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Teaching Philosophy

Imagine yourself in a cave, shackled among a crowd of others so you can see only shadows on the wall. This is Plato’s Allegory of the Cave: you break free, step into the light, and see the world as it truly is. If you are someone who returns to the cave to help free others, then you are an educator. Your challenge is in guiding those who may not yet want to be freed.

That is how I see teaching. Students often arrive with the “shadows” of politics: fragments from news feeds, social media, or inherited assumptions. My role is to help them move beyond those shadows, even when it is uncomfortable, by confronting hard questions and encouraging deeper inquiry.

In political science, that means going where the action is. I bring students to Congress, into simulations of legislative bargaining, and into direct contact with institutions of power. These experiences move them from seeing politics as abstract to understanding how decisions are actually made. Education, at its best, is stepping out of the cave together and returning with the responsibility—and the challenge—of helping others see more clearly.

Portrait of Darrian

Photo with the Frm. Secretary of the Navy

Portrait of Darrian

Trip to the U.S. Capitol

What Students Say

Current Courses

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This course introduces students to the foundations of American politics by tracing the Constitution’s creation, evolution, and enduring debates. We study how the framers’ design has shaped the separation of powers, federalism, and civil rights and liberties, and how institutions have adapted to crises and change. Connecting historical development to contemporary challenges, students learn how the Constitution continues to structure political conflict and opportunity in the United States. The course ultimately seeks to cultivate an engaged citizenry—especially among those who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution—by equipping students with the knowledge needed to understand, uphold, and critically evaluate the system they are sworn to protect.
Student opinions for this course

Grouped by semester. Each click reveals at most 10 more comments per semester.

