Dr. Zaphon R .Wilson

Phone: 344-2593
Office: University Hall 224
Office Hours: 3 PM - 5 PM (Monday & Wednesday) or by Appointment
Zaphon.Wilson@armstrong.edu

Fall 2008

August 16 – December 6
Armstrong Atlantic State University
At Main Campus
Monday & Wednesday 1:30PM – 2:45PM

POLS- 4110 – American Presidency (CRN 84896)

“The Buck Stops Here” ----- Harry S. Truman

“Policy where there is no absolute…ruler…means massed opinion, and the forming of the mass is the whole art and mastery of politics”------- Woodrow Wilson

“When the President does it, that means that it’s not illegal” ------ Richard Nixon

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course explains the various roles and duties of the President of the United States as executive head of government, commander-in-chief, and top U.S. diplomat on the world stage. The President’s powers were vested by Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Since George Washington was elected the first President, the presidency has continually changed and developed. The transformation of what was at first a relatively weak office is now one of the most powerful political offices in the world.

Because public expectations of the presidency expanded, the powers of Presidents also expanded. Presidents are “mere mortals,” but the American public now has high expectations of its leader and looks to the President to solve a multitude of national, local, and increasing global problems. We will look at when and how Presidential political power emerged and how almost each successive President in the last 100 years has increased the executive power. The changing context and public expectations of the Presidency will be analyzed. The various presidential resources will be examined, including the cabinet, the White House staff, appointments, and control of the bureaucracy, and use of the media.

This course will give the student some insight into Presidential character as we focus on different Presidents in their chronological term order through biographical sketches by scholarly works from historians and political scientists. Some Presidents accomplished more than others. Some were liked more than others by “the people”. Each student in this course will conduct a local poll to determine which Presidents are considered the most popular, accomplished the most, or were least effective.

Upon completion of this course the student should...
Understand the expectations and context of presidential power.
Be able to determine the paths that lead to presidential greatness.
Understand the President’s role in foreign policy.
Realize the President’s role as leader of his party.
TEXTS: The following texts are required for this course:
James David Barber, The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance In the White House (4th Edition) ISBN 0-13-718123
James Pfiffner, The Modern Presidency (4th Edition) ISBN – 0534-63117-7
READING ASSIGNMENTS Students are expected to have all readings completed in advance of the dates assigned, and be prepared to summarize any reading upon the instructor’s request.
PLAGIARISM AND AASU HONOR CODE

Each student is required to read and be familiar with the Armstrong Atlantic State University Honor Code and Code of Conduct concerning plagiarism and facilitating academic dishonesty, listed on Pages 351-352 of the current AASU catalogue. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for an assignment, and in severe cases, for the course.

CHAPTER SUMMARIZATION:
At one weekly class session during the semester, each student will present an oral summary of the week’s assigned readings. The oral summarization will be no less than 6 minutes and no more than 10 minutes in length. Summaries may not be read, but note cards are permissible. Handouts and visual aids may also be used at the student’s discretion. A brief outline of the oral summarization should be handed in to the instructor after the presentation.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly Reading Quizzes: These quizzes are made up from the assigned readings for each week. Quizzes are to be answered for credit points only during the week of the reading assignment.

A Comparative Analysis will be written comparing the differences between two successive American presidencies. This paper will be from 4 to 5 pages in content length. The two successive American Presidencies will be selected and approved by the instructor from a list provided during the 2nd week of class on August 27th. The text The American Presidency (Brinkley and Dyer) may be used for this paper, but there must also be at least four other sources, which may come from books, magazines, scholarly papers, or reputable internet sources. The paper is to be completed on a word processor in a style indicated by the instructor, with separate cover and reference pages. Type will be 10 or 12 points, double-spaced with 1” margins: left, right, top, and bottom. The paper will have an introduction explaining who the Presidents and their administrations are, stating the purpose of the paper in relation to the two, The topics covered in the paper should include: (1) Explanation of the effects of previous administrations, (2) How each Presidents individuality or other political actors affected the presidency, (3) The effects of a current administration on the following administration(s), and (4) Relevant domestic and foreign policies. The paper will finalize with a conclusion that will include a step-by-step summary of what was previously written and a personal opinion of the two presidencies analyzed. All composition with be written in the 3rd Person, including the personal opinion.

On or before the 4 week of class, September 15th, each student will submit for approval, a bibliography of a least 4 acceptable research sources pertaining to the two presidencies.
1. Each Student will deliver a 5-6 minute oral presentation of his or her biography on November 12th.
2. The written assignment is due on November 26th.

EXAMS
Exam #1 (midterm) will consist of a “Take Home Celebration”. This exam will be given on October 6th and returned on
October 10 by 5:00PM
Exam #2 (The Presidents) is a short exam on personalities and administrative styles of the Presidents studied.
Book Review – See list below. Due date December 3
Exam #3 (final) will be on December 5th. This exam will be an in-class exam covering all aspects of the materials covered during the course.

