This document outlines the syllabus for a course on government and individual liberty taught at Lehman College. The course will examine the legitimate role of government and analyze how government actions can affect individual freedom. It will focus on themes of government regulation, taxation, and coercion. Students will read books and articles on these topics and discuss current events. They will complete short weekly papers summarizing the readings and present as part of student teams. The course aims to help students develop a critical perspective on the relationship between government and the individual.

1. The City University of New York
Lehman College
IBA 159.XW81 Wednesday 6-8:10 p.m. 3 credits R. Imprescia
Richard V. Imprescia Fall 2000
Tel: (212) 803-3133 Wednesdays
Fax: (212) 803-3615 6:00PM-8:10PM
Rimprescia@empire.state.ny.us
Books:
REQUIRED:
Bovard, James, Freedom in Chains: The Rise of the State and the Demise of the
Citizen (St. Martin’s Press, 1999) ISBN 0-312-22967-4
Hayek, F.A., The Road to Serfdom (University of Chicago Press, 1994)
ISBN 0-226-32061-8
Williams, Dr. Walter, More Liberty Means Less Government: Our Founders
Knew This Well (Hoover Inst. Press, April 1999) ISBN 0-817-99612-5
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Bovard, James, Feeling Your Pain: The Explosion and Abuse of Government
Power During the Clinton-Gore Years (St. Martin’s Press, 2000) ISBN 0-312-23082-6
Bovard, James, Lost Rights: The Destruction of American Liberty (St. Martin’s
Press, 1995) ISBN 0-312-12333-7
Fentress, James, Rebels and Mafiosi: Death in a Sicilian Landscape (Cornell
University Press, 2000) ISBN 0-801-43539-0
Judis, John B., The Paradox of American Democracy: Elites, Special Interests,
and the Betrayal of Public Trust (Pantheon Books, 2000) ISBN 0-679-43254-X
Rohr, John A., To Run a Constitution: The Legitimacy of the Administrative State
(University Press of Kansas, 1986) ISBN 0-700-60301-8
Wills, Gary, A Necessary Evil: A History of American Distrust of Government
(Simon & Schuster, 1999) ISBN 0-684-84489-3
Description: This course will examine the relationship between government and the individual.
It will be necessary to first establish the legitimacy of government and the political State’s
administrative process. The course aims to help students develop a critical perspective on
current issues that involve government and its effect upon the individual. What are the
legitimate functions of government? This first part of the course will outline a critical analysis of
legitimate government, the necessary roles of government in the social contract and the
preservation of liberty. The second part will analyze the effects of government upon individual
liberty & freedom. The course will focus first upon the legitimate role of government and

2. second upon the possibility and tendency toward abuse. Critical to this analysis is the student’s
identification in this process of government administration. Examination will focus upon three
(3) basic themes: (1) Government Regulation, (2) Taxation, (3) Government Coercion. Within
these themes we will discuss the legitimate role of the State, legislative regulatory procedures,
tax policy, Ruby Ridge, Waco Texas and the U.S. Department’s policy toward the Elian
Gonzalez case.
Format: This course will emphasize the practical relevance of government and the individual in
daily life. Accordingly, we will use newspaper and magazine articles. Students will be required
to read the New York Times or The Wall Street Journal and examine relevant articles that
demonstrate a relationship between government and the individual. Students should be prepared
to discuss articles in each class. Students will develop short precis papers for discussion for each
class session. Precis papers should be one-page, double-spaced and demonstrate a critical
evaluation or commentary on the assigned readings, newspaper and magazine articles or any
other relevant work. Additionally, students will submit a final paper that deals with the relevant
topics. Late assignments will not be accepted. Students may select a comparative literature
review; book review, case study or topic related manuscript of 15-20 pages, double-spaced. The
course will be conducted as a seminar requiring each participant to be well prepared for each
session. Session will be two-hours in length, generally following this outline:
40 minutes – Lecture and discussion of research issues
40 minutes – Presentation by outside resource persons or students on course topic or team groups
40 minutes – Class discussion of assigned topic and implications for students’ final paper
Participants will be divided into peer team-groups. Sections of class time will be put aside to
allow students to discuss and evaluate theme questions for class discussion. Teams will present
the weekly assigned readings or substitute other related sources. Final group papers will discuss
a critical evaluation of various topics related to government power and the individual’s liberty.
Topics may include a comparative analysis or study of the Executive Policy of U.S. Presidents
(e.g. FDR, Reagan, Clinton) and their approach to more or less government, The New Deal and
the expansion of government, comparative literature reviews, case studies (e.g. Waco, Ruby
Ridge & Elian Gonzalez) and Policy Analyses.
Grade Determinations
20% - Precis Commentary Evaluations
25% - Class Participation
25% - Team Presentations
30% - Final Papers & Presentations
Course Organization:
Sep 13th
, 2000 – The Role of Government in A Market Economy
“A Necessary Good”, Gary Wills
Hayek, F.A., The Road To Serfdom - Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 (pp. 1-62)
Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-page commentary &
evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine articles or alternative work
that deals with the topic.

