AMERICAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
FACULTY OF SOCIAL STUDIES
Masaryk University
October 11 to 23, 2021
Charles D. Hadley Phone: +1 504 810-3087
Department of Political Science E-mail: chadley@uno.edu
University of New Orleans cdhadley@gmail.com
REQUIREMENTS:
Lecture:
You are encouraged to raise your hand to ask questions during the lecture or about reading points
that you feel needs clarification. Do not hesitate to ask questions because the discussion could clarify
important points for all students.
Reading:
The required reading is approximately 26 pages per class meeting were it spread out over the seven
classes. The lecture outlines and associated reading are PDF files keyed to each class date, e.g.,
Oct12L is a lecture outline and Oct12Ra, Oct12Rb and Oct12Rc are readings for October 12, 2021.
[The PDF Read Me file explains the association of the lecture outline(s) and reading.] The pound sign
(#) before any reading indicates it is required. The syllabus also includes supplemental resources, e.g.,
The “Elections” Section of the 2012 Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Examination:
The final examination will be a comprehensive essay that draws together the lectures, required reading,
and video “Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of [Chief Justice] Earl Warren.”
Grading System:
A (91%+): Excellent performance; the student has shown originality and displayed an exceptional
grasp of the material and a deep analytical understanding of the subject;
B (81-90%): Very good performance; the student has mastered the material, understands the subject
well, and has shown some originality of thought and/or considerable effort;
C (71-80%): Fair performance; the student has acquired an acceptable understanding of the material
and essential subject matter of the course, but has not succeeded in translating this understanding
into consistently creative or original work;
D (61-70%): Poor performance; the student has shown some understanding of the material and subject
matter covered during the course;
E (51-60%): Barely passed; the student has barely succeeded in mastering the subject matter;
F (50%-): Fail; the student has not succeeded in mastering the subject matter.
Assignments:
October 11 Introduction: Course overview and “The American Political System”
#American Political System schematic
#2016 Presidential Election Ballot (Louisiana)
#The Electoral College Explained (13 pgs.)
October 12 Selecting the President: A Process of Reform in Continued Flux
Lecture: “The Public Funding of Presidential Elections”
#Federal Election Commission, “Understanding public funding of presidential
elections” https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/understanding-publicfunding-presidential-elections/
(accessed 22 August 2020).
Lecture: “National Democratic Party/Convention Delegate Selection Reforms”
#Kevin J. Colman, Joseph E. Cantor, and Thomas H. Neale, “Presidential Elections in
the United States: A Primer.” (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, The
Library of Congress, April 17, 2000), pp. 1-48.
Lecture: “Selecting U.S. Presidents by Accident of Design”
#“A Complicated Path to the Democratic Nomination” (5 pgs.)
October 13 The President: Role, Limitations, and Power
Lecture: “The President: Public Expectations”
Lecture: “The President in Office”
#President Donald J. Trump: “YOU’RE FIRED!” (23 pgs.)
October 14 The Congress: An Organized Counterbalance to the President?
Lecture: “The Organization and Operation of U.S. Congress”
#Robert B. Dove, Parliamentarian, United States Senate, “From a Bill to a Law:
Enactment of a Law” (Updated February 1997) (28 pgs.)
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/laws_made.html.
#R. Eric Petersen, “Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress.” (Washington,
DC: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, November 4, 2010).
(10 pgs.)
#The Senate Filibuster: For and Against (10 pgs.)
#“How Public Views Congress and Their Own Representative” (1 pg)
#“Congress Has Become a Toxic Mess. Can It Be Saved?” (4 pgs.)
October 15 The U.S. Court System
Lecture: “Supreme Court Establishment, Organization and Operation”
#Establishment of U.S. Supreme Court Power
#U.S. Court System Map, http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/
#U.S. Supreme Court Members
#Federal Court Appointment Process
#“The Supreme Court of the United States: Organization and Operation” (18 pgs.)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/about.html.
October 18 The U.S. Supreme Court in American Society
Video: “Super Chief: The Life and Legacy of [Chief Justice] Earl Warren”
Lecture: “The Responsibility and Powers of the Courts”
#October Term 2020 (18 pgs.)
#Supreme Court & Public Opinion (20 pgs.)
October 19 Political Parties, Presidential Elections, and the Future of American Politics
#American Political Parties Since 1789 (schematic) and “Political Parties” on
Ballots in the 2012 Presidential Election.
Lecture: “The Future of American Politics: A Continuing Voter Revolt?”
