This honors research seminar is intended as a broad survey of 
the literature on American political development and will 
involve greater levels of participation and more writing among 
the students.  The central focus of the course will be on the 
historical development of political institutions, but much of 
what we discuss will have direct relevance for the study of 
institutions more generally. As such, we will focus on the 
origins and evolution of political parties, balloting and 
primaries, elections, congressional politics, the presidency, 
the courts, and the bureaucracy. The course will be conducted 
more like a seminar where the honors students are responsible 
for presenting weekly readings after the initial weeks of 
class.  Also, the students will be required to write several 
shorter papers along with a final research paper to justify 
honors credit for the course.  Overall, it will not involve 
traditional lectures like the non-honors version of the course, 
but instead more direct participation where the honors students 
will learn from each other in addition to input from the 
instructor.

Studying American Political Development
Political Parties
Partisan Realignment
Balloting and Primaries
Presidential Elections
Congressional Elections
Historical Perspectives on Congress
Historical Perspectives on the Presidency
Historical Perspectives on the Courts
The Growth of the Bureaucracy

All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A 
Culture of Honesty." Students are responsible for informing 
themselves about these standards before performing academic 
work.  The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and 
ignorance is not an acceptable defense.  Also note that the 
course syllabus is a general plan for the course and that 
deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be 
necessary. 
(www.uga.edu/ovpi/academic_honesty/academic_honesty.htm)