Revised due date for Final: Sunday, December 9 at noon.

Revised due date for Final: Sunday, December 9 at noon.

Some recent video clips

Some recent clips we watched:

Final written exam questions

Here's the written portion of test #3 - The test follows the same format as the last test. 2 essays, each 2 pages. Follow the test criteria and sample test for help. Email or call me with questions.

 Question #1 Using the lectures and the text chapter on politics and national security, and the documentaries No End in Sight  and The Fog of War, discuss the ways in which domestic politics drives foreign policy. What do policymakers consider when making foreign policy decisions and what motivates them?

Consider one of more of the following:

 What interest groups are involved. How can citizens oppose or promote certain foreign policy actions? What is the role of nationalism?  Provide examples to illustrate your answer. See below for video clips.

Also consider using one or more of these case studies, all of which we have touched upon:
Cuban Missile Crisis
Firebombing of Japan
The Cold War
The Iraq War
You could explore some issues using Wag the Dog's foreign policy issues

Question #2 Combining your knowledge of interest groups, fiscal policy, monetary policy, public opinion, and political participation, discuss the politics of the current economic situation. considering the fact that most politicians claim to agree that major reforms are necessary, why are no major reforms being made?

Discuss the role of money, ideology, voters and elections in determining how interest groups and parties act to influence candidates. Use examples to illustrate your answer. Use the commanding heights and "Fear the Boom and Bust" we watched in class.

For both questions:

If you value your grade, you will do the following:
Use two FULL pages. Don't waste space on restating the question or putting your name and the class name on a bunch of lines. Don't state a bunch of rhetorical questions and then not answer them. Use vocabulary from the class. Use concrete examples. Be specific!  Use phrases like "for example" and "such as" and "on the other hand." Make comparisons. Show me you know information from the class. Use a variety of sources - lecture, videos, text, etc. Refer to specific people, specific events, specific ideas, and specific groups. Use your two pages to fit in as much information as you possible can. Simultaneously attempt to show both a breadth and a depth of knowledge.

Slides on Foreign policy

Here it is. https://www.box.com/s/29d6axr2bsobglol50ub

Documentary on Iraq

We'll watch the first 35 minutes of this documentary in class:

Essay test #3 DUE NOVEMBER 15

You're almost in the home stretch -

Here's the written portion of test #3 -

The test follows the same format as the last test. 2 essays, each 2 pages. Follow the test criteria and sample test for help.

Email or call me with questions.

#1. Using text chapters on campaigns and elections, political opinion and participation,  and lecture material, discuss the nature and significance of mass media in politics. Draw upon the text material as well as our discussion, as well as the film Wag the Dog. Some possible specific topics include: How mass media shapes public opinion, the use of propaganda, how the internet differs from traditional media, etc. Use specific examples and show your command of the material.

#2. Using the text's material on lobbying, political parties and political participation, and lecture material, discuss the nature and origins of public opinion. Draw upon text material as well as our discussion and the Lysander Spooner reading. Draw upon Spooner to address issues such as majority vs. minority and citizen consent. Other possible specific topics include benefits and criticisms of democracy, and examples of non-voting forms of political participation. What is the interplay between lobbying and elections? Use specific examples and show your command of the material.

Sample test: https://www.box.com/files/0/f/30994958/1/f_401174396

Grading Criteria:
1. Am I being specific rather than vague?
2. Am I using examples?
3. Am I using information from BOTH the lecture and readings whenever possible?
4. Am I using vocabulary and concepts from the class to answer these questions?
5. Do I show that I know what the vocabulary I use actually means?
6. Did I quote the readings?
7. Have I shown that I can summarize information?

Lecture on interest groups and political parties

Here's a lecture on interest groups and political parties: https://www.box.com/s/eac968b95563131d9ebe

Additional videos we'll watched in class

Some additional videos relevant to interest groups and media:

Additional slides on media and political participation

Click here for the additional slides: https://www.box.com/s/82a5a3be383b9f9b1543 

Reading : Lysander Spooner

"No Treason, No.1" 

We'll only discuss "No. 1."

Rhetoric from the election of 1800; Clint Webb for Senate

Funny video about "dirty" politics
 


 Also: Clint Webb for Senate
 

Lecture on political opinion and political participation

Here's the lecture on political participation and public opinion -

Link: https://www.box.com/s/1c932cb21ded154a98ea

Also, here is "No Treason No. 1" by Lysander Spooner. You ONLY need "No 1." and not the rest of the linked document.

Recent video clips

King Corn:




ALSO:   Food, Inc: Embedding has been disabled, so here's the link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P1CJ7IEt0c

Essay test #2

DUE OCTOBER 25. Here are the questions for test #2. Use EVERY sentence as a chance to communicate detailed information about the material. Do not use vague generalizations. Again, use the sample test and the test criteria posted earlier in this class to craft your answer.

Question #1 What are the reasons governments provide for the creation of central banks? What are the tools used by governments and central banks to engage in monetary policy? How does monetary policy differ from fiscal policy? Discuss case studies and political motivations behind past events in monetary and fiscal policy. In addition to the lectures and text, you may wish to use the video sample used in class.

Question #2 Using the text chapters on Congress and the Presidency, discuss how the process of selecting elected officials can influence how elected officials act once in office. What tools and powers can the president and members of congress employ to assist in obtaining re-election and other goals? Explain using details and examples. Also, use the Constitution's text to refer to the specific authorization for various powers when applicable.

Sample test-
http://pos111.blogspot.com/2012/02/sample-test-question.html

Grading criteria -
http://pos111.blogspot.com/2012/02/criteria-for-grading-written-tests.html

Thursday, October 18

I'll be posting the written portion of Full Test #2 today or tomorrow. Next week, October 25 will be the multiple choice. The test will cover fiscal policy, monetary policy, and institutions - the judicial branch, the presidency, Congress, and the bureaucracy.

Commanding Heights video on American fiscal and monetary policy events

Here's the Commanding Heights video we watche din class last week. Obviously, I recommend watching the  whole thing, but the section we watched in class begin at:

 1: 07 - Nixon's wage and price controls.

1:22 - Airline regulation

1:31 - Carter's economic problems and the appointment of a new chairman of the Federal Reserve system. Also, interest rates and the recession of 1982.

Note for weeks of Oct 11 and Oct 18

We're going to rely primarily on the Constitution text and textbook for these two weeks, concentrating on the presidency and the courts.

Roosevelt's speech on the court-packing scheme

For next time (Oct 18):

Roosevelt’s speech on the court-packing scheme http://www.wyzant.com/Help/History/HPOL/fdr/chat/  

Article on patents

Here's an article that nicely illustrates how the monopoly power granted by governments known as patents allowed firms to use the judicial branch to crush competition.

Lecture on Monetary Policy

We'll continue our discussion of economic policy by expanding on fiscal policy and then getting into monetary policy. Here's the lecture: https://www.box.com/s/z82oqhs89zadhdqcntde