Democracy Inaction: November

NOVEMBER		EMAIL THE CLASS
DATE	TOPIC	READINGS
1	Conducting Research	Barbara Norelli, Government librarian: meet in our classroom 1-1.20, and then the Bibliographic Instruction room, Library first floor
2	Visit the Tang - group 1: 7pm
3	Leadership, the charter and the democratic process	*F. Bryan, "Democracy as Public Presence: Walking the Bounds," Real Democracy, ch. 3* *"Committee discusses out with the old, in with the new," The Saratogian, December, 2005* Review: J. Svara, "Institutional Powers and Mayoral Leadership," State and Local Government Review 27 (1995) 71-83. R. Gurwitt, "Nobody in Charge," Governing Magazine (Sept. 1997)
4	Visit the Tang - group 2: 2pm
6	Mathematical power indices for the Saratoga Springs City Council - class in TLC 202	Joint class meeting with Prof. David Vella's Scribner Seminar on "Serious Games: Conflict, Power and Voting, Davis Auditorium"
7	Election Day: watch the results on television and read Wednesday morning's papers!
8	Vote on Charter Revision & Richard Danielpour	1.00, LI213: local election - recap of the vote 1.25, BO281 (w. Prof. Mechem's CC220 Classical Myth): Richard Danielpour's Margaret Garner
10	Did democracy work? Dinner at the Arnush/Mechem residence, 53 Warren St.	Raaflaub, "A Hypothetical Debate about Democracy" Final Project: Topic/Thesis statement due
11	Trip to NYC	Visit the Greek galleries in the Metropolitan Museum of NYC
13	Review of modern democracy & Prep questions for Mayor Keehn	*Bryan, Read Democracy,* ch. 11, "The Best Democracy, the Worst Democracy"**
15	Democracy Inaction: final project discussions & comic presentation preparations	Group work: designing a comic take on local politics, ancient or modern Group work: reviewing final projects
17	The charter reform: a recap & a look to the future Guest: Mayor Valerie Keehn, Saratoga Springs	Questions for Mayor Keehn
20	Democracy ancient and modern	Beedham, "Full Democracy" Robinson, "Direct Democracy: Old Prejudices and New Possibilities" (handout) Final Project: introductory paragraph and working bibliography due
22-24	Thanksgiving break
27	Democracy Inaction: satire and comedy	Meet outside of class to make final preparations for presentations; see Prof. Arnush in his office if necessary America (The Book), 1-34, 103-132, 167-183 Group work: designing a satiric take on local politics
29	Democracy Inaction: satire and comedy, and Stress Management	Group work: presentations of comic projects Guest speaker, Julia Routbort, Director, Skidmore Counselling Center