Greatest Presidents Opinion Poll

Each student will conduct a survey of 25 or more individuals between the period of September 10th and October 8th to determine which Presidents of the United States were the greatest and most popular. This poll cannot include opinions from fellow class members of POLS 4110. Only five other college students may give opinions in the student’s poll. One of the persons polled must be elected representatives of government at any level. Three of the individuals polled must be educators. At least four of those polled should be business owners or operators. Only two of those polled can be relatives of the student. Forms and complete instructions will be supplied to each student.

CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION

Classroom participation will be an important element of this course. All students are expected to ask questions, to consistently contribute to classroom discussion, to be active in any speaker presentations, to contribute in online discussion postings, and to take part in offering solutions to projects or case studies. No cell phones, Ipods, earphones, blue tooth type attachments or other electronic gear will be allowed in the classroom at any time (Exceptions will be made for students with disabilities). Students are expected to be present and on time for classes. Leaving early or missing one-half of a class will constitute an absence.
Classroom participation will be an important element of this course.

EMAILS

Because of the frequent and expanded use of email, the following policy has been established for this class: (1) Emails may be sent to the instructor anytime, but only on the POLS - 4110. In an emergency, please telephone using the contact number above. All emails will be treated as if received during EMAIL OFFICE HOURS. Emails will be answered after the email office hours as quickly as possible.

GRADING
Comparative Analysis: 10%
Oral Presentation 10%
Exam #1: 15%
Exam #2- 15
Final Exam #3: 15
Greatest Presidents Opinion Poll 15
Presidential Book Review: 20%
Participation & Chapter Summarization:
(Note Attendance below) 100%

Important Attendance Policy: If a Student Misses more than TWO Unexcused Classes and/or is excessively tardy, the Final Letter Grade will be decreased by at least ONE Letter and may result in an “F” Grade for the Course. .
CLASS SCHEDULE (Subject to Change)

Conduct of the Course

I. Class#1 August 20 & 25
Introductions/ Constitution Position of the President a Review of the Federalists Papers
Review Syllabus
Course Overview and Explanations of Textbooks Required
Lecture: The Strength of the American Presidency?
Assignment Due:
In-Class Contact Information & Short Biography

II. Class #2 – August 27 & September 3:
Barber Chapter 1 – Presidential Character and How to Foresee it. Pp 1-11
Pfiffner, Chapter 1 The Presidency :Origins and Powers, Pp 2-13 .
Biography Topic list Assignments will be selected at this class.

III. Class #3 – September 8& 10
Barber, Chapter 2 – Three Tragic Tails
Pfiffner, Chapter 2 - The President and the Public

IV. Class #4 – September 15 & 17:
Bibliography Source List Due
Barber, Chapter 3 – The Active Negative Presidents
Pfiffner, Chapter 3 – The white House and Organization

V. Class #5 – September 22 & 24:
Barber, Ch# 4 The Origins of Presidential Compulsion
Pfiffner, The Institutional Presidency

Classroom Assignments for Greatest President Opinion Poll.

VI. Class #6 – September 29 and October 1:
Barber: Chapter 5 – Nixon Construction and Deconstruction
Pfiffner: Chapter 5 – The Cabinet and the Executive Branch.

VII. Class #7: October 6 & 8

Barber, chapter 6, The Passive – Negative President
Pfiffner, Chapter 6, The President and Congress

* Midterm Celebration Due

VIII. Class #8 – October 15 & October 20
Barber: Chapter 7 – Passive –Positive Presidents
Pfiffner, Chapter 7, The Presidents and National Security

IX. Class #9 – October 22 & 27: Greatest President Opinion Poll Due this Class!
Barber: Chapter 8, Reagan’s Rise and Rule
Pfiffner, Abuse of Power and Presidential Reputation

X. Class #10 – October 29 & November 3:
Barber: Chapter 9, Franklin Roosevelt and Active –Positive Affection
_______, Chapter 10, Harry S. Truman and Active –Positive Combat

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ANALYSIS 2008

XI. Class #11 – November 5 & 10:
Barber: Chapters 11 and 12

XII. Class #12 – November 17 & 19:
Book Presentations

XIII. Class #13 – November 24 & 26
Book Presentations

XIV. Class #14 – December 1
Book Presentation

XV. Class #15 – December 3:
Review and Wrap up

DECEMBER 6: EXAM #3 (Final)

Acceptable Books

Rudolph Giuliani, Leadership, 2006
John Edwards, Four Trials, 2007
Hillary R. Clinton, Living History, 2007
Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope, 2007
Mitt Romney, Turnaround, 2007
Shelby Steele, A Bound Man 2008
Jake Bernstein & Lou Dubose, Vice: Dick Cheney and the Highjacking of the American Presidency, 2006
Arthur M. Schlesinger, War and the Presidency, 2005

Classics
Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power, 1990
Arthur Schlinger, The Imperial Presidency
John Burke, The Institutional Presidency