If Men Were Angels

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.

— James Madison, Federalist #51


Syllabus

To download a copy of the course syllabus for Fall 2015, click here.


How to Reach Me

Deborah L. Guber
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
The University of Vermont
Old Mill, Room 532
94 University Place
Burlington, VT 05405-0114
 
Office: 519 Old Mill

E-mail: Deborah.Guber@uvm.edu
Phone: 802-656-4062
Fax: 802-656-0758

Office hours: MW 10:45-11:45 AM, 1:00-2:00 PM, and by appointment.


Dates to Remember

  • Friday, September 11Quiz #1

  • Wednesday, September 23: Quiz #2

  • Wednesday, October 21: Quiz #3

  • Friday, October 23: Midterm exam

  • Monday, November 16: Quiz #4

  • Monday, December 7: Quiz #5

  • Friday, December 11: Final exam from 9:25-10:15 AM

POLS 21E
MWF 12:00-12:50
Lafayette 207

Did You Know?
Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on July 4, 1826, fifty years to the day after signing of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson's last words were: "Is it the Fourth? I resign my spirit to God, my daughter, and my country." Adams, not knowing Jefferson had passed away earlier in the day said only: "Thomas Jefferson lives."

The word “democracy” does not appear once in the Constitution.

George Washington gave the shortest inauguration speech in American history on March 4, 1793. It was only 133 words long. William Henry Harrison gave the longest at 8,443 words on March 4, 1841 on a cold and blustery day in Washington, DC. He died one month later of a severe cold.

Washington Irving once described James Maidson as "a withered little applejohn" and his wife Dolley as a "fine, portly, buxom dame."

As president, George Washington would bow to guests at formal receptions in order to avoid physical contact.

Source: http://www.constitutionfacts.com.

 

< Return to Professor Guber's Virtual Office

The GeoEye satellite image at the top of this page was taken over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on the morning of President Barack Obama's inauguration, January 20, 2009.