Harold Lasswell once wrote a book called: Politics: Who Gets What, When, and
How.  That book title is a good definition for politics, the process in
which decisions are made allocating things we value.  This course is about
politics in America -- the manner in which our political system decides "who
gets what, when, and how."
A number of actors and institutions are central to American politics, and
they will be considered during this course.  Some are well recognized and
formally defined in the United States Constitution: the Presidency, the
Congress, courts, and elections.  Others, such as bureaucracies and
political parties, have evolved over time.  They are not mentioned in the
Constitution, and many of the founding fathers would be dismayed at the
roles they now occupy.  Still others, most notably pressure groups, are
viewed unfavorably by many contemporary commentators, as well as being
virtually ignored in the Constitution.
This course is about the American political process and the institutions and
actors that play a part in it, but it is not simply a course about formal
institutions and officeholders.  We will examine the role of citizens in
American democracy and the role of the media within the political process.
Special attention will focus upon the consequences of the political process
for the formulation and execution of public policies, and the impact of
these policies upon things we value -- freedom, equality, justice, and
material rewards.  Not only does American politics produce winners and
losers, it also addresses a wide range of important public issues that are
crucial to us all.
Students must: attend lectures and discussion sections, complete reading
assignments prior to class meetings, take three exams, complete several
short writing assignments, and complete a series of in-class conference
activities.