Spring 2025
Spring 2025
103 opinions
  • Dr. Stacy effectively assigned readings to incite understanding of the material prior to lectures, allowing students to retain information with ease.
  • The videos, podcasts, and readings were very relevant to the class and were integrated within the topics we would learn. They were helpful in applying what we had read/discussed.
  • Very engaging, helpful videos
  • readings were helpful with what we talked about, and study guides were helpful.
  • The readings and videos in the slides were very helpful in learning course content.
  • The readings we were assigned helped me understand what we were talking about in class
  • All materials were posted to google classroom, very accessible and seamless
  • provided class with creative ways to think about problems.
  • The readings really prepared us for classes and understanding what we would be talking about in class. The videos in class allowed me to have a better understanding when seeing terms that did not fully make sense to me.
  • Good intro videos for the lesson, reading helped me learn the material.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • They all were directly related and Professor Stacy spent whatever time was needed to ensure we understood the info.
  • All course materials were helpful to the learning course
  • Readings did not seem necessary. Class videos and slides were helpful.
  • The videos helped connect things better and helped me to understand things better.
  • Resources were helpful for class and for exams.
  • All of the course materials were helpful.
  • Class sessions were extremely in-depth and often included time for students to ask clarifying questions and discuss among one another during activities.
  • Class Sessions were perfect. They included the perfect mix of debate using what we had learned, the ability to practice our constitutional knowledge, and the guest speakers allowed us to understand certain parts of the constitution such as the legislative process.
  • Very insightful
  • Prof. Stacy invited Rep. Greg Pence to give a lecture which was helpful, and the in class activities were creative and engaging
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • I really liked how he engaged the class everyday through activities or thought provoking question in lectures.
  • We always had great class discussions and I always left class learning something new.
  • Class sessions were super engaging. I think I learned more in this class with his lecture, conversation style of teaching than any other class this semester and it was entertaining.
  • Provided real life experience and applications
  • I enjoyed how interactive this class was and how we were allowed to voice our opinions in lessons. I liked that we got to speak with a congressman and the lectures never felt like straight lecture with how much we got to talk.
  • Lectures helped me stay engaged.
  • Class activities were way more effective they just straight lectures. He allowed the students to ask questions and debate in class which led to a much more meaningful discussion.
  • Lectures were very engaging. Conversations were productive.
  • Class lectures and activities were very interactive.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • Lectures and activities were tailored to exam material and furthered our learning.
  • All class sessions were helpful and engaging.
  • The instructor encouraged students to bring articles and questions from the reading to class in order to provoke understanding of the material.
  • allowed for incentives towards participation points. Made class engaging by applying classroom to real world events.
  • Best teacher, I hope I can take one of his classes in the future
  • He teaches using the Socratic method. It keeps classes fun and engaging and ensures that you truly understand the material.
  • I liked the political games
  • The participation and short quizzes not only helped me learn but also confirm that I was understanding what I believed I knew.
  • The EI for writing papers was really helpful.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • He was extremely nice and up front with the students. The fact that he actually asked us for our opinion on assignments and course policies made me fee like he actually cared about what we were going through. He definitely deserves a raise.
  • This instructor made being at the academy a little easier because he enjoyed himself while teaching the class. This class is my top three favorite courses so far.
  • Good class.
  • It was good.
  • Gave lots of feedback on writing assignments to ensure better work for the following.
  • He gave us different scenarios to play out to better develop our understanding of concepts.
  • The textbook was the best resource for this class, related directly to the material and was very informative.
  • The videos showed in class were always a great way to tie in to the course curriculum.
  • the readings were directly related to the quizzes and to the lecture that day, and that all was covered in the final exam. I never felt like I was wasting my time doing assignments for this class where I have in other classes in the past.
  • The course materials enabled us to connect what we were learning to outside sources. We were staying engaged with the material, and these materials acted as a stepping stool to fully grasp the information that my Professor was teaching us.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • The assigned course materials such as videos helped expand on the discussions and slides we were reviewing
  • They were extremely helpful as they related towards Professor Stacy's teachings in class. The content was then directly correlated to tests.
  • I thoroughly enjoyed class sessions. Our classes were very intellectually stimulating and interactive. I enjoyed the discussion, almost debate like format of the class.
  • I really appreciated when Greg Pence came and spoke with us, it was a great way to see the course be put into real life.
  • The Instructor covered all the needed material in class and we often did helpful exercises that made the concept more understandable, and classroom discussions were constructive and thoughtful, making it a very enjoyable class.
  • My professor was engaged and stimulating our minds throughout the entire semester. He was constantly asking probing questions to encourage us to develop our critical thinking capabilities. I enjoyed coming to every class because the discussion was very informative and interesting, and I found the way he relates his lectures to the real world to be incredibly beneficial. It wasn't just facts the entire time, it was learning and coming up with concepts as to how to implement what we had learned into our government.
  • I really enjoyed how we had a strong, discussion based class, which allowed us to talk through new ideas and other perspectives. Dr. Stacy guided our conversations in a very meaningful, relevant way that helped further my understanding.
  • The discussions in class based on the book readings and powerpoint slides were incredibly helpful
  • These were some of the best class sessions I have ever been apart of. Extremely engaging and enjoyable. They were also very informative and probably the the class I learned the most during the period of time in class.
  • Thought-provoking questions/scenairios, answered all questions, allowed time for discussion on things going on in the world.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • Dr. Stacy is a wonderful professor who helps ensure his students have great understanding of the government.
  • At first I thought that I was going to hate this class because the instructor thought so highly of himself on the first day of class, but then I learned that that is just his sense of humor, and I found him funny, and the class very interesting and engaging. Thank you.
  • I believe that this might be the most influential class I have ever taken. I am a pretty honest guy and normally and talk poorly upon classes because in most classes I do not actually learn anything at al and they are just a waste of time. However for this class, I actually learned so much, not just along the course line but also more powerful lessons such as being able to fully listen and understand people's points fast and be able to communicate thoughts back and forth in order to come to a conclusion; to be able to critically think for short. I think writing in memorandum format also was extremely useful to us because most classes here as the same as most college classes everywhere do not actually teach you how to do things that one will o after graduation. So writing like this is basically like a teacher teaching kids how to write a check or letter in middle or high school. I think Dr. Stacy is by far one of the greatest teacher I have ever had, at first I thought I was going to transfer classes because of his act, but then I realized that act is just to add some personality to the class and adds a little comedy to keep us engaged and keep things "fun."
  • My professor encouraged deeper thought of the information. I enjoyed coming to class every Tuesday and Thursday, and that is how I believe classes should be. They presented the knowledge that we had to know in an entertaining way, and they encouraged a deeper thought on content. I highly recommend this teacher, and I am very grateful that I was lucky enough to be in their class.
  • The instructor did an excellent job of facilitating discussion and creating a respectful work environment
  • Very engaging and helpful overall. Great teaching methods.
  • The course material was useful and insightful.
  • The book The Logic of The American Politics Tenth Edition was very helpful in understanding and finding the material.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • I LOVED THIS CLASS. the course materials were great and fairly organized
  • Being able to go through the slides is very helpful.
  • Textbook was helpful even though I do not like to read.
  • It was hard to find specific information in the book at times.
  • The textbook was helpful in learning the course material
  • The class was oriented to focus on the material we were tasked with reading prior to each in-person session. This allows for the students to prepare adequately and learn exactly what they need to know.
  • The readings were the foundation of what we learned in class and within class lectures we built on top of what we read with real world examples.
  • The slideshows and news articles that we examined in class were helpful in developing our communication and writing skills, as well as knowledge of the Constitution and US political system.
  • The writing assignments were super interesting. Class was super interesting as well. Exams were well structured. I learned a lot.
  • We were expected to do outside of class readings. After doing the readings we were able to contribute more to the inclass discussions. This was extremely helpful in internalizing and understanding the concepts.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • The assigned readings were discussed in the next class and to open the class, we would typically discuss the material and watch a video related to the topics.
  • Open discussion based learning. It was great.
  • The activities and lectures were amazing. I loved this class so much
  • The conversations held in class were always productive.
  • He expected us to read, and I enjoyed the lecture.
  • The class sessions were very helpful for learning the information.
  • The class discussion was very helpful
  • The open-ended style of this class allows for a variety of discussions and topics to be shared. Guest speakers and in-class activities were very enjoyable and gave every student the chance to participate and earn their own grade.
  • The videos in class and the discussions that ensued were very helpful and allowed me to think for myself instead of just absorbing the information given to me.
  • Lectures were conducted very professionally and lively. Dr Stacy's "no technology" policy, although seeming to be over the top at first proved to be crucial to the flow of his class, as well as his goal to keep everyone engaged and attentive. I do not think that any teacher would be able to pull this policy off, but Dr. Stacy has a unique talent to keep the class engaged and wanting to learn, even if it isn't their intended major.
Show 10 more from Spring 2025
  • Super useful, made us think about the world which is a better than just learning about terms.
  • Dr. Stacey was super enthusiastic about the subject matter and his lectures were very informative. I would recommend him as a teacher to any of my peers.
  • We would do a variety of in-class activities where it would simulate the readings or historical events that have occurred in the past. It gave us a better insight on the possible perspectives of the people who were a part of making these decisions. We also had a meeting with former Congressmen who were able to answer our questions and speak with us on a more personal level.
  • I was not sure about Professor Stacy after the first day of class, he just seemed to have a very strong personality. I was right about the strong personality but he ended up being my favorite professor from my time at the academy. He was personable, smart, and organized; he facilitated great discussion.
  • He was super helpful and was funny in his lecture in a professional way. everyone i have talked to has loved this class
  • Working in groups helped.
  • Very good at pushing us to speak professionally and express ourselves in a political manner. Very very good.
  • The conversational aspect of the class made it very easy to learnt he information.
  • N/A
  • I especially loved the activities we did where we would split up into states and represent states. I also loved the gold and blue slip activity we did near the end of the semester. Overall, the activities helped with understanding the material beyond just slides and lecture.
Show 3 more from Spring 2025
  • Professor Stacy is definitively the best teacher that I have had in my educational experience. I have not had a teacher that is able to control the attention of a class, while still having his students enjoy learning the material and coursework. His attention to detail and use of the Socratic method in class encourages students to get out of their educational comfort zones, consider new perspectives, and reevaluate their own claims. ;Also, Dr Stacy was very helpful in drafting writing assignments as he would return feedback promptly that could help you improve your writing.
  • We had various in-class activities, such as a civil rights activity, that further allowed us to understand the content.
  • Dr. Stacy is a great professor who genuinely cares about the material and students he teaches. He ensures that we understand the material and allows for an open-discussion classroom where we are free to speak our minds. He has allowed me to expand my education of our U.S. Government and grow a deeper appreciation for politics. Thank you.
Fall 2024
Fall 2024
163 opinions
  • Questions were directly related to the books, videos shown in class were also helpful in real-world application of content.
  • I felt the reading was not the most helpful, but it was far from useless. The videos that tied into class (i.e. court case stories) were much more helpful. The lectures were the most helpful though.
  • The readings felt very long and less informative as opposed to the content shared in class
  • The readings covered the content we discussed in class. However, I felt that because they were so long, I struggled to complete them in time and decipher the important information. In class, the content was presented in a way I could understand, so I felt like doing the reading was not productive. I liked the writing assignments that we did because it helped me apply the content and produce my own thoughts. I thought they were challenging though because they forced me to create an opinion based on what I knew about the American government.
  • I personally found that the quick explainer videos and court case breakdowns were very beneficial in retaining denser topics. The reading itself was sometimes very heavy, yet the supplemental videos and audio clips were helpful in supporting the readings.
  • The reading was beneficial when combined with the in-class lectures. I really appreciated the 10-ish minutes at the beginning of the class to ask questions as the readings usually left me kind of confused. I also would've liked more videos. I feel like it was easier to retain the information from videos than reading.
  • The videos allowed me to get a better understanding of concepts which I didn't fully understand.
  • I think that the assignments that were in our google classroom were well planned and the instructions were very clear. The videos that were presented in class were very helpful as well as the readings from the book.
  • The book was helpful at explaining topics such as the prisoner dilemma and was especially good for recognizing confusing topics to bring up in class.
  • The book covered all the important material in a broad and specific manner, though the reading was quite extensive and this is not Dr. Stacy's fault, simply the textbook is very dense with information, not all of which is particularly useful.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • This class was very fair as we learned through the in class discussions and what we have watched online. The class was also very funny as everybody participates and makes the class enjoyable.
  • Reading and extra videos posted helped to learn more.
  • minimal assigned course material outside of class was good to prepare for class and not overwhelming.
  • They were helpful in giving us extra information that was not covered in class.
  • The assigned reading gave a solid foundation which we could build off of by asking questions in class. I enjoyed this aspect.
  • I really enjoyed the activities and videos during class used for teaching topics. Sometimes the readings were unnecessarily long and I did not have a lot of time to completely read the entirety of the chapter, but what I really liked about the assigned book was that I was able to use quizlets and online summaries to efficiently explain the chapters. These resources were easy to find and use because the book is widely used.
  • Course materials allowed us to go in depth.
  • The course materials allowed me to come prepared with questions and prior knowledge allowing me to get further in understanding the material. Often times when I read I still have a lot of questions and more then I started with and he makes sure to answer all questions.
  • The readings offered a brief look into the class beforehand to come to class with questions. The podcasts and other media sources remained unbiased depicting possible sources of information for future reference and news.
  • in-class example activities of parties and others helped with demonstrating how the course material is related to real world. I enjoyed the guest speakers and thought that their input was important.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • Pretty much everything was helpful. The class activities were probably the most helpful in getting me to understand the material, but they would have been useless without the lectures. The Congress to classroom event was very interesting, and I enjoyed it, but I did not feel like it was 100% relevant to our class topics aside from the fact they they worked in Congress.
