PS 1113 (Section H01)
American Government- Honors
Fall 2026 Semester
Time: 9 AM, Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Classroom: 250 Bowen Hall
Dr. Stephen D. Shaffer
Office 198 Bowen
Office Hours: MWF 10-11, 12-1
e-mail: kauai@pspa.msstate.edu
Website: https://sds17.pspa.msstate.edu/
This course provides an introduction to American politics and government, especially at the national level but also in Mississippi, for undergraduate students who are more academically talented but who have no significant previous background in the subject. There is no required textbook for this course, because so much relevant material is available on-line free-of-charge, and because I myself have so many years of experience in the subject. Required readings are my on-line class notes, which will also be e-mailed to your MSU e-mail account. Some optional recommended readings are listed on the syllabus. To meet the needs and interests of the academically talented students found in Honors classes, students take part in two more specialized projects than American Government students normally undertake. Those projects are: an oral and written book report on a relevant and valuable book, plus participation in a role-playing simulation of Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Extensive course material will be available on my course website, whose address is listed above. This course website includes the text of the class lectures, which I recommend that you print out or save to your electronic device, and bring this text to class. I do NOT use Canvas, so you will not find my course material on it.
This should be an especially interesting and even exciting semester to take an American government class. The midterm Congressional and Senate elections take place in November, and Republicans may lose their razor-thin margins of control in both chambers. Voters may face a lesser of two evils choice, as while President Trump’s job performance rating is low, Democrats in various states are offered very left-wing candidates. Our country faces bitter divisions among our political leadership, with members of the two major parties often denouncing each other, and filing numerous lawsuits or expressing hatred against the other party’s leaders. To better understand modern American politics, we will cover the establishment and history of our national government, the history of our political party system, and the post-World War 2 history of presidential elections and each President's domestic and foreign policies.
Our government at all levels often engages in crisis management, whether it is coping with a hurricane, tornadoes, or a pandemic. MSU’s university President, Dr. Mark Keenum, has had first-hand experience in dealing with such crises, as he was Chief of Staff of a U.S. Senator during Hurricane Katrina, and our state received generous federal help during that crisis. Our Provost led the successful effort to keep all of our state’s public universities open during the Covid crisis. Our university not only has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, but also has a rare U.S. Presidential Library. Our university’s is a world-class university with many opportunities for students (such as our Honors College), and students receive good value for their tuition money.
By the end of the first week of class, you should have told me or e-mailed me with the name of the book that you wish to report on. After I confirm that it has not yet been taken, just purchase the book yourself, and start reading it. Hopefully, you can give a 5-10 minute oral report on the date shown in the syllabus, but we’re flexible on that. Also, let me know by the end of the second week who the Senator is whose role you wish to play. Finally, make a special note of the dates of each of the essay examinations and when the written book report is due. Also, make a note of when you should e-mail me your bill for the simulation, and when you should have hard copies of it for the class.
There is no required textbook. Just click on my website listed at the top of the first page of my syllabus, which has the text of my class lectures. The class notes will also be e-mailed to you at your MSU e-mail account. Also, thoroughly read the book that you choose to report on; information about your book report is in the next section of this syllabus.
Your course grade will be based on five grading assignments, each of which will count equally. They are: the first essay exam; the second essay exam; the final essay exam; the oral and written book report; your performance in the Senate simulation.
For essay exams, I typically will ask you three or four questions, and you choose which two you will write about. These questions are primarily fact-based, so you do need to answer them completely. I underline the valuable points you raise, and write out what you have missed.
The book reports should be about 5 pages in length, typed double spaced. It should contain not just a discussion of the major findings and arguments of the book, but also an analysis and critique of the quality of the book, the validity of its arguments, and its value to a reader. The book report should be written in your own words, rather than copying directly from the book or any other source. Direct quotes should be very few (or none), and must include in parentheses after the closing quote the author's last name, year, and page number of the quote. The oral report is shorter, of course, as you just hit the high points, remembering that you are “teaching” your peer group about something that they know nothing about.
The Senate simulation occurs near the end of the course. You get to choose a real-life U.S. Senator whose role you will play. Learn about them and their state and the issues that they care about. You will then write up a short bill on an issue that interests you and them, and that is generally ideologically consistent with their views. Over a two-week period, the class will teach itself in a sense, and you will each introduce your individual bills, take questions about them from other senators, make changes (amendments), and then vote on each bill. This is actually a very educational and enjoyable experience, so have fun!
