This course will explore two political concerns of Americans: freedom and democracy. We certainly believe that freedom and democracy make the United States great, but what do we mean by those terms? We will develop some ways of thinking about freedom and democracy, and then apply those to two important cases. We will look at the Republican Party's "Contract with America" and the women's movement to understand the implications of different ways of thinking about freedom and democracy.

This course will serve as an introductory survey of the major principles, institutions, processes, functions, and behavioral patterns of the American political system. The ultimate purpose of this course is to help students develop a permanent, active interest in American politics and government and to serve as a pre-requisite for most political science courses.

In this course we will study some of the major theories developed to explain the way nations relate to each other. Why do some cooperate and others fight? Why do all cooperate at some times and fight at others? We will look at some very different concepts to see how each can give us some insight into the complexity of world events. We will study traditional state-centered explanations, but also newer ideas about transnational relations that attempt to better account for changing international reality.

Each student will write a 10-page paper using the concepts studied during the semester to analyze a particular international situation. This paper will be done in stages, with plenty of opportunity for revision. There will be three exams (one is dropped) plus the final.

An introduction to the political systems of Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria and Iran. We will learn how to carry out cross-national comparative analysis with particular emphasis on the issues of political identity, participation, and the role of the state.

This introductory course to American law is organized around three themes: the nature of the American legal system, the nature of the forces that influence it, and its effects on American society. Among topics covered are common law, statutory interpretation, legal reasoning, judicial behavior and the organization of American legal institutions, including the legal profession.

This course will examine the institutions, history, and political culture of several nations in Europe. We will emphasize the role of the state, economic development strategies, conceptions of national identity, forms of political participation, and the impact of efforts at European integration. The case studies from Eastern Europe will emphasize the challenges of transition to a market economy and development of new political institutions.

This course is designed to provide you with the tools to understand and evaluate empirical studies in the social studies. It will also include some basic statistical tests which are employed in quantitative analysis. The ultimate aim is to demonstrate that there are political phenomena which are amenable to study through the use of the scientific method and that there are more or less appropriate statistics and methods which can be employed in that pursuit. To that end, we will examine the philosophy of science, research methods (surveys, experiments, etc.), and basic statistics. An integral part of the course will be to design a research project on a topic of your choice.

This upper-level elective will explore the various powers, roles, and political relationships of the American president. In particular, this course will analyze the conflicting perspectives of different presidents and political scientists concerning the appropriate powers and functions of the American president. Also, this course will explore how and why the president's extra-constitutional powers and roles expanded beyond the original intent of the Founders and will analyze a significant presidential election.

This class will approach the theme from theoretical and comparative perspectives. We will begin with several theoretical analyses of the menaing of democracy and democratization. These theories will then be tested through case studies from Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States.

Seniors completing their senior comprehensive (thesis) in residence at Saint Mary's College should enroll for one credit both semesters.

This is a variable credit (1-3) option for students who want to do advanced study in a particular area. You should register for independent study only if you have made arrangements with a professor who agrees that you have the background to undertake your project, and is willing to supervise your work. Independent study cannot substitute for an elective course in the major.

Discuss any plans for internship credit with Dr. Pierce before registering. Internship credit is always elective credit.

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