  • The lectures were very helpful for learning course content, and I liked the slides that we used. The information was simplified, but then in our discussions we applied the content beyond what was written. The activities that we did helped me to understand the material better.
  • I found that the activities were also extremely helpful in actually participating in certain concepts to get a hands-on experience of what we were discussing. Especially with such a discussion based course, I found it helpful when you facilitated opportunities to break into groups to hear from others opinions and understanding of the material.
  • Lectures and guest speakers were great. The only thing I would comment on was that I felt that the quizzes weren't super helpful because some of the information felt a little obscure from the lectures.
  • In-class activities were engaging and made the topics more interesting to learn.
  • Class sessions were great, I found the most helpful lessons were the lessons with activities tied into them. It really helped me put the content we were learning into action and has helped me retain information.
  • Lectures were interesting especially when we involved in class activities. My favorite class day was the one where we spoke with the two retired representatives and were able to hear from politicians in person.
  • The class sessions were used to connect concepts learned in the reading to examples, and to provide more nuanced and detailed perspectives on the topics discussed. This helped learn and maintain concepts by applying them to real world examples we see every day.
  • The lectures were all great and very enjoyable as well.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • Lots of Q&A which helped to hear other people's questions that I did not think of and activities we did brought an understanding as well.
  • lectures were engaging and interesting.
  • Class was nice being able to have an open discussion about the topic but one thing that I did not like was that since I missed so many days for sports, the slideshows were not very detailed since most of the content was covered in class and not on the slides.
  • I enjoyed the in class activities which made me apart of the topic. Such as being in middle of a real prisoner's dilemma. I now can spot prisoner's dilemmas more easily as well as how we can reach a collection action.
  • The instructor is highly educated and very qualified in the material he is teaching, however sometimes the vocabulary used makes the topics more confusing for students who are not super familiar with the information. I was able to capture good notes from his powerpoints, and I really enjoyed when we did class activities or anything that involved involvement. I feel like the class did a good job staying involved and participating because of the in depth discussions we were able to have in class.
  • Created an open setting
  • Activities and going through examples allowed for more remembrance of topics.
  • Lectures were continuously interactive with activities that tied into the lecture in simpler terms. Guest speakers were previously congressmen and veterans. The choice of guest speakers were tailored to the audience of Midshipmen.
  • Dr. Stacy engaged students by keeping them awake and also ensuring that course material was flexible with schedules
  • The in the news sections were cool and helpful. I wish it was more frequent though.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • Some of the tangents we go on definitely make the class a bit more fun and enjoyable
  • This class was very engaging! I would have liked to do more vocabulary work to give me a better basis for our class discussions, but Dr. Stacy's study guides were helpful. For the midterm I felt like I knew concepts better than the words.
  • I found that this course was the best I've taken at USNA thus far. You have been a very engaging and interactive professor who clearly cares about their students. I also see a perfect balance of work along with breaks for jokes and fun moments like dance battles for voting. I felt very comfortable and invited to ask questions and test out new ideas under your guidance. Clearly this course is well constructed, and I have no negative feedback whatsoever. Thank you for everything Doctor, it truly has been a pleasure to learn from you.
  • Truly the allowance to ask questions was the best thing that helped me learn.
  • Professor Stacy was always available for extra help and gave me great feedback each time I met with him.
  • Very learning friendly environment, always spoke well in front of the class and was emotionally invested in us as well.
  • I enjoyed the in the news discussions that made the concepts talked about in the lessons more appliable to life currently in the US.
  • The openness to questions was absolutely fantastic, he would even entertain some mildly tangential questions solely at the curiosity of the students as long as they were related to the topics discussed in some ways. The in class lessons and the support for learning was pristine and I wouldn't have changed it at all.
  • Enjoyed this class this semester.
  • With having a double period, starting at 830 instead of 8 helped to still have a lot of time to get things done but not too long that people were zoned out by the entire second half of class.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • I would like the no technology policy changed because I prefer to take notes on my ipad, although I do understand why the policy is in place.
  • Allowed us to do demonstrations and ask questions on the reading.
  • I thought he made it very engaging and taught now only through lecture, but through action as well. Combining these allows the actions to support the theory of what we talk about. This really ingrained it in me. Lastly, the writing assignments really opened up my mind to how intricate the government works while also how predictable it can be with certain trends. But, this course made me ponder why these trends exist.
  • The course was very enjoyable.
  • Relating much of the history and topics to our day-to-day lives, showing the application of it to us showed the importance of not only the course but in our drive for understanding government more.
  • Course materials gave enough background information to lead a productive discussion in class.
  • The textbook was used every day because we were expected to read before class, this helped us understand the content better and helped us come in with any questions.
  • Course materials were very helpful and followed as schedule with the syllabus. This made it easy to track what we were learning and when in order to stay up to date with the class material. Watching videos really helped me out because it allowed me to hear from another reliable source from their perspective on the topic which made the topic more understandable from a different perspective.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • I think the slideshows were more helpful than the text book readings. I found I got lost in the readings and would only use them for vocabulary terms for the midterm and final. I find the slideshows helped me understand the content.
  • I think the slideshows were very helpful in contrast to the textbook. I feel like the textbook was often hard for me to stay focused and engaged because the chapters were really long. The slideshows in class had political cartoons, news clips, and graphics that kept me engaged and curious to learn more and ask questions.
  • Course materials were helpful because you made us read it and then you asked questions in class to make sure we were actively learning and recalling and truly understanding the material.
  • For this class most of our assigned course materials were mainly readings. I have taken a similar course to this in high school however the reading assigned went into much deeper level of both complexity, but when described in class the topics covered in the reading were better understood. By introducing the topic and how it theoretically works ahead of class the readings helped grow a basic understanding the students needed so the professor could apply the concept into how it works in practice
  • Readings were a different thing to focus on and kept me focused
  • The readings were a good way to get an idea of what we would be talking about in class and helped explain certain topics more in depth and provide examples.
  • The readings were a bit much in the beginning of the year as they were long and a lot of comprehensive information we did not need, maybe find a way to shorten the readings to the more pertinent information.
  • The course was based on "The Logic of American Politics", so I would say that the course material lined up well with the learning objectives.
  • I think that every video used or piece of media used was really helpful for real and current world context of our learning objectives when they were added into our slideshow. I think that the textbook that we used was especially helpful, the course work aligned really well with the chapters. If I needed help or clarification on something I missed in the notes or lecture, I could often reference the textbook.
  • The more entertaining videos especially did a better job of keeping the students engaged (e.g. How Donald Trump Won the Election)
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • The readings were directly related to the conversations in class, and all the videos shared gave me a better understanding of the material.
  • The videos on the slideshows helped keep me engaged. I like how there are many pictures on the slideshow. However, I found some of the readings were really difficult to understand.
  • They gave visual explanations which helped a lot.
  • The readings were interesting and the presentations were well organized.
  • The textbook was vey helpful, along with relevant videos during class and detailed notes.
  • Each session allowed for the students to actively participate in good conversation and feel free to express themselves.
  • Lectures with slideshows which helped with notes. Open discussion where we could ask questions and stay engaged.
  • I am not a fan of lectures as I tend to find myself get unengaged after a period time which then I zone out or can possibly miss key information. In-class activities I found very useful and wish we would have done more of. Being able to engage with my peers on topics that directly effective us because of the profession we are in has allowed me to be more engaged and gain information about a topic through hands on learning and from my peers knowledge as well.
  • The in-class discussions and debates helped me learn the material the best. I found myself wanting to participate more and learning better when we had these open discussions as opposed to the normal lecture. The enslaved individuals protest specifically helped me learn the content for that chapter.
  • I think the in-class activities were very helpful because I got to actively be a part of concepts/topics I was learning and I am a very hands-on person. Understanding how government functions through physical means is super effective in terms of information retention.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • I love the open discussion and intention from the professor to make sure we knew all the material clearly and are able to explain it to someone else if they asked.
  • For myself I really felt that anytime a debate happened or another in class activity was given especially in our class we got to see both sides. Which I feel is not always represented since lots of times people are scared to share their conflicting viewpoints. Part of that was the positive and comforting atmosphere the professor cultivated which also opened new and deeper discussions that really expanded my learning. I also really loved the guest speakers they brought in.
  • Lectures were very interactive and kept me focused
  • The class sessions were extremely helpful. The lectures were planned out well and provided a lot of opportunity for us to think rather than just be told the information off a slide. The activities that we did were also enjoyable and helped grasp the concepts we are learning. The lectures were always engaging and I always felt like I learned something.
  • Classes were very interactive and helpful
  • While our discussion with the former congressman were not directly applicable to testing material, I thought I was an interesting change of pace/opportunity.
  • The class sessions were probably the most helpful part. The lectures were engaging and given at a level that made sure that we all understood the material. I especially appreciated the ability we had to ask questions if needed.
  • The sessions were a fun and effective way of expressing different thoughts and ideas. FUN is important because it definitely helps build and reinforce memory
  • We did a lot of modelling activities where we as students were able to see the topics we were learning come to life. This was not only extremely beneficial to my comprehension of the material, but also brought us together as a class and made class a lot of fun.
  • I enjoyed our class debates. They were fun and helped me better understand the material.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • Class sessions such as lectures and debates were helpful in learning class content because not only did we cover all the material, but as students, we were allowed to speak freely and express our opinions with not only zero judgement, but with welcome debate that made us really think and forced us to be able to back our opinions.
  • All lessons were very engaging.
  • Lectures were very engaging and involved a lot of discussion between everyone. In class activities were all inclusive and relevant
  • This class was incredible. Dr. Stacy allowed for the group to have discussion while also staying on track to complete assigned work. His teaching style is interactive which allowed for students to be fully engaged, even during plebe year when people are tired.
  • Very helpful and understanding, would answer questions in a very clear manner.
  • I like how the class was more of an open discussion that focused on government. I did not feel a rush to finish the slideshow for the day, instead allowing us to dive deeper into specific points in the content. Questions were always accepted.
  • Keep doing you
  • Kept it light and fun
  • The no electronics kept everyone engaged
  • This was one of my favorite classes because of Professor Stacy's ability to engage with us and really get us thinking about the topics we were covering.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • The activities in class were also extremely helpful in my understanding of the topics. The topics where we had some sort of activity were much easier to understand as I am a hands on learning type of person.
  • He was very passionate about the subject matter. It did not feel like he was forced to teach us/ was just doing his job. This made me excited to come to class.
  • I think that our professor got to know us on a level that was slightly deeper than just people listening to the lecture. This helped our instructor cater the class and the way that it was taught to our needs a little more. I think that the engaging activities or the time for open sided conversations about different topics helped keep the class engaged in the lecture and the material.
  • I just really appreciate how open the instructor was, and how he was always willing to help and be available outside of school hours. Huge points of entertainment, backed by expertise. Please just keep running it the way it has been run honestly!!!
  • Dr. Stacy promoted us to voice our thoughts and think critically of the material. He challenged us to ask questions and ensured that we thoroughly understood all sides of the coin on the topics covered. He explained not only what our government is and how it works, but why it does and how it came to be that way. I can confidently say I learned a great deal from this course and this instructor.
  • I liked how open the writing assignments were. I didn't feel like my choice of topic was at all limited so I was able to produce my best work.
  • Dr. Stacy is a wonderful teacher. As a political science instructor, it must be very hard to teach without any bias whatsoever and he was able to do just that. He also allowed us to express any opinion we had so long as it was not disrespectful or degrading to another human being, completely rightfully so. I also appreciated how the setup of his course allowed us to learn real-world skills, such as debate and perfecting the memorandum format, and focused more on learning for the sake of education rather than for the sake of memorization and testing.
  • Used crash course videos.
  • There was an activity relating to what we were learning almost every class which was super helpful and kept everyone engaged.
  • Assigned course materials provided a deeper insight to what we covered in class and allowed us to review and uncover more to the topic we were learning about. While the chapters in the book were very lengthy, they were a good resource to lessons in class. I also really enjoyed the writing assignments. It was interesting to write with the Navy correspondence format and further explore topics in class.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • it helped alot
  • The course materials were great sources for the course content, as the videos were always quality and the slideshows were very informative.
  • We were assigned readings for the next class and we took time to discuss about the readings during class then went onto the slideshow upon the topic
  • I found that most of the assigned course materials were extremely helpful. The readings contained a great deal of information, but due to the length, I found that it was hard to understand the entirety of the chapter. One thing that I found extremely helpful was supplementing the course materials with YouTube videos, such as Heimlers History, as he gave quick targeted information regarding all of the topics we covered in class. This is one resource that I would like to see more of outside of class. Podcasts and other mediums such as posting the slides were extremely helpful as well
  • I enjoyed all the in class videos that were presented.
  • Assigned weekly reading. Very helpful for learning course content but the readings were very hefty. If there's anyway, I think it would be helpful if the professor could highlight the most important part of the readings so if we don't get around to all 50-70 pages we at least cover 10-30 of the most critical stuff.
  • The Study Guides were helpful because in order to understand the terms given we had to look them up instead of read off the page.
  • Visual materials such as videos helped to keep me more engaged than just slides.
  • Professor showed very relevant videos that I enjoyed watching and helped me better understand course material
  • Assigned course materials helped add some variety to lectures, engaged the students, and brought some perspectives we hadn't seen before.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • I thought the readings were a little lengthy but very helpful.
  • The professor used relevant and engaging videos and media and was not afraid to voice his opinion or talk about politics within the world (since we aren't really allowed to talk about politics otherwise)
  • I didn't utilize the textbook nearly as much as I should have, but it was helpful when I did utilize it for other projects. We were given optional material to engage with, and I found that it largely connected to what we were learning in class and applied it to day to day life.
  • The Enslaved Individual activity was a good representation of the civil rights process and how it related to the evolution of laws.
