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DANNY
HAYES |
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Teaching |
PSC 2220: Public
Opinion (Spring 2013 syllabus) In a democracy, the views of citizens are expected to guide
government activity and the creation of public policy. That makes public
opinion a central concern in the study of democratic politics. In this
course, we will endeavor to answer a variety of questions related to U.S.
public opinion: Where do political attitudes come from, and how much do
people really know about politics anyway? Do people make political judgments
on the basis of their material self-interest, or do more abstract values
shape their attitudes? Do Sean Hannity, Rachel Maddow,
and their media compadres influence public opinion?
If so, how so? Is the American public polarized? What explains people’s views
of war, climate change, and other prominent issues? And finally, what is the
connection between mass opinion, on one hand, and public policy outcomes, on
the other? Does the government listen to the governed? PSC 1002: Introduction
to American Politics and Government (Spring 2013 syllabus) This course provides a survey of the political processes and
institutions of American government. I know what you might be thinking—that
sounds boring. Let me assure you, this course will be anything but. The bulk
of U.S. political history has been characterized by drama and conflict, and
our investigation of American politics will include a focus on topics like
the civil rights movement, the war on terrorism, polarization in the U.S.
Congress, the 2012 presidential election, and hotly contested debates over
health care, immigration, gay marriage, and gun control, to name just a few.
Controversial, always; boring, never. Each of these political issues and
events—and most others—can be seen most clearly through the lens of the
historical and institutional development of the American political system.
Our lectures, readings, and discussions will touch on the Constitution,
Congress, the presidency, the judiciary, political parties, voting, and
public opinion, among other topics. In all of this, our focus will be on how
the basic features of American government illuminate the stories and events
that appear in the news that we encounter every day, be it the war in
Afghanistan, wrangling over the “fiscal cliff,” or even the price of milk at
Safeway. PSC 2229:
Media and Politics (Fall 2012 syllabus) The media have long been recognized as an essential component of
American politics. Reflecting the oft-cited designation of the press as the
“fourth branch” of government, political observers from the earliest days of
the republic noted the indispensable role of the mass media in a democratic
society. Even before the signing of the Constitution, the seminal debate
between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists took place in the newspaper.
News outlets, moreover, have a long tradition as agents of partisan warfare,
promoting and perpetuating party loyalties and voter turnout in the 19th and
early 20th centuries. And as the summer of 2012 wound down, the media were
playing a central role in the presidential election, with Barack Obama and
Mitt Romney attempting to use news outlets, television ads, and social media
tools to mobilize their supporters and persuade skeptics. In short, it is
impossible to fully comprehend American politics without understanding the
media. (Ask Todd Akin.) |