered the same topic
differently? What might some consequences be of your example?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 7 Quiz by Sunday March 10th at 11:59pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SPRING BREAK MARCH 11th-15th~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week 9:
Class 16 & 17 – Monday March 18th & Wednesday March 20th
Campaigns and Elections
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 8
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: What is the function of the Electoral College? Why do
you feel it should be maintained or abolished?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 8 Quiz by Sunday March 24th at 11:59pm

Week 10:
Class 18 & 19 – Monday March 25th & Wednesday March 27th
Interest Groups and Political Parties
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 9
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: What are the roles and strategies of interest groups and
political parties? How do these organizations amplify or distort the will of the people?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 9 Quiz by Sunday March 31st at 11:59pm

Week 11:
Class 20 & 21 – Monday April 1st & Wednesday April 3rd
Congress
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 10
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: Republicans and Democrats in the US House of
Representatives have become increasingly polarized. What does this mean? What
are the consequences of this phenomenon? How might this trend reflect or not
reflect the American public?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 10 Quiz by Sunday April 7th at 11:59pm

Week 12:
Class 21 & 22 – Monday April 8th & Wednesday April 10th
The Presidency
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 11
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Participation: The powers of the president have expanded at
different moments in history e.g. during Lincoln’s presidency. Now, President Trump
has claimed that presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for actions
in their official capacity, even after they leave office. Should presidents be subject to
a different legal standard? Why or why not?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 11 Quiz by Sunday April 14th at 11:59pm

Week 13:
Class 23 & 24 – Monday April 15th & Wednesday April 17th
The Bureaucracy
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 12
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: What are the pros and cons of bureaucrats’ strict
adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs)? Can you think of examples of
when this is a benefit or problem?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 12 Quiz by Sunday April 21st at 11:59pm
Week14:
Class 25 & 26 -- Monday April 22nd & Wednesday April 24th
The Judicial Branch
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 13
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: Are Supreme Court justices ideological? How are they
insulated from or exposed to political influences like public opinion?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 13 Quiz by Sunday April 28th at 11:59pm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NO CLASS APRIL 29th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Week 15:
Last Class 27 Wednesday May 1st
Domestic and Foreign Policy
Assignments:
● Assigned Reading:
o By The People, Chapter 14
● Assigned Materials: Check Canvas for additional assigned materials
● In Class Discussion Topic: Citizens and leaders can disagree about which issues
are the most important or see issues that they agree are important very differently.
What is the difference between agenda setting and framing of policy problems and
how does this impact potential solutions? Can you think of examples of arguments
about which issues are important or why?
● Chapter Quiz:
o Complete Chapter 14 Quiz by Sunday May 5th at 11:59pm

Thanks for a great session!

Course Policies:
Please let me know in advance if you will have to miss class or arrive early or late.
Please use laptops for notetaking only and silence notifications and cell phones (I don’t
want to see your phone either). Please check your email often and email me only from
your UIS email and in a professional manner.
Assignment submissions: Please submit all assignments via Canvas and ensure that
they have posted. You should receive a submission receipt.
UIS Academic Integrity Policy:
I support the UIS policy on Academic Integrity, which states, in part: “Academic integrity
is at the heart of the university’s commitment to academic excellence. The UIS
community strives to communicate and support clear standards of integrity, so that
undergraduate and graduate students can internalize those standards and carry them
forward in their personal and professional lives. Living a life with integrity prepares
students to assume leadership roles in their communities as well as in their chosen
profession. Alumni can be proud of their education and the larger society will benefit
from the University’s contribution to the development of ethical leaders. Violations of
academic integrity demean the violator, degrade the learning process, deflate the
meaning of grades, discredit the accomplishments of past and present students, and
tarnish the reputation of the university for all its members. ”Academic sanctions range
from a warning to expulsion from the university, depending on the severity of your
violation and your history of violations. Whatever the sanction, I will file a report of
academic dishonesty to the Office of the Provost.
You are responsible for understanding and complying with the UIS Academic Integrity
Policy, available at http://www.uis.edu/academicintegrity
Academic Accommodations:
If you are a student with a documented temporary or ongoing disability in need of
academic accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 217-206-
6666. Disabilities may include, but are not limited to: Psychological, Health, Learning,
Sensory, Mobility, ADHD, TBI and Asperger’s syndrome. In some cases,
accommodations are also available for shorter term disabling conditions such as severe
medical situations. Accommodations are based upon underlying medical and cognitive
conditions and may include, but are not limited to: extended time for tests and quizzes,
distraction free environment for tests and quizzes, a note taker, interpreter and FM
devices. Students who have made a request for an academic accommodation that has
been reviewed and approved by the ODS will receive an accommodation letter which
should be provided by the student to the instructor as soon as possible, preferably in the
first week of class. For assistance in seeking academic accommodations, please
contact the UIS Office of Disability Services (ODS) in the Human Resources Building,
Room 80. Phone: 217-206-6666

**I reserve the right to make changes to our course syllabus at any time**