  • I found the reading useful but often times wouldn't have enough time to read the whole chapter. I would briefly look over the chapters for maybe a few minutes at night. I think it would be more useful to point out specific areas of the reading to look over. I found the videos in class to be very relevant and useful for understanding the material.
  • The readings often helped preface the topic that we would be going over in class. I found the readings to have more info that would actually be covered in quizzes and tests.
  • The readings were very helpful and prepared us well for the tests and quizzes.
  • I liked that the chapters correlated well with the lessons in class. It was easy to follow along where we were supposed to be based on the assigned chapter.
  • I felt lectures, class-activities, and guest speakers were extremely balanced out to help me understand the course content. It kept me engaged and interested in the content and I thoroughly enjoyed the class layout.
  • it helped alot
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • This class had some of the best class sessions I have ever had in a class. Dr. Stacy is very engaging and loves to have open ended discussions on the topic at hand to get our brains thinking about the subject before he jumps into the lesson. Dr. Stacy is also very unbiased and makes sure all political ideologies are respected and represented. We had many fun in class activities like holding mock elections.
  • We did a handful of activities during the class and they were helpful to understand what we were actually talking about along with the slides provided
  • I found that most of my learning and understanding from the class has come from the lectures in class. In class lectures where we were able to sit and take notes were the most engaging and allowed me to learn the most. Having public speakers is a great thing to continue. Being able to hear about their experiences and their understanding was very helpful to some of the concepts we were covering in class
  • In class discussions made this class very engaging and enjoyable.
  • Class was helpful in learning the course content. Dr. Stacy is a very passionate and enthusiastic teacher which made class interesting. We would have really intense instructions which were sometimes more beneficial than the power points.
  • The slideshows contained very funny memes that helped illustrate the topic we were learning about and killed the monotony of words on a slideshow.
  • The lectures addressed the necessary information needed and was effective at getting points across. I enjoyed the activities because they showed how different systems and processes worked.
  • Many great class discussions and specific activities were very useful throughout our class time. The specific activity where we used blue and green post it notes to demonstrate the two party system was incredibly successful in my opinion and was also fun and engaging.
  • Class sessions were engaging and I truly understand the material and what is going on in every class. The way points of emphasis were brought up and presented allowed me to better see what to focus on and resulted in me actually learning things about the government that I hadn't previosuly had full understanding on.
  • The class sessions were very informal. I enjoyed the class activity when we wrote all the topics on the board.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • Class sessions were very interesting, at first I thought it was useless because we would just conversate and talk for the whole class but then I realized that the conversations allow for open minded and ended discussions and allow for participation. Following the course, I found those discussions to be some of my favorite moments in this class. I really enjoyed every new class activity we did in this class as it all was very engaging and I never felt bored to death.
  • Class was very engaging, and unlike most of my courses, was mainly student-led discussion. I liked that we were able to explore different areas that we were interested in, and the open discussion format made participation feel less sterile like it can in some classes.
  • The lectures were very interactive. I appreciated the opportunities to chime in and contribute to the conversation even though it was still a lecture.
  • I found the lectures to be very entertaining and informative. I think the in-class activities such as the debates, elections, and acting as government/state officials helped me better understand the course material and get to act out what we were learning about.
  • Guest speakers and lectures were very informative. I liked that we were often able to talk about current events and ask any questions we had.
  • Discussions went very in depth and were very helpful.
  • I really liked the activities we did. All of them. They were engaging and interesting because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I also really enjoyed the congress to classroom thing in Rickover because we all were able to listen to real politicians.
  • I really appreciate how open and understanding the professor is to helping with writing assignments and as an outside resource, even allowing to meet on the weekend. It really encourages my drive to learn!
  • Dr. Stacy is a great professor and you can tell he cares about his students.
  • We had very deep discussions about the topics for the day like a Q&A and he would challenge us by asking us questions and have us try to figure things out based on our knowledge. Between the slides, discussions and activities it was all very helpful to be successful in this course.
Show 10 more from Fall 2024
  • The things that I found most beneficial during this semester was having the in class lectures that were supplemented throughout the semester with public speakers. Other than that, I really enjoyed the course and think that students in the future will enjoy it as well
  • Dr. Stacy is very supportive and understanding of the rigors of the academy. Every time I reached out for help, Dr. Stacy was extremely responsive and helpful.
  • The heavy regulation on students using the restroom and getting water was egregious.
  • Professor Stacy is one of the best teachers I have ever had. He is a very intelligent Professor and is an expert on government and politics. His personality and way of teaching is one of the best I have ever been a part of and I very much enjoyed this class when government and history has often been one of my least favorite classes in the past.
  • I really enjoy the pre-class conversations and how the lessons are taught.
  • I love how passionate my professor is about teaching us new material and I really applaud him for the idea he made to poll the class and figure out what we were excited to learn about and what we weren't as interested in. If I were him I would keep all the methods, activities, and assignments the same for the following classes to come. GREAT JOB DR. STACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Dr. Stacy was very available and personable when needing extra help. Class never felt too exhausting, and the activities we did would help concepts stick. I liked all the simulations of different government systems, but I liked the activity where we attempted to understand the Abolitionist and Civil Rights Movements by using the US government to emancipate ourselves.
  • Very open to reviewing papers and encouraged asking questions to the point of competitiveness. Very effective teaching tool
Show 3 more from Fall 2024
  • I thought Dr.Stacy did a very good job at keeping the class engaged.
  • I really appreciate the professor availability for feedback on writing assignments and willingness to answer questions about deadlines and homework frequently.
  • The instructor was very open and made a great classroom setting, one I enjoy going to every time we meet for class.
Fall 2023
Fall 2023
146 opinions
  • The presentations Dr. Stacy provided were perfect for study for exams and understanding material. They made it very easy.
  • I thought that there was very good materials that made it easy to learn and easy to comprehend
  • Course materials were relevant to what we were learning and I was able to obtain the information.
  • The readings were all about the course content. I knew a good chunk of the information when I came into the class, but over all the readings helped overall.
  • The readings were helpful but they were very long. I feel as if the same information could have been portrayed in shorter text or possible by cutting down some of the reading.
  • When I did read the book, it helped tremendously with staying on topic and understanding what was happening in class. It also was incredibly helpful with the writing assignments.
  • They were helpful in learning course content because they were compact and short.
  • They added great context to what we were learning in class and they were interesting as well
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • The course materials helped me learn more about the government. Especially during the beginning of class, professor would show us a video on news that would keep me updated on the US government.
  • The reading assigned was on the excessive side, especially considering that other classes assign a similar amount of reading/out-of-class material.
  • Dr. Stacy did well in informing the class on how to relate the course material to real world examples.
  • The course materials were exactly if not very close to the knowledge that was tested for this class. The textbook Logic of American Politics is related but I feel like is more of a supplementary to the class rather than a basis of knowledge.
  • Videos were used a lot, always pertained to class and was current to what was happening right now. Was a cool way to learn rather than just investing all of our time into the textbook.
  • Course materials were helpful because a lot of it was related to todays topics which kept me wanting to learn more.
  • Course materials, especially videos, helped me grasp a better understanding of materials.
  • The readings were very long and sometimes hard to stay focused the entire time. The beginning quizzes were not helpful because I would do the reading and it was just hard to fully understand. But the combo of the reading and in class lectures and activities helped me understand the material fully.
  • The textbook readings typically aligned well with what were discussing in class. Having those assigned prior to class was beneficial because you could read it and get a general idea before talking about it and expanding on it in class.
  • Dr. Stacy's lectures are engaging and very informative.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • I thought the open-ended discussions were very beneficial for learning, it kept engagement and All different perspectives were heard.
  • Class sessions were great.
  • The lectures covered the material from the course with supplementary power points. The in-class activities were very helpful as they transferred the message of the lesson in a much shorter and more understandable
  • The class sessions were useful, at times there would be things that I thought did not align with the topic of the day but it always managed to come back to the lesson.
  • My favorite part of this class is that Prof. Stacy lets us think through things. he isn't afraid to just let us sit in silence and think about issues which is effective for me personally. It allows me to come to my own conclusions and the lessons sticks a lot better.
  • Lectures were always involved and easy to follow. Class was always interesting and guest speakers were good to see what we did in class.
  • Class sessions were very engaging and not just a lecture with just the professor talking.
  • The lectures were very long and a lot of information. It was engaging at times, but also, sometimes were very bland. The information was very useful though.
  • Open-ended questions were crafted carefully to help facilitate critical thinking in regards to the logic of the US government.
  • The class sessions are pretty good with how interactive they are, especially with in-class activities that divide the classroom.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • Speaking through the material was very helpful and helped me retain information.
  • Class sessions were good because it was more of a discussion than a lecturing class which I think helped me stay engaged and wanting to learn more.
  • I felt that coming into the course I had a solid understanding of all of the topics. I think through the engagement of Professor Stacy and the encouragement of discussion I was able to grow into a better student and have a deeper knowledge of all of the topics.
  • The videos each class were very helpful is keeping up to date with what is going on in the world and clearly seeing how it is related to what we were learning in class that day which helped me stay more engaged. Had a good balance in class with lecture and student involvement.
  • The lectures were all pretty informative and it was easy to know exactly what we're supposed to be learning. I also really liked when we had the guest speakers, it was a good way to tie everything we learned back into real life.
  • I think Dr. Stacy is a great professor. He enables learning and is super engaging. He is so nice and always willing to help.
  • Over all the class was very good, we had some very good class discussions this semester.
  • I learned about the prisoner's dilemma, I had no idea about it until this class. I learned about how the dynamic between the continental congress, judiciary, and king was before the Revolutionary War and why the colonists felt the way they did. I learned about how hard it was to fight for you civil liberties and rights as a person not initially included in the constitution. It was almost impossible.
  • Professor Stacy was awesome all semester. Very easy to ask questions and did a great job teaching the class.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • Very interactive with the students. Participation grades are an incentive but nothing actually makes the students talk than making the class and class discussion controversial or exciting. Dr. Stacy does that pretty well.
  • Professor Stacy always was searching for student participation from everybody in the room.
  • I thought that this course was very well planned out and taught. I am not a government fan but really enjoyed this class. There was a good balance between fun topics and daily news as well as lecture/slides. I thought it was more of a discussion class than just sitting and taking notes which I liked a lot.
  • Great professor, I really enjoyed this class!
  • Professor Stacy was very engaging which made it easier to learn/want to be there. Government is not my favorite subject but having an instructor who is so passionate about the topic makes it more bearable.
  • The readings that were assigned were very helpful and accurate on what we were learning.
  • Readings were beneficial to the development of the class discussions. Videos helped us stay up to date with current political events.
  • The current news articles/channels and discussion thereof were helpful in making the information we were learning relevant, and keeping me engaged.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • Assigned readings were a good first exposure to content that will be taught in class.
  • I would like more in depth texts in the PowerPoints
  • Videos at the beginning of class helped us keep up to date on current events that we could relate to our learning
  • I thought the videos were very good and all the media we were shown. Honestly I didn't do any readings all year and I did fine. I took AP gov in high school and enjoyed it very much and did very well so that was the main reason why I likely succeeded.
  • I enjoyed seeing "in the news" current media and relating it to what we were discussing that day.
  • Along with the readings, the course materials made available to us from the slide shows helped supplement the materials learned.
  • I thought the videos of current politics were very applicable to the course syllabus.
  • Course materials were helpful in learning course content because we were typically given current events (from varied news articles, short clips, etc.) that we as a class, and a generation could relate to material from the course.
  • The materials were pretty confusing to understand, so spending time reading or watching videos on the topic better helped me understand the content.
  • There was a lot of reading, it could have been helpful at times to switch up the template of the homework.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • The slides and videos made it easy to follow along with the lectures.
  • Excellent and well thought out
  • Video's where the most helpful source when it came to actually learning because there was less of a chance of falling prey to sleep depravation and napping compared to the readings occasionally.
  • Dr. Stacy utilizes many forms of media to teach history. I appreciated his commitment to make sure we were up to date with current events.
  • Course materials were helpful as class slides were very helpful when needing to review. All content tied into what we were learning in class, and made studying more efficient.
  • Classes were very structured and promoted good learning. Dr. Stacy used a lot of different techniques whether it was videos, class activities, etc. to help us understand the content.
  • Class lectures were very helpful, inclusive, and important in my development in the class.
  • In class activities were very engaging. We had something interesting to do almost every class, which made learning easier and more interactive.
  • The classroom being discussion based encourages critical thinking.
  • lectures and news, today updates were helpful in learning course content
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • The lectures directly covered what we needed to know about each chapter. I had no issue recalling information when taking the midterm because of the lectures
  • Great lectures. This was always a class I looked forward to coming to and participating in discussions. It was always interactive which I liked. One thing we did in HS that I think might help everyone is talking to the person beside you about a certain topic before discussing it with the whole group to build confidence and think through ideas more.
  • I enjoyed the class speakers of the congressmen. The lectures were also helpful. I liked having the PowerPoints to refer back to.
  • Very engaging despite participation is graded, but the participation felt natural rather than forced.
  • Class discussions/activities allowed for a better understanding of the topic.
  • Class sessions were extremely helpful in learning the content because the way Dr. Stacy structures his lectures makes it so that students lead the discussion and arguments in class.
  • I like how interactive and engaging class was; it was a very engaging class.
  • I liked the related videos and activities. Almost all the lectures were interesting as well.
  • The class activities put things into a different perspective and which made the material easier to understand
  • Doctor Stacy challenged us in ways like no other teacher. He played the villan role and was able to make us think critically and didn't just give us the answer when we could not reach a collective answer. He forced us to work through problems, right to the very end which I greatly appreciate.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • Dr. Stacy us super interactive with the class which forces the growth and development of everyone's learning.
