PS 102 – US Politics

Spring 2018

Instructor: Dr. Jack Miller

Email: jack.miller@pdx.edu
Office hours: Mon/Wed 11:30-12:30, Tue 10-11, and by appt.
Time: TR 12-1:50
Location: Cramer 371

Catalog Description
Introduction to issues and trends in political culture, political behavior, and public policy making. Topics
include: public opinion, political parties and pressure groups, elections and voting behavior, political
participation, the role of the media, policy making, the budget process, domestic policy, and national
security policy.

Course Description
In this course, we will examine politics and policymaking in the United States, placing particular
emphasis on the economic, social, and interpersonal dynamics that influence political outcomes. The
first part of the course will look at the organization and operation of national policymaking institutions
and the factors that influence the policymaking process. The second part of the course will be a close
examination of economic policymaking, including a section on how the economy works and how various
economic policies are supposed to impact the economy. The third and final part of the course will
analyze various areas of domestic and foreign policy, focusing on the current state of healthcare,
immigration, and national security policy.

Readings
Textbook, available free online:
Krutz, Glen, and Sylvie Waskiewicz. American Government (AG). Openstax. Available online at
https://openstax.org/details/american-government.
Additional readings, available for free download through the course D2L page.
• Outline of the U.S. Economy by Peter Behr
• "Causes of the Financial Crisis" by Mark Jickling, Congressional Research Service
• The Federal Reserve System: Purposes and Functionsby the Federal Reserve Bank of San
Francisco, Chapters 1 and 3
• "Introduction to the Federal Budget Process" by the Center of Budget and Policy Priorities
• "How the United States Immigration System Works" by the American Immigration Council
• "Back to Bedrock" by Walter A. McDougall
Assignments and Grading
Course grades are based on a 200-point system. The course letter grade is determined as follows:
A: 178 and higher C: 139 to 153
B+: 175 to 177 D: 119 to 138
B: 159 to 174 F: 118 and lower
C+: 154 to 158

Attendance – 40 points (2 points per class). Each student will receive one unexcused absence during the
term.
Bi-Weekly Current Events – 40 points (10 points per assignment, 5 assignments – you may skip one
without penalty). Every other week by 11:59pm on Sunday night of the weeks assigned (see Course
Schedule below), students submit a current event analysis. This is NOT a summary of the article.
Postings should be titled with the headline of the article and contain a URL for the article along with a
200- to 500-word analysis of how the events described in the article demonstrate a concept covered in
the course during the previous 2 weeks. Be clear about which concept your analysis refers to by briefly
mentioning the lecture or reading where the concept is located.
Online Exams – 60 points (3 exams, 20 points per exam). See Course Schedule for dates. Exams are open
note and open book and will be delivered online via D2L. For the Part One and Two exams, students can
take the exam at any time between the end of class on Tuesday and 11:59pm on Sunday of the week
the exam is assigned. Each exam will have a 2-hour time limit and consist of a mixture of true/false,
multiple-choice, multiple-select, and written answer questions. Retakes are not available. If the class
average for any exam falls below 82%, scores for that exam will be adjusted to achieve an 82% class
average. Scores will remain the same if the class average is 82% or higher.
Fiscal Ship Paper – 20 points. Students will write a 500- to 800-word reflective essay describing the
lessons they learned by participating in the Fiscal Ship simulation in class on Tuesday, May 22nd. Further
guidelines and grading criteria are available on the course D2L page. Papers are due via D2L no later
than 11:59pm on Thursday, May 31st.
Final Paper – 40 points. Students will write a 800- to 1500-word analytical essay on one of several
options for the paper topic. Topics, further guidelines, and a grading rubric are available on the course
D2L page. Papers are due via D2L no later than 11:59pm on Tuesday, June 12th.

NOTE: There is NO extra credit available in this course.

Course Schedule
Dates Day Topic Reading/Assignment
Week 1 Tue The American Political System
Apr 3-5
Thu Overview of the Course Class poll due
PART ONE: Policymaking Institutions and Influences
Political Parties, Congressional AG, Chapter 9 and section 11.2
Week 2 Tue
Elections, and Policy Agendas
Apr 10-12
Organization and Operation of AG, Chapter 11, sections 11.1, 11.4-.5
Thu
Congress Current Event #1 due
AG, section 12.2
Week 3 Tue Getting Elected President
Apr 17-19
Organization and Powers of the AG, sections 12.3, 12.5, and 15.1
Thu
Executive Branch
AG, Chapter 13, section 13.3
Week 4 Guest Lecture: Operation of the
Tue
Apr 24-26 Federal Judiciary
Current Event #2 due
Thu Conflicts Among the Branches
AG, Chapter 10
Week 5 Role and Influence of Interest Groups
Tue Exam One Available (until Sunday at
May 1-3
11:59pm)
AG, Chapter 8
Thu Role and Influence of the Media
PART TWO: The Economy and Economic Policy
Outline of the U.S. Economy, Chs. 1-4
Week 6 Tue How the Economy Works
May 8-10
"Causes of the Financial Crisis"
Thu What Makes the Economy Falter
Current Event #3 due
The Federal Reserve System, Chs. 1
Week 7 Tue Monetary Policy Tools
and 3
May 15-17
"Intro to the Federal Budget Process"
Thu Fiscal Policy and the Budget Process
In-Class Simulation: The Fiscal Ship Exam Two Available (until Sunday at
Week 8 Tue
11:59pm)
May 22-24
The Politics of Taxation and Spending AG, section 16.5
Thu
Current Event #4 due
PART THREE: Selected Topics in Policymaking
Video: Healthcare System Overview
Week 9 Tue Healthcare Policy and Reform
May 29-31
"How the United States Immigration
Immigration Policy and Problems
Thu System Works"
Fiscal Ship paper due
"Back to Bedrock"
Week 10 Foreign Policy Traditions and Doctrines
Tue Exam Three Available (until Sunday at
Jun 5-7
11:59pm)
Current Event #5 due
Thu Current Foreign Policy Problems