Discusses the problems new political administrations encounter trying to staff the executive branch of the U.S. government. Identifies three major problems: (1) not enough time and too many appointments; (2) recruiting talented appointees; and (3) delays in start up. Suggests options for dealing with problems. Expounds on the George Bush…

Presents an activity, compiled from a variety of sources, which asks students to examine the allegorical content of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Requires students to use the inquiry method to relate symbols from the story to elements in the political and economic environment of the Populist movement. Bibliography…

Describes a team teaching approach to statistics in public administration programs. Discusses a format requiring that students combine skills of critical inquiry and understanding of numerical data with the literacy skills public administrators need in order to communicate with government officials, managers, and staff. Suggests applications for…

Discusses "new judicial federalism" as the rediscovery of state bills of rights for protecting civil liberties. Analyzes the differences in protection under state and federal bills of rights. Recommends that the growing importance of state constitutions be included in the political science curriculum and suggests bibliographic sources to…

Presents results of a survey comparing British and U.S. political scientists' familiarity with different journals, evaluations of journal quality, and measures of journal impact. Concludes that British and U.S. subjects agree about quality but read different sets of journals. Reports the two groups' familiarity with different literature,…

Examines proposals to computerize the political science curricula. Maintains that technological changes can support mainstream political science education, and provides criteria to determine whether microcomputers should be introduced. Questions whether fundamental abilities are improved by technology, and warns students may believe outcomes will…

Questions content of many introductory courses in political science, pointing out most courses focus on the U.S. political system, not the discipline and its basic theoretical and conceptual elements. Argues for a generalist approach that gives students a better understanding of political systems and the global world. Includes authors, choices,…

Presents simulation materials for teaching the U.S. congressional budget process that was developed for an introductory course in public policy. Follows the class throughout the simulation experience. Includes a summary of the scenario and description of students' experiences with mechanics, schedule, assignments, roles, and rules. (NL)

Discusses teaching of critical thinking in introductory college government classes. Emphasizes identifying, evaluating, and constructing arguments as fundamental skills. Suggests text and methods for developing these skills. Argues that government classes involve too much information to allow students to retain much if taught in the traditional…

Outlines Thomas Jefferson's views of classic philosophical writers and various interpretations of their views on morality and epicureanism. Explains why teaching ancient and medieval political philosophy is necessary as an ethical supplement to U.S. political thought. States liberal democracy depends on the tension between reason and revelation.…

Identified the effects of government information policy on accessibility, use, and users by investigating policy effects on a government agency, Statistics Canada. Presents a case study and discusses bibliometric research on the use of statistics sources, examining Canadian social science journal articles in economics, education, geography,…

Highlights the Cable News Network's (CNN) documentary series "The Cold War." Interviews executive producer Jeremy Issacs and producer Martin Smith about the series and its usefulness for educators. Includes a broadcast schedule for the 24 episodes. Notes that the series is endorsed by the National Council for the Social Studies. (DSK)

Presents the semiannual annotated bibliography of a selection of recent scholarly and general reference works in the areas of philosophy, religion, literature, games, music, art, political science, sociology, women's studies, history and area studies, geography, and new editions. (Author/LRW)

This article describes five political scientists' interview-based accounts of appropriate and inappropriate use of the pronouns "I" and "we" in academic writing. The informants talked about pronoun use with reference to one of their own journal articles and also by referring to other informants' texts. Beliefs about appropriate…

This paper proposes criteria that instructors should be sensitive to when evaluating simulations or role-plays for use in international/comparative politics courses. The potential benefits and drawbacks to these interactive exercises are addressed as well as the special circumstances that must be taken into consideration to reap the full promise…