  • Classes are engaging.
  • Class sessions started differently from what I expected. Lectures were at first slower, and somewhat confusing just due to the heavy content, however ended up being very helpful when group discussion arose. The group talks were engaging even for someone like me (who has not taken government since 8th grade) and let me understand different views from student's perspectives. All the in-class activities were also engaging, and the guest speakers brought in helped in regard to real-world application.
  • The instructor was very inclusive, encouraged thinking outside the box, and discouraged sleeping through class. The class activities made us work together with our groups and against other groups.
  • The organization of information was very convenient, and the posted notes made studying outside of class time relatively convenient.
  • I appreciated the reading quizzes beginning and after each chapter that we covered in class to maximize retaining the course materials
  • Great class discussions. Sometimes I wondered the relevance it all had on government exactly like where the discussion headed, but we were always on topic. You did an amazing job at gearing my interest toward government and learning more about it because of the interesting discussions. Especially relating it all back to contemporary news.
  • Allowed us to make up note check grades.
  • He's the goat.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • Dr. Stacy truly provided an interactive and inclusive discussion each and every class. His passion for teaching made this one of my favorite courses as a plebe. His sense of humor was always enough to brighten my day and want to learn more about government. Thank you Dr. Stacy!
  • You have a great student teacher relationship and I feel as if it makes a not so enjoyable course easier to get through.
  • It was easy to stay engaged with the class because of how he taught the material.
  • Really liked this course the style and everything to do with it. Dr. Stacy is a shining example of everything the Naval Academy has to offer academically. Please keep him and try to find others like him. I can see him leading an entire department on this subject based on his diverse knowledge and excellent people skills. BZ Dr. Stacy.
  • Dr. Stacy made it a priority to ensure we participated in class and set aside time to make sure we understood everything.
  • I would like to thank Dr. Stacy for his dedication to the class. Always ensuring we participated, and was always open to help, Dr. Stacy has taught me so much about government, to where I know understand politics better.
  • the reading for each day was helpful in learning the materials
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • the quizzes and activities were directly related to our book and the assigned media
  • the book was directly correlated with the topic in class
  • The videos of news articles helped me relate the course content to recent events and furthermore helped establish a solid foundation of the materials
  • The readings provided a more in depth covering of what we were doing in class. However I think it would be interesting if he relied less on the textbook and more on opinion pieces.
  • I felt that the readings were too long to be able to fully engage with the text. It felt as if the authors tried to expand the main points with stories and countless examples without a clear and coherent structure to each chapter. Overall, these readings lost my interest very fast due to their confusing and wordy nature. I understand that we are in college now and will have to read lengthy course material but I felt that the way this book was structured did not help me process the course material in advance.
  • I think the in class videos were very helpful and made class more interesting because it was actual relevant and relevant to us as midshipmen and citizens. I will say I did not read the textbook after about the 3rd week of class and seemed to do pretty much fine throughout the class, the textbook was just a lot of reading that sometimes just confused and overloaded me.
  • I found the videos we watched in class the most informative. I am a visual learner, so any instructional videos we watched helped me understand concepts a lot more. The videos we watched about the news or political analysis' were also very informative and I enjoyed learning through current events. I could easily follow along the textbook as well but I prefer videos.
  • The readings were long and I did not really find them helpful. I found the class PowerPoints very helpful.
  • Readings were relevant. The textbook defined certain principles of politics with terms I've never heard before, presenting them as commonplace language which I found a little interesting. Videos and current related news articles were always relevant.
  • The assigned course material was very beneficial as it directly pertained to what we were learning in the classroom. The notes we took helped on quizzes and with the study guide that was given.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • Reading the textbook before class allowed me to take better notes by following along with the reading and talking about it in class.
  • The course materials were directly related to the learning objectives in the syllabus that we needed to know.
  • The readings provided the same information we went over in class, but did so at the pace of the reader, and usually went more in depth
  • I think that the readings gave me a greater understanding of the topics in class.
  • the mix of lectures to in class activitiew was good
  • The class was incredibly discussion lead about modern day issues relating to the topic.
  • Lectures were helpful and I liked how we could talk a lot in class and that the professor asked lots of questions. I also liked the in-class activities which were helpful to understand the process better. It would be beneficial to do an activity where we are a mock Congress or something like that.
  • Very discussion oriented, places emphasis on contemporary effect in the US
  • we had a lot of open conversations on topics in class and he would allow us to go as deep as we wanted to on any topic that was related to what we where talking about.
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • I enjoyed the in class sessions primarily because of the heavy discussion based activities which helped me learn the course content.
  • The class sessions were extremely interesting and the whole point of the course. I loved the discussions and the dynamic made it my favorite course.
  • I enjoy our class discussions. I feel that these discussions allow for the whole class to stay involved while relating course material to our own lives.
  • The class sessions were mostly pretty good, engaging and informative. The interaction of class discussion and learning from current news was what made the class most interesting because when it was just lecture it was very boring. My favorite thing about the semester was when the congressmen came as guest speakers, I think it was really fun and informative and gave us something to learn from other than being just in the classroom for a lecture.
  • Although the class was mostly lecture and discussion based and there was clearly a planned schedule for class, I appreciated that Dr. Stacy allowed the conversation to evolve even if that meant we didn't get through the whole agenda for the day. The in class activities challenged us intellectually and I thought they were crucial to furthering our understanding of more complex topics
  • Open notes discussion was always the best way I learned material. Prof. Stacy refrained from using the whiteboard too much to keep us engaged, but when he did draw things out on the whiteboard it helped me retain information greatly.
  • The class sessions were interactive and kept the class engaged. When we would get off topic he would put us back on course quickly. The slides were very helpful but if you didn't preview the material or read the night before it was a little hard to understand what we were taking about that day.
  • We had a few really cool activities in class (like trying to make the argument for our freedom) that kept me engaged in the content we were learning. Although, there were days where the entire class session was a lecture and I often found those hard to concentrate in.
  • It gave extra insight on how things work in congress more by the open discussion
Show 10 more from Fall 2023
  • The class discussions were awesome. While Prof sometimes got annoying when destroying our arguments while playing devil's advocate, it really made me think in depth about arguments and all of the complexities and layers that went into politics.
  • I have never had an instructor who questioned the class so much and encouraged us to ask questions. It makes class a lot more interesting and also forces me to think a lot more than I do in an average lecture.
  • Not being able to use laptops made it difficult at times
  • I liked how you played devil's advocate a lot which always led to interesting conversations. I learned a lot from this course about roles of the government and how it actually affects us.
  • I felt like the course was good and I learned a lot.
  • The instructor was both a great teacher and great at understanding and helping his students.
  • I understand the need for quizzes, however, I noticed that the classroom dynamic changed to a more positive dynamic in which more people interacted after the quizzes became less frequent.
  • I think the one downside was that it seemed like Dr. Stacy feels that we as "midshipmen don't do much more than a normal college student" and although we weren't overloaded with work, I think it is sort of off-putting to say this to us when we have a completely different perspective.
  • I appreciated that Dr. Stacy did not let differing opinions or bias impact the way he graded our writing assignments.
Show 6 more from Fall 2023
  • Very available for extra instruction
  • Sought discussion responses from everyone in class. There was no week where one person didn't talk at all. Group activities always active and engaged.
  • We played little games in class or added to the board during in class discussions.
  • Gave extremely good feedback on papers!
  • The open discussion was helpful and it allowed for the learning environment to be more efficient
Spring 2023
Spring 2023
23 opinions
  • I thought the "In the News" videos were very helpful to connect what we were learning to stuff happening in the real world. Honestly I thought we went over 95% of what was covered in the book in class, so I stopped reading the book because it became a waste of time.
  • Dr. Stacy is very proficient at assignment and course material. The readings were a little long but necessary for comprehension. Professor Stacy did a great job with assigning quizzes.
  • readings were very helpful, along with videos.
  • I liked how the class discussions were very focused on class.
  • The videos were really helpful in class as a way to see the material in a different manner
  • Reading were assigned at the beginning of the semester through a syllabus, allowing us to be very aware of what we had to do.
  • All of the videos and course materials used in class were very useful, and often helped visualize what would otherwise be a tough concept to learn. I did not do all of the assigned reading because it took a really long time, but what I did read was helpful.
  • The readings were helpful and useful for the class
  • I enjoyed how Dr. Stacy taught and I felt like I was able to learn a lot due to his teaching style.
  • Dr. Stacy is amazing at lecturing. Keeping the conversation light but intellectually deep and always playing devils advocate
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • Prof. Stacy valued our time, and made class effective
  • They were commonly related subjects to today in which we can connect it to current related subjects.
  • I really liked the in-class activities like working on an issue together on the board or making groups and working on stuff. I also liked congress to campus
  • Class sessions were always very organized and engaging. I really enjoyed the in-class activities as well, especially when I was the king.
  • My instructor made excellent use of class of class time, and his discussion based lessons kept the class engaged.
  • Very good class sessions. One of the better professors I have had. Engaged us, challenged us, and make the class better for everyone.
  • I enjoyed how Dr. Stacy graded our papers decently hard, but really appreciated how if you set up a personal meeting with him he would really rip into your paper and tell you all your flaws. While sometimes it came off as if he was questioning our academic ability, I believe it prompted me to work harder and do better on my papers.
  • Dr. Stacy had a lot of fun exercises in class like self government that prompted the students to participate
  • Prof. Stacy also helped relate class to real world applications.
  • His EI was extremely helpful for essays. I often felt very out of my depth in class but due to his amazing help at ei sessions I was able to take my ideas from very basic and not very official sounding to being able to express them in a coherent essay that actually makes sense.
Show 3 more from Spring 2023
  • Our instructor always kept us updated on current events, and related them to what we were learning in class.
  • My instructor used writing assignments as an opportunity to teach us how to write according to the Navy's rules for correspondence. This made the writing assignments feel more official as well as taught skills we will be able to use in the fleet.
  • Very good class sessions. One of the better professors I have had. Engaged us, challenged us, and make the class better for everyone.
Spring 2022
Spring 2022
86 opinions
  • I believe I gained a lot from this class in knowledge and writing skills to develop me.
  • It was very effective in teaching the desired course outcomes and I did learn a plethora of new information I never knew before.
  • It give me a better view of what is the government and how it is run.
  • This course was very effective in my understanding of the U.S government and constitutional development. Coming into it I had a very basic understanding and now I feel I am able to talk about it easily.
  • I think this course was very effective since it was student run. The course was taught mainly through discussions and hands on activities not lectures which made it more engaging.
  • FP130 allowed me to think more critically about the constitution and the government we live and serve in.
  • Effective overall helped my knowledge of government
  • It was incredibly effective. Dr. Stacy was an amazing prof
  • good
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • Overall, this course was very effective. I usually dislike government courses but I really enjoyed this one and I found myself participating way more than I usually do.
  • Professor Stacy did an excellent job in preparing me as a midshipman to understand my role within the government, and offered many perspectives. By challenging us every day, especially myself as a political science major, he encouraged us to see the outcomes of every decision made within the government.
  • Effective.
  • Dr. Stacy is one of the best teachers I have had so far in terms of structure of the class and also the ability to share ideas and converse with peers.
  • Prof Stacy was an immensely great professor. At first, I was nervous having him because he was brand new and this was his first year teaching at USNA, but once in his class I realized how great of a professor he was. He set the standard high and is very effective in teaching the course material.
  • Professor Stacy always challenge me in different views about the government. He is willing to help me on my paper and dealing with my writing struggles. I want to say thank you so much.
  • Professor Stacy was one of the best professors in a humanities class that I've ever had and I actually learned here as opposed to going through the motions.
  • Professor Stacy was a good professor who was respectful of everyone's opinion and really encouraged participation with many different activities.
  • Very charismatic individual with a clear passion for the topic he is teaching and makes the content interesting and sparks critical thinking.
  • Very energetic and offered good insight into our government system. Kept political leanings secret so to teach the class in an unbiased way which was greatly appreciated.
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • He was very effective. Conversations were stimulating, and Dr. Stacy always was willing to play devil's, advocate. He's relatable with his younger perspective and helps you look at the larger picture, challenging preconceived notions. I could tell how excited and passionate he was to teach us every day. I hope he remains at the Naval Academy for years to come.
  • good
  • Overall, Dr. Stacy was very effective in teaching the material. I learned a great deal from this course and a good reason why was because of how engaging the class was.
  • Professor Stacy is one of the best professors I have met and had here so far at the Naval Academy. His knowledge of material is massive, he is friendly and communicable, and he wants to see all of his students learn and succeed. I hope he chooses to stick with the Naval Academy, as he will be a valuable asset for political science majors and midshipman for possibly many years to come. I will forever talk highly of him when speaking about the class and department to peers and other professors.
  • It was an effective course in developing a basic understanding of the U.S. government.
  • It was an effective course that forced me to think about why things work.
  • It was okay. I already learned most of it during AP Gov in high school.
  • Very effective, I feel like being a Political Science Major, it helped me become prepared for the courses I am taking next
  • I think the course was very effective in teaching midshipmen about the government.
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • educated well on the government we work in
  • I feel that I generally learned more in this class than any of my other classes this semester.
  • This course was very effective in presenting to the student the importance of Government and how it could be applied to real world applications.
  • Overall very effective. The discussions in class tied in knowledge from the readings and lectures and it was all comprehensive.
  • The overall effusiveness of this course was great. After taking this course my understanding and critical thinking skill greatly improved.
  • The course was pretty effective in giving the basic ideas of how the U.S. government works and the politics behind the institutions.
  • He was overall a interactive teacher that pushed me to think outside the box. His writing assignments engaged me to think differently but I felt the grade given out was the same no matter how much work you put in. For instance my friend spent many hours writing the paper and they went to EI session. They ended up with a 84 on that paper but I spent 30 minutes on the same paper and didn't put in my best effort and we ended with the same grade. Other then that I had a great time in class and learned a lot. Thank you.
  • Effective in teaching the material that was supposed to be taught in FP130 as well as teaching us about how we as government employees interact with government.