In order to be competitive in national scholarship competitions such as the Harry S. Truman, you are advised to take this Honors American Government course. AP credit in American Government does not adequately address the important political concerns that are addressed in this advanced course.
The course delivery method is a face-to-face class,
so you are expected to attend class whenever possible. If you do have to miss
for any reason, send me an e-mail indicating when you are missing, and
why you have to miss. Then, review the material we will be covering in class by
going to my class Website, whose address is near the top of the first page of
this syllabus. To
receive attendance credit for attending that class, send me another e-mail
indicating that you have reviewed the class lecture, ask any question about the
lecture that you wish, make any comment about it, or just say that you have
read and understood the lecture. While class attendance does not officially
affect your course grade, it is still important to attend class whenever
you can, since unexcused absences harm a person’s reputation. However,
universities today are placing a priority on the health and safety of their
students and staff, so if you are feeling ill, coughing, sneezing, whatever, do
not come to class. You can follow what went on in class by going to my webpage.
Given the stresses of our modern society, you may even desire to take a mental
health day. I even had to miss one class a few years ago due to health issues.
"The Mississippi State University
Syllabus contains all policies and procedures that are applicable to every
course on campus and online. The policies in the University Syllabus describe
the official policies of the University and will take precedence over those
found elsewhere. It is the student's responsibility to read and be familiar
with every policy. The University Syllabus may be accessed at any time on the
Provost website under Faculty and Student Resources and at https://www.provost.msstate.edu/faculty-student-resources/university-syllabus"
COURSE OUTLINE
(Time periods are approximations only, though dates for tests, simulation, and written book reports are firm.):
WEEKS 1-2: August 19-21, 24
Liberal-Conservative Ideology and Introduction to Public Policy
Study the websites of two ideological organizations:
The Americans for Democratic Action
The CPAC Foundation
Study the website of the Libertarian Party
WEEKS 2-3: August 26-September 4
The Constitutional Foundation
Read and study the Declaration
of Independence
Read and study the original U.S.
constitution
Read and study the Bill of
Rights
Read and study the remaining
amendments to the federal constitution
WEEK 4: September 9-11
Federalism- Federal versus state power
Review a Cato Institute's study on: Public
Attitudes toward Federalism
STUDENT REPORTS ON America's Great Storm: Leading through Hurricane Katrina,
by Haley Barbour. University Press of Mississippi.
WEEKS 5-6: September 14-23
Political Parties and Campaigns
Learn about the modern Democratic Party
Learn about the modern Republican Party
STUDENT REPORTS ON It Takes a Village, by Hillary Rodham Clinton, Simon
and Schuster.
STUDENT REPORTS ON American Marxism, by Mark Levin. Threshold Editions.
STUDENT REPORTS ON American Lion by Jon Meacham. Random House.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert
Walker Bush, by Jon Meacham (Random House)
STUDENT REPORTS ON Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign,
by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes. Crown: New York.
STUDENT REPORTS ON The Truths We Hold: An American Journey, by Kamala
Harris.
WEEKS 7-8: September 28-October 7
The Presidency
Review The Presidency Project
STUDENT REPORTS ON Washington's Circle: The Creation of the President,
by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler. Random House.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Team of Rivals by Doris Goodwin; omit chapters 1-9,
pages 1-278. Simon and Schuster publisher.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Truman, by David McCullough; omit parts 1-2, chapters
1-8, pages 1-344. Simon and Schuster publisher.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Reagan: The Life, by H.W. Brands. Doubleday.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Ronald Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became an
Extraordinary Leader, by Dinesh D'Souza.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Dreams from my Father, by Barack Obama. Crown
publishers.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Becoming, by Michelle Obama. Crown publishers.
WEEKS 9-10: October 12-21
Elections, Political Participation and Voting
Learn about Mississippi
Electoral Politics
STUDENT REPORTS ON For Us, the Living, by Myrlie Evers with William
Peters, University Press of Mississippi.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Aaron Henry of Mississippi- Inside Agitator, by
Minion K.C. Morrison, University of Arkansas Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Mississippi Politics, the Struggle for Power, 1976-2008.
