POLITICAL SCIENCE
4003
WORKSHOP: COMPARATIVE
LEGISLATURES
Fall semester, 2003
Instructor, Dr. Mike Sharp
Office, SH308; Ph. (918) 456-5511, x3530; E-Mail, sharp@nsuok.edu
Hours, 10:00-11:00 MWF, 9:00-11:00 TTh, 3:30 Th (BA) and by arrangement
REQUIRED TEXTS:
There is no primary text for this course. Rather extensive material
will be drawn from a variety of sources addressing different democratic
legislative institutions. Some of the resources include:
Democratic Legislative
Institutions: A Comparative View (selected topics) by David M. Olson
Parliamentary
versus Presidential Government (selected articles) edited by Arend Lijphart
The Spirit
of the Laws by Montesquieu
Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes
The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke
The Social
Contract by Jean Jacques Rousseau
Reflections
on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke
The Federalist
Papers by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay: Federalist
10 and 51
Selected articles,
historical and current, pertaining to the topic of the day
Frequently this material will be individually assigned for presentation
and then collectively discussed by the class.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Legislatures and the legislative process occupy an area of central concern
in the study of government. Legislatures, however, have taken on quite
different characteristics and practices throughout history in different
governmental systems. This course will examine a number of major western
democratic legislatures from a comparative perspective in order to develop
a deeper understanding and appreciation of legislatures and the legislative
process as they have developed in a variety of different political settings.
PAPER/PROJECT REQUIREMENT:
There is a formal research paper or project requirement for the course.
This determination will be made as we move into the semester and further
information and direction will be provided at that time.
GRADING:
Grades will be determined from the three exams given over the course
of the semester, daily presentation assignments, and the paper/project assignment.
Class attendance is essential in order to adequately meet the above requirements.
Special Considerations:
If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs
special accommodations please advise the instructor of such disability
at the first class attended. If any student encounters particular
difficulty with any aspect of the material being covered, he/she is encouraged
to seek individual assistance from the instructor at the designated office
hours listed above or by special appointment as arranged.
COURSE OUTLINE----from Democratic Legislative Institutions: A Comparative
View
Chapter 1 Legislatures in Today's Democracies
Chapter 2 The Members: Representatives and Legislators
Chapter 3 Political Parties: The Internal Organization
of Parliament I
Study guide for first exam
Chapter 4 Committees: The Internal Organizations
of Parliament II
Chapter 5 Legislative-Executive Relations
Chapter 6 The Electorate and the Public: Elections and
Interest Groups
Study guide for second exam
Chapter 7 Parliaments at the Beginning
Chapter 8 Legislatures in the Policy Process
Appendix A Stages of Legislative Procedure
Study guide for final exam