  • I think the course is great. A lot of great knowledge was given to me through reading and writing assignments. I am better able to apply the things I have learned from this course now as an adult then I would back in high school taking a similar class.
  • The fact that I learned a lot and this course forced me to think critically about our government in ways I had never thought of, would constitute this as an effective course!
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • I believe that this course taught me about government in ways that I would not have learned prior to taking this course. Dr. Stacy was definitely leading this forefront as he effectively knew how to handle midshipman and would adapt as the semester went on. He was the reason I was able to get so much from this class.
  • The way the material was presented was interesting and helpful in learning.
  • Professor Stacy did a great job at presenting the material in an appropriate and effective way. I learned a lot over the semester and will use the knowledge learned in this course for future endeavors
  • One of the better instructors here at USNA. Can teach, answer questions, and help students in the right direction. Always has a positive attitude that can make those who aren't interested in government, excited to come to class.
  • good
  • Very effective, while most classes I dread going to I felt good coming to this class because of the professor and the way he taught.
  • He was an amazing teacher who I will never forget and I really appreciated his passion to making us more knowledgeable.
  • high effectiveness
  • The way Dr. Stacy conducted the class was very effective, and that may be the biggest reason for its success.
  • Dr. Stacy was a very effective instructor inside and outside of the class room that not only taught the base material but also ensured to connect to open world examples in today's society which was extremely helpful when it came to critical thinking skills and thinking outside the box.
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • Very effective. Knew the material really well and engaged the classroom effectively even when there was a difference of opinion
  • Great, Dr. Stacy was a great teacher and instructor. His ability to connect topics across large expanses both time and space aided in the delivery of the course material as well as professional development.
  • His teaching methods were really effective in expanding my mindset on certain topics that questioned many things I used to perceive.
  • He was overall a interactive teacher that pushed me to think outside the box. His writing assignments engaged me to think differtly but I felt the grade given out was the same no matter how much work you put in. For instance my friend spent many hours writing the paper and they went to EI session. they ended up with a 84 on that paper but I spent 30 minutes on the same paper and didn't put in my best effort and we ended with the same grade. Other then that I had a great time in class and learned a lot. Thank you.
  • Allowed for multiple opinions to be voiced and made it clear that we could voice them. Facilitated conversation and interaction throughout the course that was effective and beneficial.
  • Dr. Stacy is a great professor! This class by far has been one of the best ones I have experienced my time here at the academy. He is very fair with his assignments and pushed me to be the best informed student both in and out of class about the material learned. There wasn't a day in class where I felt like we didn't learn something or class that class was awkward. I really liked his teaching style and examining contemporary news stories were always a great part of class. He is very open to all perspectives and brings other ideas to the table when we don't. There is a great balance between power point slides and videos presented to us in class. Overall, Dr. Stacy is a great professor!
  • I felt as if he did a really good job of executing the learning objectives and (in a good way) challenging our beliefs.
  • Dr. Stacy was one of the best teachers I have had here at the Naval Academy. He was both an effective class leader and prompted a class environment in which open participation was not only wanted, but respected. He would oppose alternating opinions and questions to get the class thinking and start every class with a news article to stimulate the class. Not only that, he would take the time to ensure every student was met with a personal understanding and genuine care. Dr. Stacy even emailed myself directly when he could visibly see that I was not doing my best. For an instructor that is very rare as many of the instructors I have encountered here just teach to teach and leave when the day is over. Overall it was very surprising to hear he is a first year teacher as he may very well be one of the best instructors on the yard.
  • He was a good instructor, I learned a lot from being in his class. The rigor and harsh grading of the writing assignments was very demanding, as I am not as strong at writing papers for this type of class and it is a required class.
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • I really enjoyed this course. The environment of discussion and the review of material was extremely beneficial to my learning.
  • Effective
  • very effective
  • The course was very effective at learning the material
  • I think it was incredibly effective. I was able to focus, learn and discuss everything that occurred.
  • I greatly learned of my position in the American government in the course.
  • I was able to learn a basis of the American political system while connecting it to current events
  • I learned a great deal about the ways in which our government was formed and how that impacted the way our government works today.
  • Good, learned what I had to learn
Show 10 more from Spring 2022
  • This course was overall very effective in developing my knowledge, reasoning, writing and speaking skills.
  • 10/10, due to professor Stacy!
  • This course was very effective.
  • Dr. Stacy was a great teacher. He was enthusiastic, brought up current events, and really cared about the student's improvement and future.
  • Despite my view that this class is redundant, I loved Professor Stacy. He enjoyed playing devil's advocate to stimulate and challenge my own opinions; he improved the effectiveness of my writing dramatically; he showed an obvious love of the material and our class that facilitated open dialogue, thus exposing me to different views.
  • Very effective
  • very effective
  • Very effective and taught a lot, mainly helped me relearn what I did in highschool
  • I believe Senator Stacy to be a perfect, shining example of what a professor should be
  • Dr. Stacy stimulated and aroused my curiosity about our democracy.
Show 6 more from Spring 2022
  • He explained the material well and in an effective manner
  • Great professor with a very effective classroom and teaching environment.
  • Dr. Stacy was a very effective instructor who was incredibly engaging and it was very enjoyable being in his class.
  • 10/10 Greatest Government Professor.
  • Professor Stacy has been one of the best teachers I have had at the academy. He is readily available outside of class and is extremely knowledgeable about the course. Professor Stacy continually pushes everyone's learning and forces us to think harder about our arguments. If I was a Political Science major and saw Professor Stacy teaching a course, I would quickly sign up for it in hopes that the class is not already full.
Fall 2021
Fall 2021
70 opinions
  • Course was super effective. I learned a lot about government.
  • Highly effective, I feel it was very clear of what we were going to learn and go over class. Additionally, I think the pacing was appropriate.
  • Learned more about our nation's government and how it works
  • I thought this was a great course to get a background on what our government does and how they do it.
  • I believe it was a great class and it was a good way to learn the material and how to write. I feel that during class was a much more effective way to learn the material than reading though. I believe reading assignments were fair.
  • This course was great.
  • Good
Show 10 more from Fall 2021
  • HE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.
  • The instructor is highly knowledgeable as well as maintained professional and productive discussions in the classroom. You could tell Dr. Stacy took his job seriously, cared about his students and enjoys his profession.
  • Good professor and kept us engaged
  • Professor Stacy has been a great instructor. he is very enthusiastic about what he teaches, and I think he compares well against other professors here at usna
  • I enjoyed the class and Professor Stacy.
  • Great teaching style, made government interesting and even the least looked forward to topics peaked our interest and had engaging conversation. The usage of memes and a more involved related manner made it interesting.
  • Professor Stacy was a very effective professor.
  • He did a great job engaging the students and having us think more criticalically
Show 10 more from Fall 2021
  • I personally am not a huge fan of government classes, however, I enjoyed this course and I feel that we didn't just focus on the usual things like every other government class. We spoke about current events and how what we were learning about applied to society today which was very beneficial to helping me understand. It allowed me to actually learn concepts as opposed to sheer memorization
  • This course definitely improved my overall knowledge in the world of politics. Coming into this course, I had no real interest in learning about how the government works but towards the end, it has become a subject I want to learn much more about.
  • effective, but the reading was not as effective. I learned more when the Professor went through it in class
  • Effective
  • I learned a lot from Professor. He did a great job teaching and getting to know his people. I looked forward to this class.
  • Great for providing an intro to government and politics within the modern day political status.
  • I believe that I learned valuable course material about the government that I work under. It is important to understand how our country's government started and where it is going.
  • This course significantly improved my writing by giving me topics that I was actually interested in writing about.
  • The readings seemed to be giving us more information than we needed, but when narrowed down into more specific topics in class it was effective.
Show 10 more from Fall 2021
  • Very effective. Professor Stacy is very knowledgeable and good at explaining material.
  • I enjoyed this class a lot. We brought our own ideas anonymously, but it was alongside the course work.
  • One of the best teachers I have had. Despite teaching a topic I am not too enthusiastic about, he encouraged student participation, and he never shot down anyone for what they had to say. He always treated the students with respect and allowed us to make the most out of our time in class. Even when it appeared we sometimes would derive from the main topic we still were discussing relevant material and he always managed to tie it back to the main focus of class for the day. He always voiced his expectations in a clear fashion so there was no confusion, and he is very understanding and reasonable. He even allowed the students to democratically vote on the occasion which allowed us to experience our own little version of a government within the classroom. Additionally, he was always very clear that he was readily available anytime a student needed extra help which is something not all professors are good about. He valued our time and when we needed help he was not afraid to spend as much time as we needed to get the proper assistance.
  • I am a firm believer that when a teacher can relate to their students, it can impact the amount that they learn. In this class, Professor Stacy showed his care for us to learn and grow in our knowledge of the government. This was a class that I looked forward to attending every day and the main reason for that was Professor Stacy. Even in his first semester here at the Naval Academy, I can see the impact he has made on not only me but the entirety of the class.
  • Great professor, enthusiastic about or development and I hope I have him as my professor in the future
  • Effective
  • Great teacher, helped, encouraged discussion, got to know his people, a great person. I learned a lot from this class, and felt like I got a lot out of it.
  • Best government/history teacher I ever had. One particular aspect of his teaching style that sets him apart from other educators is that he spices his curriculum up with current events and class discussions/debates/excercises.
  • Professor Stacy was a great teacher. He encouraged learning and ensured that his students were being as successful as we could be. I appreciated his enthusiasm every day and his willingness to teach us.
  • My best professor this semester. He is intelligent, funny and well put together. I have decided to become a political science major because I enjoyed his class so much.
Show 10 more from Fall 2021
  • I was unsure of Professor Stacy at the beginning of the year, but I can confidently say that he has proved himself a great teacher at USNA.
  • Dr. Stacy was a great instructor who always has a passion to teach and who cares about our success.
  • Dr. Stacy is the most effective instructor that I have had.
  • He respected our opinions on certain topics, but challenged our views from different perspectives.
  • I learned about a lot more than just government from this course. It was effective in teaching me the foundations of our democracy, but also how to write short essays and letters and participate in meaningful discussions. I believe I grew in my writing abilities as a result of this course.
  • I learned more broader knowledge about the government as a military member rather than my AP government class in high school. This class was excellent in regards relating to current events, the specific parts of government, and what makes the United States government so unique.
  • Very effective when given undivided attention
  • I found the textbook effective, but I found the readings to be unreasonably long so I almost never read before class. If they had been more manageable I would have read more and potentially gotten even more out of the class. Maybe that's just me being unorganized with my time, though.
Show 10 more from Fall 2021
  • Prior to taking this course, I have only taken two other government courses, and coming into this course was quite intimidating seeing that this course's schedule challenged me unlike the courses I had previously taken. I was worried I would not do well in the class because of my lack of knowledge in government, but that was not the case. This course was the most exposure I've had to learning about government throughout my schooling career. I can confidently say I understand more about government now than I did initially coming into this course.
  • Overall this course was very effective in many different dimensions. The course did a great job of reviewing many different perspectives and applications (history, cause and effective, current news, etc.). I think discussions and lectures in class played as a catalyst in developing my knowledge and then writing and reading assignments brought it all together.
  • I learned a lot about not only government topics, but also writing.
  • It was effective in the way of my writing skills were increased dramatically. I was exposed to new information and outlook of politics and life in general.
  • I think that the course overall was highly effective. It laid out everything that I needed to create a strong foundation of how the government works and why it does what it does.
  • I have taken government before so it was a lot of review. It was a good refresher.
  • I loved the course and learned a lot.
  • Dr. Stacy was very open and flexible for EI sessions, and encouraged us to meet with him about our papers or any questions. I think some of the material was covered briefly or skimmed over at times, due to long class discussions from the start of class. However, I very much liked this aspect of this class, and it made every class something I looked forward to, and was ready to be challenged, which is different than a lot of my other classes.
  • Dr. Stacy really encouraged participation and open discussion about what we were learning which made the class very engaging. I really enjoyed that he incorporated current events into every class so that we could see how what we were learning applies to what is going on in the US and the world right now. He was very organized and always seemed knowledgeable about the subject. He cared a lot about helping us improve our writing abilities and I enjoyed having the freedom to pick a topic to write about that I was interested in personally, as it made the work much more enjoyable. Overall this was one of my favorite classes this semester.
Show 10 more from Fall 2021
  • Dr. Stacy was an extremely effective teacher, especially for a government class. His Devil's advocate arguments and viewpoints allowed for meaningful discussion within the class. I would have learned a lot less efficiently if I didn't have him as a professor.
  • I like that you play devil's advocate with us to make us think about different perspectives.
  • Dr. Stacy was very helpful in getting me to be confident in my performance in this course. He was open to meetings about assignments and overall performance in the course. I found his advice to be very helpful and I can see the things I learned from this course being beneficial to me in the future. As far as his method of teaching goes, his class is very discussion and lecture based. I feel the only thing I would want from this class is more ways to stay engaged with the lesson (i.e fill in the blank worksheets, more group discussion). Dr. Stacy was a respectful professor who had patience with his students, which I really appreciated. He is by far one of my favorite professors because of his enthusiasm to teach, his effort to make a connection with the students, and his professionalism in the class.
  • I think Dr. Stacy did a great job of encouraging critical thinking. His teaching style was effective because he allowed students to formulate opinions on their own, but used a plethora of data and facts to help push his students' understanding of the material in the right direction. He was also very organized in explaining his course objectives and at the end of every major unit helped summarize all of the material.
  • Great professor.
  • Professor Stacy was an effective instructor, with having knowledge vastly out of the class curriculum. Which in some cases good as he could help me in understanding things in more detail, but makes for writing essays much harder as I am constantly challenged on my point of view and reasoning behind it. Grading for the essays were the most rigorous I have seen, which pushed me, but sometimes seemed passed the level of knowledge we should know in my opinion. It caused me to have to think deeper than ever before as well.
  • I believe that Dr. Stacy did an incredibly good job teaching here. While slides were the main way of teaching us material in class, he always kept the floor open for discussion, and actively engaged and questioned all students. I could tell that he was extremely knowledgeable about the topic, as well as passionate to take care of the students.
  • He was an effective professor. He was figuring things out as it was his first semester but so were we. I thought he did a good job.
  • Great Professor, my favorite teacher of the semester.