#The Capture of the Republican Party (19 pgs.)
#The Relentless Shrinking of Trump’s Base (12 pgs.)
#2020 Voting Complexities (13 pgs.)
#How Liberals Rehearsed for Trump’s Power Grab (9 pgs.)
Lecture: “The Impact of Social Media on Democracy: The American Experience
#Russian 2016 Presidential Election Interference (43 pgs.)
Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Political Polarization in the
American Public: How Increasing Ideological Uniformity and Partisan Antipathy
Affect Politics, Compromise and Everyday Life. It only exists online and is accessed at
http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/ (The
report has an Introduction and 5 Sections, and it has links with interactive graphics).
***See Democracy in Action, P2020: The Race for the White House, for an online
book that covers the 2020 presidential election from “Context” and “Pre-Campaign”
to “Election Day” and “Inauguration.” https://www.democracyinaction.us/2020.html
October 20 Review Session
October 21 FINAL EXAMINATION
October 23 Email distribution of individual course grades by request.
Supplemental Documents/Data Sources:
“The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription,” The U.S. National Archives & Records
Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html (accessed
March 15, 2010)
“The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription,” The U.S. National Archives & Records
Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html (accessed
March 15, 2010).
“The Bill of Rights [Amendments 1-10]: A Transcription,” The U.S. National Archives &
Records Admin. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
(accessed March 15, 2010).
“The Constitution: Amendments 11-27” The U.S. National Archives & Records
Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-
27.html (accessed March 15, 2010).
Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2012 (Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012),
Section 7, Elections, pp. 243-264 (accessed February 22, 2012). Series of tables with useful
information about U.S. elections. http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/11statab/election.pd.
NOTE: Statistical information is available online from 1878 through 2012, and it can be
accessed with the link http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical_abstract.html (accessed
August 20, 2013). Statistical information for 2013 is available online, and it can be accessed with
the link http://statab.conquestsystems.com/sa/ (accessed August 20, 2013).
#CNN, “2008 National Exit Poll,” http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/
accessed November 14, 2012 (5 pgs.)
#CBS News, “2010 National Exit Poll,” accessed January 25, 2011 at:
www.cbsnews.com/election2010/exit.shtml?state=US&jurisdiction=0&race=H&tag=content
Body;electionCenterHome (15 pgs.)
#CBS News, “2012 National Exit Poll,” accessed November 7, 2012 at:
www.cbsnews.com/election-results-2012/exit.shtml?state=US&race=P&jurisdiction=0&party
=G&tag=contentBody:exitLink (14 pgs.)
#The New York Times, “2014 National Exit Poll,” accessed February 5, 2015 at:
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/11/04/us/politics/2014-exit-polls.html?_r=0 (7 pgs.). This version
is compact but comprehensive, and it shows changes from 2010 to 2014. For a more detailed version
of the same election poll, see NBC News, “2014 National Exit Poll,” accessed February 5, 2015 at:
www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/2014/US/house/exitpoll (32 pgs.)
#Fox News, “2016 National Exit Poll,” accessed November 9, 2016 at:
www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2016/exit-polls. (38 pgs.). For a more condensed graphical
version of the same election poll see The New York Times, “Election 2016: Exit Polls,”
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/11/08/us/politics/election-exit-polls.com.html (4 pgs.).
There was no National Exit Poll in 2018.
#The New York Times, “National Exit Polls: How Different Groups Voted” (accessed November
4, 2020) https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/03/us/elections/exit-polls-
president.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-elections-
2020&region=TOP_BANNER&context=election_recirc. See also, ABC News, “Your Voice,/Your
Vote,” National Exit Poll (accessed November 4, 2020) https://abcnews.go.com/Elections/exit-
polls-2020-us-presidential-election-results-analysis.
Also, see the following web sites:
Executive Branch: http://www.whitehouse.gov
Legislative Branch: United States House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov
United States Senate
http://www.senate.gov
Judicial Branch: United States Supreme Court
http://www.supremecourtus.gov
U.S. Courts: The Federal Judiciary
http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/
Elections: U.S. Department of State
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/politics/elecover.htm
Federal Election Commission
http://www.fec.gov
The Democratic Party
http://www.dnc.org
Republican National Committee
http://www.rnc.org
General Information: The Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/index.html
Office of the Federal Registrar
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
Historical Documents: The National Archives and Records Administration
http://www.archives.gov
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office; Ben’s
Guide to U.S. Government for Kids (grades 9-12)
http://www.bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/documents/index.html