3. Sep 20th
, 2000 – The Principle of Liberty
“The Role of Government in a Free Society” – Milton Friedman
“How Much Government – Maximizing Liberty by Numbers”, Prof. David Cole
Hayek, F.A., The Road To Serfdom - Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 (pp. 63-131)
Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-page commentary &
evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine articles or alternative work
that deals with the topic.
Sep 27th
, 2000 – Threats To Liberty
“What Sort of Despotism Democratic Nations Have To Fear”, Alexis DeTocqueville
Hayek, F.A., The Road To Serfdom - Chapters 9,10, 11, 12 (pp. 132-198)
Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-page commentary &
evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine articles or alternative work
that deals with the topic.
Oct 4th
, 2000 – The Basis of Liberty Examined
Hayek, F.A., The Road To Serfdom - Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16 (pp. 199-262)
Freedom in Chains, James Bovard – Chapters 1, 2 (pp. 1- 50)
Team A Presents Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-page
commentary & evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine articles or
alternative work that deals with the topic.
Oct 11th
, 2000 – Federalism & Regulations
“Unlegislated Compulsion: How Federal Agency Guidelines Threaten Your Liberty”
Prof. Robert A. Anthony
Freedom in Chains, James Bovard – Chapters 5, 6 (pp. 141- 217)
Oct 18th
, 2000 – Government Regulations & States’ Sovereignty
“Last Rights for States Rights”, Pietro S. Nivola
“Strangulation by Regulation: How it Happened; What to Do?”, Peter Vandoren
Freedom in Chains, James Bovard – Chapters 3, 4 (pp. 51- 138)
Team B & C Presents Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit
short 1-page commentary & evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper,
magazine articles or alternative work that deals with the topic.

4. Oct 25th
, 2000 – Regulations & The Rise of the State
Rise of The Surveillance State” – James Bovard
Freedom in Chains, James Bovard – Chapters 7, 8, 9 (pp. 219 - 265)
Team D Presents Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-
page commentary & evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine
articles or alternative work that deals with the topic.
Nov 1st
, 2000 – The Glorification of Government
More Liberty Means Less Government, Dr. Walter Williams – Chapter 1 (pp.1-51)
Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-page commentary &
evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine articles or alternative work
that deals with the topic.
Guest Resource Person:
Nov 8th
, 2000 – The Power to Tax
More Liberty Means Less Government, Dr. Walter Williams – Chapter 2 (pp.51-96)
Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-page commentary &
evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine articles or alternative work
that deals with the topic.
Guest Resource Person:
Nov 15th
, 2000 – Government by Coercion – Ruby Ridge, Waco, Elian Gonzalez
“Good-Bye, Elian: Why the American Government Did Whatever It Could to Send a
Little Boy Back to a Communist Country – and Why Americans Supported It” Dennis Prager
“Good-Bye, Elian: The Wrongs America Committed in Order to Send Elian Gonzalez to
Cuba” – Dennis Prager
“The Evil That is Communism” – Dennis Prager
Team E Presents Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-
page commentary & evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine
articles or alternative work that deals with the topic.
Nov 22nd
, 2000 – Government by Coercion & the Violation of Law
NO CLASS
Nov 29th
, 2000 – Various Threats to Individual Liberty
“Good Government Guns” – James Bovard
More Liberty Means Less Government, Dr. Walter Williams – Chapter 6 (pp.179-212)
More Liberty Means Less Government, Dr. Walter Williams – Chapter 7 (pp.213-end)

5. Team F Presents Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-
page commentary & evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine
articles or alternative work that deals with the topic.
Dec 6th
, 2000 –
Team Presentations
Dec 13th
, 2000 –
Team Presentations
Final Papers Due – Monday December 18th

6. Team F Presents Opening discussion; class topics reviewed. Students submit short 1-
page commentary & evaluation in precis form of the book readings, newspaper, magazine
articles or alternative work that deals with the topic.
Dec 6th
, 2000 –
Team Presentations
Dec 13th
, 2000 –
Team Presentations
Final Papers Due – Monday December 18th