By Jere Nash and Andy Taggart. University Press of Mississippi.
STUDENT REPORTS ON The Bitter End: The 2020 Presidential Campaign and the
Challenge to American Democracy, by John Sides, Chris Tausanovitch, and
Lynn Vavreck. Princeton University Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Understanding Trump, by Newt Gingrich.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success,
by Michael D'Antonio. Thomas Dunne Books, St. Martin's Press.
WEEKS 10-11: October 23-30
Congress and the Legislative Process, and domestic policy
Review the U.S. Senate website
Review the U.S. House of Representatives
website
STUDENT REPORTS ON Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power, by Susan Page.
Twelve: New York.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Crisis Point- Why We Must, and How We Can, Overcome our
Broken Politics in Washington and across America, by Trent Lott and Tom
Daschle. Bloomsbury Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON America, a Redemption Story: Choosing Hope, Creating
Unity, by Senator Tim Scott. Thomas Nelson.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, by Robert D.
Putnam. Simon and Schuster.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in
Crisis, by J.D. Vance.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Better Together: Restoring the American Community, by
Robert D. Putnam and Lewis Feldstein with Donald Cohen. Simon and Schuster.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few by
Robert B. Reich.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Physics for Future Presidents, by Richard A.
Muller. W.W. Norton and Company.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Climate Change and Energy in
the 21st Century by Burton Richter. Cambridge University Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change Paperback
by Robert Henson
WEEK 12: November 4-6
The Federal Judiciary and Supreme Court
Review the website on the federal court
system
STUDENT REPORTS ON Uncertain Justice: The Roberts Court and the Constitution,
by Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz. Henry Holt and Co. publishers.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Packing the Court: The Rise of Judicial Power and the
Coming Crisis of the Supreme Court, by James MacGregor Burns. The Penguin
Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Justice for All: Earl Warren and the Nation He Made.
By Jim Newton. Riverhead Books.
STUDENT REPORTS ON My Beloved World. By Sonia Sotomayor. Vintage books,
division of Random House.
STUDENT REPORTS ON My Grandfather's Son. By Clarence Thomas. Harper.
NOVEMBER 6- your Senate bill is due, e-mail it to me as a Word attachment
WEEKS 13-14: November 9-20
NOVEMBER 9- bring 30 copies of your Senate bill to class (unless notified otherwise)
WEEKS 15-16: November 23, 30
The federal Bureaucracy, foreign policy, media, interest groups
Review the structure of the
federal executive branch, by clicking on each letter of the alphabet in the
A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies. Specifically, for the
letter B, check out the Barry Goldwater scholarship program. For M, check out
the Morris Udall scholarship program. For H, check out the Harry S. Truman
Foundation. For each scholarship foundation, make sure you go to that agency's
full website.
Review the federal OPM (Office of Personnel Management) website, check for jobs in your academic major.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, by
Michael Wolff. Henry Holt and Co.
STUDENT REPORTS ON A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership, by
James Comey. Flatiron Books.
STUDENT REPORT ON Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love,
by Mike Pompeo. Broadside Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Hard Choices, by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Simon and
Schuster.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Decision Points, by George W. Bush. Crown Publishers;
New York.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Democracy- Stories from the Long Road to Freedom , by
Condoleeza Rice. Twelve, an Imprint of Grand Central Publishing; 2017.
STUDENT REPORTS ON War of Necessity, War of Choice- A Memoir of Two Iraq
Wars, by Richard N. Haas. Simon and Schuster.
Public Opinion, the Media, and Interest Groups
STUDENT REPORTS ON Apprehending Politics: News Media and Individual
Political Development, by Marco Calavita. SUNY Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON Packaging the Presidency: A History and Criticism of
Presidential Campaign Advertising (3rd edition), by Kathleen Hall Jamieson,
Oxford University Press.
STUDENT REPORTS ON A Fighting Chance, by Elizabeth Warren. Metropolitan
Books, 2014.
REPUBLICANS
(14)
DEMOCRATS (13)
Some information about the Senate Judiciary Committee and its members is provided on this government website. For your Senator, just click on their Biography to learn about them, as it goes to their individual websites. You can also just google their names, especially if they are not listed on this website.