This course examines Congress and the dynamics of lawmaking in the American system. We study the electoral and legislative process, the role of parties and committees, and how the separation of powers shapes congressional action. At the same time, the class becomes a legislature of its own: students choose a leader and attempt to share decision-making power. Along the way, they confront the same dilemmas that define Congress itself—collective action problems, struggles over leadership, and the balance between cooperation and domination. The goal is not only to understand how Congress works but to prepare students to be engaged citizens, capable of navigating and improving the institutions they inherit.
Student opinions for this course

Grouped by semester. Each click reveals at most 10 more comments per semester.

Spring 2024
Spring 2024
70 opinions
  • Course material were relatively helpful, but not as relevant as they were in the beginning of the semester. This primarily was applicable to the book used, Congress and Its Members.
  • The assigned textbook was very helpful in learning the course content. It was easy to understand and made the concepts clear and applicable.
  • Course materials were very helpful for learning content and were interesting and thought provoking.
  • The course materials were very relevant.
  • The course materials were directly correlated with the course content i.e. syllabus via the communication through written medium.
  • The course readings were always referenced in class, so if one did the reading class topics were much easier to understand. The short videos were also a plus because it was a chance to re-engage and allow for a break in lectures.
  • The readings for homework prepared me very well for upcoming class discussion's and quiz's
Show 10 more from Spring 2024
  • The assigned course materials were helpful because they were applicable to present day events going on, and we were actually able to see what we were learning applied to real life.
  • Course materials (readings) were directly relevant to the following classes.
  • Book readings were interesting but long. I wish there were more videos that could have taught us, as I did not have time frequently to read the entire chapter.
  • The materials were very helpful
  • Class sessions were extremely useful and we had great discussions concerning relevant news articles, important notes for referencing for exams, and our mock congressional class structure. I truly enjoyed how Professor used the class structure to stimulate our learning.
  • Class was always one I looked forward to. While at the beginning of the semester, I was a bit worried on how this class would go, it ended up being a class that created funny memories and an engaging learning environment.
  • Class sessions were great, I enjoyed the balance of lecture and discussion. Dr. Stacy is extremely knowledgeable and knows how to convey information in an manner that is understandable. One of the best professors I have had at USNA.
  • Lectures were engaging and useful. In class activities such as quizzes were at times stressful and difficult.
  • It was great to hear what the book was telling us without all the jargon and with guest speakers, real life scenarios.
  • Lectures and discussing bills, similar to the way members of Congress do, were very useful in understanding class material. They allowed for creativity and fun while learning.
Show 10 more from Spring 2024
  • class sessions were very productive and helpful in terms of preparing me for writing assignments and exams.
  • Class was great, teacher was informative and kept the class awake and attentive. It was very interactive, and it was cool to have guest speakers come and talk with past and present members.
  • Class sessions were a good balance of lectures and in-class activities. I enjoyed the legislative sessions as a way to apply the materials and I also enjoyed the lectures.
  • Lectures were good, but started slow in the beginning.
  • Class sessions were very informative and entertaining
  • Professor was very funny in class. Even though I'm far from a Poli Sci student, this class was super interesting one of the reasons being because of Professor Stacy's sense of humor. Additionally, I loved our field trip and it served as great culminating event that tied what we learned this semester together. I'd argue that more field trips, whether if its to DC or another place relevant to FP328, would be a definite plus for future classes to come!
  • I wish Dr. Stacy opened up more to us with his personality earlier on in the semester. I think we felt much more connected to him when he started showing us his humor and personality, so I would encourage him to do that much earlier on in the semester. This is a cool class and could be even more effective if he was to be his truest self at the start.
  • Thank you for a great semester Sir. This was one of the best classes I have taken here and I really learned a lot and enjoyed coming to class every day. This has been one of the few classes I have taken here that I actually liked coming to everyday.
  • As stated before, class was engaging and we learned about the legislative process. Dr. Stacy is a very interesting professor that brings out the best in his students.
  • Being extremely willing to help with assignments helped a lot in my understanding of the material. Quizzes with group grades were aggravating, depending on how involved your group was with the literature, but they helped to demonstrate collective action problems like coordination and free-riding.
Show 10 more from Spring 2024
  • Instructor is incredible and his commitment and care absolutely shows. One of the best USNA has to offer without a doubt. Have not enjoyed a non-engineering course this much my entire 4 years here. Also, the visit to the capitol is a must, and I hope future classes experience it.
  • The instructor allowed for the students to play active roles in the formation of the class through the "legislative sessions". Lectures were easy to follow.
  • He was a great instructor and kept the class engaged
  • He used the readings and class and they were very effective.
  • Course Materials were extremely engaging and helped my learning process.
  • I believe all of the assigned materials were excellently correlated with the in-class sessions. There was no disconnect or misunderstanding between the two. The readings were very helpful at understanding the material and useful when we visited Congress as well.
  • Assignments weren't just busy work, but truly helped me understand the material.
  • Amazing very relatable.
  • Readings and assigned materials were extremely helpful in understanding and participating in class for a better comprehension of the material being taught.
  • This class was incredibly helpful and well organized. With an established class legislature, we were able to more in-depth understand the way in which the legislative process works.
Show 10 more from Spring 2024
  • Course was structured well around course materials.
  • We applied the course materials (readings, videos, etc.) in almost every class, including the syllabus.
  • The textbook readings, quizzes, and papers directly supported the work we were doing in class.
  • The reading was relevant to the in-class instruction.
  • All materials pushed out, so far as I could tell, were very relevant and gave a good perspective on the theory that we talked about in class.
  • I thought the book was helpful in understanding a very complicated system. We also went over the important points that were covered in the chapters, so I was not left confused on what was important to know.
  • Course materials were productive and engaging.
  • Class sessions were extremely informative and I was excited to come to class every day.
  • Class sessions were filled with many intriguing discussions and engaging PowerPoints that enabled my learning.
  • Open discussions, questions encouraged. Helped absorb the material
Show 10 more from Spring 2024
  • The class sessions were more interactive than most classes I had been in previously. They were helpful in understanding the concepts in the book compared to only reading and memorization.
  • It was great to be able to see how the legislative process works and how it applied to us as members of a democracy.
  • Class sessions were very helpful. Making the class participate in class-legislation (hands-on) was a very good way to understand how the legislative process works in Congress.
  • The lectures were very helpful in learning the course content. They followed closely to the readings.
  • Class sessions were always engaging and made class a pleasure to go to.
  • Lectures and in-class activities were engaging. Congress to Campus was also enjoyable and helpful for our class.
  • Dr. Stacy fostered an environment where we were encouraged to exercise our collective decision making and to internalize the psychology at play.
  • At first, I was not sure about the class sessions. However, I slowly realized that I was learning a lot about the legislative process by participating in it. I thought it was very unique and I enjoyed learning in a new way.
  • He was good about answering questions.
Show 10 more from Spring 2024
  • Dr. Stacy is an asset to USNA. The MO we took as a class was one of the best experiences I have had at the academy.
  • The comments and help that our professor gave to us on our various assignments helped me greatly in my learning of the course material. We also consistently went back and reviewed what had already been discussed.
  • Amazing instructor. 10/10 would recommend Prof. Stacy for future midshipmen. He should get tenure and he is a valuable professor here at USNA. I would suggest he pursues his career in becoming a congressman someday soon.
  • Dr. Stacy was great at incorporating modern application to the material and making it easier to understand. The subject matter of congress and the mechanism on which it ran were much easier to understand after having taken and finished this course. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how congress operates.
  • Dr. Stacy was incredibly proactive about information and additionally was engaged and passionate about information. ;I would recommend this class to anyone. Professor Stacy was great!
  • Professor Stacy's lecture style, class activities, and overall presence was very conducive to creating a great learning environment.
  • Professor Stacy did an excellent job in enabling our learning of the course material. He not only taught the material to us, but also other skills, like speaking and communication.
  • One of the best professors I've ever had. Class was the perfect balance between learning and engagement. I felt excited to learn instead of lost and stressed.
  • Dr. Stacy is clearly incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about this area. He was exemplary in his preparation for class and his devotion to our learning.
  • He was very open for E.I which was helpful especially for the writing assignments. I did not enjoy working in groups, but I thought it was an important lesson in communication, so I understand why it makes the assignments group projects.
Spring 2023
Spring 2023
83 opinions
  • The reading, while it was quite long to get through at some points, was very helpful in my learning of the material in this class. The textbook provides a good basis for how Congress works and I appreciated it more than I thought I would.
  • they were helpful in my learning of the content and remained relevant.
  • Although the book was dense, it was actually super helpful in supplementing the course.
  • All assigned Course Materials were fascinating and related back to current events and theoretical politics. While certain chapters took a committed amount of time they were all very helpful in studying the full picture of Congress.
  • Course materials were very helpful in learning course content. I actually enjoyed reading this textbook and found it to be very informative. I learned a lot through the reading material assigned.
  • The course material for this class was extremely helpful and applied to the course 100%. The textbook guided the course and gave me a deep understanding of what the course was really about. Without reading the textbook, I would've been lost.
  • Course materials were very helpful in supplementing the course content and objective. Having references beyond the classroom, especially videos and visual aids were helpful in my understanding of the content.
  • It was very helpful, anything we read we covered in class. The outside materials that were not in our textbook were given to us and used in class.
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • All readings and videos were extremely helpful in learning course content;.
  • Course materials were always relating to class topics.
  • Assigned readings related to the course textbook and allowed for us to see how the course material relates to current events.
  • I think the course material was great. Lectures helped alot with my understanding. We also watched alot of videos which showed direct application to course material.
  • The textbook for the class was very helpful in learning course content. Reading it was key to my success in class and most of our assessments tied back to the information it contained. The supplementary readings were also very helpful, as they exposed us to the prevailing theories for Congressional behavior. Finally, I really appreciated when Dr. Stacy would show videos in class, like committees in action on divisive issues like the spy balloon, because it was a great application of what we were learning about.
  • The reading material in the book was very relevant to the class and aided my understanding of Congress as a whole. The videos of Congress oversight and the lobbying kept me engaged
  • Readings were beneficial.
  • The course materials were very helpful. The book was directly related to the syllabus and it was an all the more interesting read since it was written in the political climate.
  • I really enjoyed our class sessions. I felt that we got a lot done and learned a lot of material in a very simple way. Professor Stacy explained all of the information and concepts to us very well and if we were ever confused, he would make sure to explain it again in a different way.
  • Extremely helpful in my learning. Class was a lot of simulation and helped me learn through the experience
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • Classes were always interactive and fun to be at while there was still a good learning environment being made.
  • Class sessions were very diverse in combining lecture with application of politics. The manner in which public speaking was encouraged helped break people out of their shell and immerse them in a psudo-congresional floor.
  • Class was always very interesting and I really enjoyed class discussions. Dr. Stacy is an amazing teacher and I learned so much from his class. Dr. Stacy is an engaging teacher and he creates a positive classroom atmosphere. I will miss this class with Dr. Stacy as I think it was such a productive learning environment where all students were invested in the class.
  • Class sessions were helpful in learning the course content because we applied what we were learning to our class sessions/lectures. The in-class activities were strictly related to Congress and its members and this allowed us to fully adapt to what the gallery is like if we were to ever consider being a representative. Not too many guest speakers came in, however, we did have the opportunity to hear a few congress members speak on one of the class days.
  • The class was very engaging and our class actives were incredibly helpful to my learning. The particularly enjoyed the trip to the capitol as well as the class legislature.
  • Sessions encouraged students to participate in the legislative process. Sometimes it could slow down when there was gridlock, but it was a good concept that helped me to learn.
  • The class sessions were very enjoyable. The lecture was interactive and provided everyone a chance to communicate our ideas to each other and Professor Stacy. I wouldn't change anything about how classes were ran.
  • Class sessions were the best part of the academic semester. Very interactive. It was a safe, open environment that allowed for all the students to engage and learn substantive material.
  • Always fostered a fun learning environment that had a lot of energy. We replicated much debate and Congress stuff that was awesome and really kept my attention.
  • Class sessions were a way for us to apply the materials we learned in the textbook to discussion in class.
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • Lectures were the most helpful in understanding course material. Dr. Stacy did a great job at making his lectures interactive and productive. You would always walk away from the lecture learning something new.
