Fall 2013 Time and Location

Tuesday 11:45am-1:40pm, Thursday 12:50pm-1:40pm

016 Matherly Hall

Description and Goals

This course examines the United States presidency, including its foundations, its evolution and development, and theoretical approaches to analyzing and appraising the highest office in the American political system.

We will discuss the formal and informal sources of presidential power, the politics of presidential elections, the growth of the institution of the presidency, public approval, presidential relations with the media, the legislative presidency and relations with Congress, the politics and process of judicial appointments, and the president’s role in both domestic and foreign policy. In examining each of these aspects of the presidency, we will evaluate the predominant approaches to assessing presidential success and failure. The final third of the course will serve as an overview of the modern presidents, as we apply these theories to the men who have served in the Oval Office, from FDR to Obama.

To augment our discussions of presidential powers and relationships, we will pay special attention to current events. Contemporary topics that will likely come up frequently in class discussions will include the 2012 presidential election, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the drone program in the War on Terror, the debt ceiling and “fiscal cliff” debates, the politics of taxes and budgets, health care legislation, immigration reform, gun control, bureaucratic scandals, and any other issues facing the presidency during the semester.

Syllabus

The Fall 2013 syllabus is available here.

Required Texts

Pika, Joseph A. and John Anthony Maltese. 2013. The Politics of the Presidency, Revised 8th Edition. Washington: CQ Press.

Nelson, Michael. 2010. The Presidency and the Political System, 9th Edition. Washington: CQ Press.

Milkis, Sidney M. and Michael Nelson. 2012. The American Presidency: Origins & Development, 1776-2011, 6th Edition. Washington: CQ Press.

These texts are available in the UF bookstore as a bundle, with a discount of 20% off of the individual cover prices. New and used copies can be found online via the links embedded in the pictures above. Older editions of these texts will be available on course reserve–for 2-hour, in-library use–at the circulation desk of Library West.

Important Dates

First Day of Class: August 22 (12:50pm, 016 Matherly Hall)

Drop/Add Ends: August 27

Withdrawal, All Courses (25% Refund):  September 13

September 23: Exam 1 Due

October 28: Exam 2 Due

Last Day to Withdraw from UF (W): November 25

Thanksgiving Day (NO CLASS): November 28

December 9: Final Paper Due