Course Description
The ideas about human nature and government that have shaped political practice and debate in America. The principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, as developed by Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton, and the interpretation of these principles by such statesmen as Lincoln and Wilson. Other topics include black political thought and current liberal-conservative debates.
Athena Title
AMER POL THOUGHT
Prerequisite
POLS 1101
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to a broad scope of literature on interest groups in the United States. The goals for the course are divided into two broad areas. (1) The internal politics of groups are analyzed. Our goals are to become familiar with, discuss, and criticize theories about interest group formation and maintenance. (2) The changing role of groups in the American political system is analyzed. Our goals are to become familiar with, discuss, and criticize theories related to direct Washington lobbying, indirect lobbying or grassroots lobbying, and electioneering.
Topical Outline
Preliminaries: Factions, interest groups, pressure groups, organized interests, political interest groups I. Groups from the Inside Out 1) Incentives to Join and Group Formation 2) Group Maintenance II. The Lobbying Scene in Washington 1) Direct Congressional Lobbying 2) Direct Lobbying before the Executive Branch 3) Lobbying and the Judicial Branch 4) Lobbying beyond the Beltway a) Movements, Mobilization, and Grass Roots Lobbying b) Interest Groups and Elections, Parties, and PACs