|
|
|
General Information
SYLLABUS
FOR POL 300: RELIGION IN US
POLITICS Spring Term, 2001 MWF
11:00-11:50 MH204 Fr. John
Putka, S.M., Ph.D.
Office SJ208
Phone 92594
Hours MWF, 10:00 to
11:00 AM, or by appointment.
e-mail: putka@udayton.edu
www.udayton.edu/~polsci
http://homepages.udayton.edu/~putka/index.htm
Home Marianist
Community
Alumni Hall
Phone 94815 General
Information
Text printed
materials and internet resources
Format Lecture/Discussion
Grades The final grading for this course will be determined by
the following
distribution of points:
Quizzes
20 points
A=93-100
Term Paper 30
points
B=83-92
Midterm Exam
20 points
C=75-82
Final Exam
30 points
D=70-74
Class attendance is expected of all. You are required to notify
the professor if you
have a valid excuse for missing class.
If nothing is said, the presumption will be
that there is no valid reason.
Excessive absences (defined as more than five) could
result in the drop of one or more letter grades. Faithful class
attendance and
participation could result in a higher grade in borderline cases.
You are required
to check your e-mail daily. POL 300
SYLLABUS
2
Students are expected to be familiar with the University's
"Policy on Academic
Dishonesty," as printed in the "official
documents" section of the Student
Handbook.
All written work must
be in correct English, neat, and with less than three
mistakes per page, or it will be rejected.
There is no obligation on the part of the professor to accept
late work.
There may be occasions when a film, videotape, or other
presentation will
occur outside of regular class time. Students are expected to do
everything
Possible to attend. Course
Outline
(subject to adjustments)
05 January Orientation/Introduction
05 January The content of
colonial experiences: the role of an AEstablished
Church@
during the Tudor and Stuart dynasties and beyond.
08 January Read: I, 1-47.
The role of God and religion in American political life: The
10 January Declaration of
Independence, Lincoln, Wilson, FDR, George Bush, et al.;
John Courtney Murray and American Pluralism as a practical
solution
12 January Read: I, 48-84.
American legal history: Purcell on the development of
17 January legal realism
(48-68); Prof. Johnson on the effects of excluding God from
law (69-75); Michael Novak on the awakening from nihilism
(76-80), and
Richard John Neuhaus on recent trends in American law (81-84).
15 January MARTIN LUTHER
KING DAY - Free
19 January Read: I,
85-110. The First Amendment's religion clauses and the original
intent of the Framers of the Bill of Rights: a
study by Peter J. Ferrara.
22 January Read: I,
111-142. The
interpretation of the Establishment Clause over *24
January the years:
accommodation or separation? Help
or hostility? Ferrara=s
26 January analysis of
the legal shifts and trends over the years. *Note:
24 January is the last day to withdraw without record.
POL 300 SYLLABUS
3
29 January Read: I,
169-214. William
Bentley Ball on the meaning of AReligion@
(169-
31 January 172); the
ACLU=s view of religion (173-176); Prof. Bradley: from Everson
to Mitchell v. Helms (www.supremecourtus.gov);
sample Establishment
Clause cases (181-214). For
more extensive research on these cases, go to:
http://www.findworld.com/data/Constitution/amendment01/
02 February Read: I, 215-271.
Supreme Court classics: Engel v. Vitale (215-232),
Lee v. Weisman (233-271), and Santa Fe Independent
School District
v. Doe (www.supremecourtus.gov).
05 February Read: I, 272-334.
The U.S. Supreme Court as the annual Grinch who
steals Christmas: Allegheny County v. ACLU (272-334).
07 February Read: I, 335-380.
The USSC shifts from separation to accommodation:
Lamb=s
Chapel (335-354) and Zobrest (335-380).
09 February Read: I, 381-479.
Rosenberger v. UVA
12 February Read: II, 1-36.
The Court reverses itself: Agostini v. Felton
14 February
Read: II, 37-55. ARethinking
the Incorporation of the Establishment
Clause: A Federalist View@
Harvard Law Review (37-55)
Exam review.
16 February MIDTERM EXAM
19 February PRESIDENTS= DAY - Free
21 February Read: I, 143-168.
The interpretation of the Free Exercise Clause: an
23 February analysis by Peter J.
Ferrara.
26 February Read: II, 56-164.
Historical overview of the Free Exercise Clause by
28 February Prof. Michael W.
McConnell.
02 March Read:
II, 165-187. A sampling of Free
Exercise Clause cases: major
themes (165-171); Reynolds v. United States (172-187).
05 March Read:
188-230. A major
decision: Oregon v. Smith (188-216) and its
07 March aftermath
(217-230). POL
300 SYLLABUS
4
09 March Read:
II, 231-262. The Court answers the critics of
Smith in another
controversial
opinion: Boerne v. Flores (231-262).
12 March SPRING
BREAK
14 March
16 March
19 March Read:
II, 263-298. Chickens, peyote and the U.S. Supreme Court: the
21 March case
of Church of Lukumi
Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (264-298).
Note: 21 March is the last day to withdraw with a record of AW.@
23 March Read:
II, 299-325. Religious alignments in American politics; voting,
values and cultures in
the mid-19th Century.
26 March Read:
II, 326-353. Religion, voting for President, and party identifaction
28 March from
1948 to 1984.
30 March Read:
II, 354-410. On ongoing search for consensus: continuity and
02 April
change in groups outside the Evangelical camp.
04 April
06 April
Read: II, 412-449. The political mobilization of Evangelical Protestants
09 April
and its effects on elections in the Nineties.
Shifting voting patterns in the
11 April
South and the changing Republican electorate.
13 April
GOOD FRIDAY
16 April
EASTER MONDAY
18 April
Read: II, 450-473. The role of Religion in American political life: the
20 April
for and the case against. What are the responsibilities of individuals and
23 April
religious organizations in a pluralist society?
25 April
Comments and conclusions. Review for Final Exam.
30 April
FINAL EXAM 10:00
to 11:50
HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!
|