Spring 2011

SOCS 621
The American Presidency

Lim,Elvin

01/24/2011 - 04/29/2011
Tuesday 07:00 PM - 09:30 PM

Public Affairs Center 422

This course begins with an examination of the foundations of presidential power, tracing the historical development of the institution. We will then apply and evaluate various scholarly approaches to understanding the American presidency. After surveying the extant literature on the presidency, students will challenge inherited or reflexive understandings of the American presidency, and become intelligent participants in the ongoing scholarly conversations within it.

Readings will include Harvey C. Mansfield Jr., Taming the Prince: The Ambivalence of the Modern Executive Power and Stephen Skowronek, The Politics President Make: Leadership from John Adams to Bill Clinton.

Students will be graded on participation, one literature review, one mid-term paper, and one final research paper.

This course is open to auditors.

The deadline to withdraw and receive a tuition refund for this course is Friday, January 28 at 5:00 pm. Please visit our website for a complete list of registration and withdrawal dates for this session.


Elvin Lim (B.A., M.A., MSc, D.Phil., University of Oxford) is associate professor of government. Click here for more information about Elvin Lim.

ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Consent of Instructor Required: No

Format: Seminar

Level: GLSP Credits: 3 Enrollment Limit: 18

Texts to purchase for this course:
Harvey C. Mansfield Jr., TAMING THE PRINCE: THE AMBIVALENCE OF THE MODERN EXECUTIVE POWER, (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1993)

Stephen Skowronek, THE POLITICS PRESIDENTS MAKE, (Belknap, 1993)

Reading Materials are available at BROAD STREET BOOKS, 45 Broad Street, Middletown, 860-685-7323 Order your books online

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