Assignment for Tuesday, 3/4

For Tuesday, please read Chapter 7 in Milkis and Nelson, "The Reaction Against Presidential Power: Andrew Johnson to William McKinley." As a reminder, please note that this is the last reading before the exam/break, so many of you will need to summarize this to meet your requirements.

Assignment for Thursday, 2/28

For Thursday, read chapter 6 in Milkis and Nelson, "The Presidency of Abraham Lincoln." Feel free to summarize. (Many of you might have to.)

Assignment for Tuesday, 2/26

Next time we'll continue on in Milkis and Nelson; read Chapter 5, "The Age of Jackson." PLEASE NOTE that there are only two more readings for February (including the Jackson chapter), and one more for March. In sum:

• Those of you who have already submitted 2 summaries are OK for now. (Although I encourage you to keep submitting them and finish your assignment early.)
• Those of you who have submitted 1 summary must summarize one of the next three readings.
• Those of you who have submitted 0 summaries must summarize TWO of the next three readings.

I hope that's clear; contact me if it is not.

Assignment for Thursday, 2/21

Back to our historical tour - this time with Jefferson and his followers. Read Milkis and Nelson chapter 4, "The Triumph of Jeffersonianism."

For those who haven't yet written a summary: you are down to three opportunities (including the Jefferson chapter) to submit your required summary for February; there will only be one additional reading in March. So you have to submit summaries for TWO out of the next FOUR readings.

Assignment for Tuesday, 2/19

On Tuesday, we'll take a break from our historical tour of Presidents and discuss a particular executive policy -- the Military Commissions Act of 2006 -- and related concerns over habeas corpus and other civil liberties. You should read the handout I distributed in class. If you missed class, you can find the handout materials at the following links:

• Factsheet on habeas corpus
• Factsheet on the Military Commissions Act
• Factsheet on the US and torture
• The Bush Administration's defense of the Military Commissions Act

This discussion is inspired by the talk that will be given earlier in the day by Vince Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights (the source of the first three factsheets listed above). The talk will be held in the Regina Peruggi room on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 1pm. (A documentary about the US and torture, "Taxi to the Darkside," will be shown at 11am in the Peruggi room as well.) You are strongly encouraged (although not required) to attend.

Assignment for Thursday, 2/14

(NOTE: this is a change from the syllabus.) For next time, read chapter 3 in Milkis and Nelson: "Bringing the Constitutional Presidency to Life." We'll discuss the presidencies of Washington and Adams.

Assignment for Tuesday, 2/12

Next time, we'll discuss the debates between Federalists and anti-Federalists. Please read the following selections:

• For the Federalist papers (available here), read 69 and 70.
• For the Anti-Federalist papers (available here), read 67 and 74.

On Thursday, we'll continue our look at the constitutional framework of the Presidency. Please read -- and feel free to summarize -- chapter 2 in Milkis & Nelson, "Creating the Presidency."