Stephen H. Wirls teaches courses on American politics, including the introductory course (151), Congress and the Political Process (260), Parties and Partisanship (261), American Political Thought (212), and Modern Political Philosophy (314). He also teaches in the Search Program. Before coming to Rhodes, Dr. Wirls taught at Franklin and Marshall, Kenyon, and Cornell University, where he received the Clark Award for excellence in teaching. Dr. Wirls′ dissertation was on Machiavelli′s Prince, and he has published articles, essays, and book chapters on judicial power, the presidency, and liberalism. He is the author (with Daniel Wirls) of The Invention of the United States Senate.
Prof. Wirls′ Vita (PDF)
M.A., Ph.D., Cornell University, Government
B.A., Kenyon College (magna cum laude)
- Humanities 201 - SEARCH:VALUES IN HIST & RELGN
- Humanities 202 - SEARCH:VALUES IN HIST & RELIG
- Philosophy 314 - MODERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
- Political Science 151 - UNITED STATES POLITICS
- Political Science 212 - AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
- Political Science 260 - CONGRESS & POLITICAL PROCESS
- Political Science 261 - PARTIES AND PARTISANSHIP
- Political Science 310 - TOPIC:VARIETIES OF LIBERALISM
- Political Science 314 - MODERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
- Political Science 360 - CONGRESS & POLITICAL PROCESS
- Political Science 460 - PUBLIC AFFAIRS INTERNSHIP
- Political Science 495 - HONORS TUTORIAL
The Invention of the United States Senate, with Daniel Wirls, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004
“The Moral Imperative: Old Liberalism’s New Challenge.” VIII Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 1/2 (1996) 31-48.
"Machiavelli and Neustadt on Virtue and the Civil Prince." XXIV Presidential Studies Quarterly 3 (Summer 1994) 461-77.
"Institution and Virtue in the Judiciary." 6 Commonwealth: A Journal of Political Science (1992-1993) 20-47.
“Chief Diplomat.” Guide to the Presidency, ed. M. Nelson (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly) vol. I (revised and updated for 3rd edition, 2002).
“Commander in Chief.” Guide to the Presidency, ed. M. Nelson (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly) vol. I (revised and updated for 3rd edition, 2002).
“The ‘Gilded’ Age.” The Presidency, ed. M. Nelson (New York: Smithmark, 1996) pp. 108-121.
“Chief Diplomat” (with Daniel C. Diller). Guide to the Presidency, 2nd, ed. M. Nelson (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1996) vol. I, pp. 589-628. Reprinted in The Powers of the Presidency, 2nd (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1997).
“Commander in Chief” (with Daniel C. Diller). Guide to the Presidency, 2nd, ed. M. Nelson (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1996) vol. I, pp. 629-674. Reprinted in The Powers of the Presidency, 2nd (Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly, 1997).
The Machiavellian Cosmos, Anthony J. Parel (Yale University Press). 56 Review of Politics 2 (Spring 1994) pp. 401-403.
Citizen Machiavelli, Mark Hulliung (Princeton University Press). XX International Studies in Philosophy #1, 1988.
The Moral Foundations of the American Republic, Robert Horwitz, ed. (U. of Virginia Press). The Kenyon Alumni Bulletin (Spring 1987).
Sexual Desire: A Moral Philosophy of the Erotic, Roger Scruton (Free Press). The Washington Times "Books," 16 June 1986.
“Constitution Day and the Constitution.” The Sou’wester, Rhodes College, September 2005.
“Filibuster at cross purposes with the Constitution.” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, May 2005.
“The President, Foreign Policy, and Constitutional Government.” 11 Magazine of History 4 (Summer 1997) pp. 16-20, 28-29.
“Presidential War Powers: Another View.” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, December 1995.
"We Do Not Have Irresponsible Government: A Constitutionalist′s Opposition to Citizen Initiatives." Voter (Pennsylvania League of Women Voters), December 1992.
"Responsible Executives: Making Sense of This [1990] Election." The Zephyr (Lancaster, PA), November 1990.
"The Item Veto: Another Line." ‘The New Federalist Papers’ series of Public Research Syndicated, November 1985.
“Henry Clay.” International Biographical Dictionaries. Volume VI: Industrialization and Imperialism: 1800-1924, J. Bell ed. (2001).
“Stephen Douglas.” International Biographical Dictionaries. Volume VI: Industrialization and Imperialism: 1800-1924, J. Bell ed. (2001).
“Thaddeus Stevens.” International Biographical Dictionaries. Volume VI: Industrialization and Imperialism: 1800-1924, J. Bell ed. (2001).