  • Class lectures were also very helpful in learning the course content. Dr. Stacy kept them lively and spontaneous. This 8th period class flew by because of the variety and novelty of each class, which was very helpful in keeping us awake and alert. The in-class activities were incredibly unique and I've never had such experiences in a class before. That being said, it was pretty cool to apply themes from Congress to a "class legislature." I enjoyed the "in the news" segments as well. Finally, the trip to D.C. was one of the best academic experiences I have had here. I hope future classes continue to visit the Capitol.
  • The class engagement for voting kept me engaged and really helped me understand on how Congress works and problems they face. High energy and passion for the class kept me engaged. I would recommend to a friend
  • The class sessions were very interesting and informative with the case studies and statistics we analyzed. I feel the class time was well planned out in demonstrating how Congress works at different levels.
  • I really liked how Professor Stacy challenged us to be critical thinkers in this class and how he always encouraged us to seek more knowledge on the subject. The "In the News" articles and presentations we had helped a lot in understanding and relating real world events to class material. Overall, I really enjoyed this class and would take it again if I could.
  • field trip was very relevant and helpful in learning course material
  • Structure of the class to mimic Congress is elite
  • The manner in which Dr. Stacy encouraged class participation by trusting midshipmen judgment was very helpful in manufacturing a class that was apt to deliberate and participate in class discussion.
  • I have learned so much about the legislative process in this course. I really liked how Dr. Stacy structured the class, allowing us to mimic the United States Congress. I also thought the trip to the Capitol was such a great experience and a perfect way to relate our course material to real life.
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • Dr. Stacy did a great job of staying on course and getting through the textbook's key knowledge and understanding. We were able to develop or enhance our communication skills and gain a better understanding of Congress if we didn't have one already. Other than that we were able to take a class trip to the United States Capitol which is very nice.
  • Good professor.
  • Professor Stacy gave myself and the other students a chance to demonstrate our knowledge in many ways. Having "In the News" is a great way of doing that. He also showed us videos to give us examples of certain ideas and concepts we are learning in class which kept class interesting.
  • The class legislature was very well ran and the field trip to The Capitol was fun.
  • I think Dr. Stacy did a great job at bringing the legislature to life. We often had class votes about lots of different topics which made the class very entertaining while we were learning.
  • Dr. Stacy is a phenomenal instructor. His energy and enthusiasm enable students to glean a lot from this class. Simply observing how he thinks and analyzes things helped me grow as a student. He is also very invested in all of us; I appreciate how he took the time to get to know us and relate to us. He is a role model for me and I am incredibly grateful to have taken this class. I feel like I accomplished the three objectives Dr. Stacy outlined at the beginning of the class.
  • Was a lot more understanding of our time and when to schedule assignments and exams so we could maximize our understanding for the class. Gave good feedback on assignments and explained topics thoroughly. Was closer in age to us than a lot of teachers which was refreshing since he understood some of our struggles.
  • The instructor provided a great class that grabbed my attention and encouraged learning. I think the professor did a very good job at introducing us to each topic outlined in the syllabus and then some.
  • The videos were helpful, but sometimes the textbook was too wordy or convoluted to communicate general themes. However, it was still a good resource.
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • The readings were relevant and very helpful but they were in general significantly to long. It is hard to find several hours to read a large chapter in depth 2 times a week with other classes and responsibilities.
  • the readings and the notes were talked about in class often and the videos that we watched were very helpful
  • The readings where super helpful.
  • Materials were helpful and related to course objectives. Textbook chapters were long and dense with material and information. Would have liked to see it split in half especially on the syllabus (i.e. Chp.1 pages 1-20 on Tuesday, Chp. 1 pages 21-40 on Thursday).
  • The textbook was thorough and interesting. It wasn't the most engaging textbook, but I did appreciate how they tied in stories and even current events into the lessons.
  • Reading was really good and it covered what I wanted to learn about congress and its members. The book had a lot of chapters about the intricacies of what congressmembers have to think about whether it was their districts' redrawing or dealing with national supreme court or even committees.
  • I really enjoyed the use of the textbook within the class. It was a really good textbook that I would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about it. The videos we did watch were very informative and useful.
  • The reading prepared me for class discussions and enlightened me into the way congress works on a deeper understanding
  • The assigned course material very close to what was discussed in class. The connection between readings and classroom discussions helped understand the material very well.
  • The class is very well structured and follows the syllabus all semester long.
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • Readings were correlation to the content we were quizzed on.
  • In class activities that required modeling Congress kept everyone engaged and demonstrated the processes we learned in real time. Lectures were clear and helpful when reviewing material. "In the News" was also helpful in connecting to concepts learned in the lectures.
  • Class sessions were helpful, I particularly liked congress to campus and our capitol MO. Both were highlights of the class.
  • the lectures and in class activities were formative and informational, I thought that congress to campus was the best time to really learn about the legistlative process and the course content
  • I enjoyed the class atmosphere and the activities that we did. I thought they helped us engage very well with the material from a different perspective.
  • Lectures were based on particpation from class on assigned reading materials. Little contributions meant little information. The slides in class were helpful with supplementing the readings but occasionally felt they could have been better to reinfornce material especially if the class was slacking one day. Congress to Campus was a great experience as was our trip to the Capitol.
  • Class sessions were engaging and interesting. I particularly liked some of the unique activities we did, including Congress to Campus, the visit to the Capitol, the Class Legislature, etc. I would have liked to go over more substantive content in class, as I think I learned better from Professor Stacy than I did strictly from the book.
  • Class sessions were often too devoted to making our class congress. Personally I was not interested in voting for rules and procedures about making in-class committees and party leadership. The actual lectures on how congress works interested me... my favorite lecture was about the history in changes of power in regards to the position of Speaker of the House. My goal was to obtain knowledge about the congress and be able improve my media literacy so I can follow what is going on in national politics. I noticed only a couple class lectures helped me do this... but the book helped me accomplish this goal more.
  • I really liked the make up of class sessions and how we split the class up. I also thought it was interesting and different how we acted in a sort of congressional simulation. It helped with knowledge and setting us up with communication and other skills.
  • The class lectures were fun and engaging, allowing me to articulate the ideas I took away from the readings or something brought up in lecture
Show 10 more from Spring 2023
  • The congress to campus was very cool. Also the trip to Washington D.C. was awesome and it was nice to see what we had been learning in action on the hill.
  • The content was very informative and engaging throughout the year. I looked forward to coming to class each day and was eager to learn.
  • Class was very productive with all the activities we did to use a different way of understanding the material rather than just reading it.
  • The class discussions were good but I felt that the quizzes took up too much time and were not particularly helpful.
  • great energy in class everyday made an environment that I wanted to be in. I thought that this professor was very approachable and made it easy to ask questions about the lessons at hand.
  • N/A
  • More time for voting on class legislature
  • Professor Stacy's class was different from any of the other PoliSci classes I have taken at the Academy. The unique class structure helped my learning and made things interesting. I would recommend his class to other students in the major.
  • videos and writing assignments made me focus on how the congress works and made me think creatively within the congress realm. For instance in a take home writing assignment I had to make a new congressional rule that applied to the class, but was reflective of the standards needing to be met by congressmembers held to the diction in the Constitution. In another assignment I made an argument about how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the most all-encompassing piece of legislation considering its path through the gauntlet of the legislative process... it made me research how the law came to be as it was debated and pushed through different committees and was manipulated by different procedural rules like the filibuster and file for cloture as well as general amendments... These are the types of things I wanted to learn from this class and this was accomplished. These assignments helped me learn and overall I have more confidence in "knowing what's going on" in American politics.
  • The instructor was very passionate about his job and you could tell he enjoys what he does. I loved going to the Capitol and I feel I am much more informed on how legislation is run, and hope to use it one day in Congress.
Show 3 more from Spring 2023
  • Dr. Stacy is a great teacher with an incredible amount of knowledge. This was a great class an very informative. I would recommend to a classmate.
  • The MO was extremely cool and I am appreciative of Professor Stacy setting it up for us. Classes are very well structured and make it easy to learn in a fun way.
  • Overall a very well taught course. Instructor was very knowledgeable and effective.
Fall 2022
Fall 2022
43 opinions
  • I learned a lot more about the methods of Congress and the theories behind how Congress works.
  • Course was effective and achieved its stated outcomes
  • Very effective course I learned a lot about congress
  • The Course did a great job deepening my understanding of congress and how it works. Midshipmen already had a baseline understanding after taking FP130 but this course goes into much more deeper and in my personal opinion was a lot more interesting. Additionally the theory behind this class was fun to explore and I felt was extremely applicable to outside the class. Another thing that this class forced me to do was to keep up on current events.
  • I believe the effectiveness of this course depends on how much a student wants to learn. Since it was such a small class, I believe everyone in here wanted to learn more and become proficient on the proceedings of Congress, and as we saw at the beginning of the semester, if they were not committed they could drop it. At the end of the course, I have learned a great deal more about Congress than I did coming in, and this information will definitely help me have more educated discussions about politics.
  • Dr. Stacy was effective in teaching this course
  • My one main problem with the course was the workload with reading assignments. However, Dr. Stacy was great and he has been the most energetic and authentic professor I have had here. I did not really expect to enjoy this class as much as I did, and I would highly recommend this class to anyone trying to take a political science elective. I loved this class
  • Dr. Stacy was enthusiastic about the course material and inspired the students to dive deeper into analysis of current events through the lens of legislative processes. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and recommended it to peers of mine. Additionally, the trip to D.C. was great and I was informative about how the actual workings of Congress occur, not just the theory of it. I hope to be connected with the material in the future, and look forward to hopefully working with Dr. Stacy in the future as well.
  • Originally I didn't know how I was going to enjoy this class. The first couple weeks for me seemed very shaky but as the class got into a rhythm and more comfortable together I found myself really enjoying Professor Stacy and his teaching style. For me he went from just another instructor to one of my more favorite instructors at the academy. It goes without saying he is extremely sharp (just look at what he has been able to academically achieve at such a young age) and I feel like he is only going to get better and better as a professor.
Show 10 more from Fall 2022
  • Dr. Stacy was very effective in involving the whole class. I was always excited to come to class because I would be able to participate in some shape or form. I wish I could have taken this class after Dr. Stacy taught it a couple times to see how the real class legislature would have worked out, but I still think Dr. Stacy did a great job.
  • This course was highly engaging and encouraged students to approach current events with greater insight and clarity. Participation from the students was palpable, and the instructor did a fantastic job of challenging the views of students through his role of devil's advocate.
  • This class was awesome. I learned a lot and enjoyed coming into class everyday.
  • I really liked this class because it allowed me to understand below a surface level about what Congress does and am more appreciative of how the process actually looks like in elections, bill making, and member interactions. This was not only a good political science course, but one that can be taken by any major to gain an understanding of perhaps the most important legislative body that directly affects our line of duty.
  • very effective
  • Very effective. I enjoyed this course and students who subscribe to this course will learn, in-depth, the American Legislative Process. I highly recommend this course to any serious Political Science student.
  • I appreciated the in-class activities more than I thought. Upon reflection, I realized that I learned a ton from acting out Congress rather than just a plain lecture on jt
  • I learned a great deal about the intricacies of Congress.
  • This course taught me a great deal about the Congress of the United States. I did not expect to learn so many intricate details regarding theory about the legislative process but I am glad that I did. The understanding I now have of the legislative branch will be vital to my success as an officer as I am sworn to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws that Congress establishes. I am grateful for the perspectives this course gave me.
  • Dr. Stacy is highly knowledgeable on the subject matter and taught the material with passion. He stayed after class frequently to talk about related topics and made himself available for EI and help with writing assignments. He was sensitive to the lives of midshipmen and made adjustments to the course syllabus to ensure effective learning outcomes. Dr. Stacy is by far one of the better instructors I have had during my time at the Academy.
Show 10 more from Fall 2022
  • One of the best professors I ever had at the Academy. His enthusiasm and witty humor brought a lot of energy to the class everyday. I liked how he would relate material to the real world frequently. The field trip to D.C was one of the best experiences I ever had at the Academy and I thank Dr. Stacy for setting that up. Overall, I learned a lot from him and I would highly recommend him to any student who has an interest in taking this course. Thank you, Sir!
  • I really enjoyed Dr. Stacy as a teacher, he was excited to teach, knowledgeable of the material and was a very fun teacher to have. He challenged us but also was really fair. I think Dr. Stacy is the best professor I have had here at the Academy.
  • always available, very approachable and kind.
  • Doctor Stacy is a very passionate and intelligent professor. He deserves to become a staple within the Political Science department and he ranks very favorable among others within the department.
  • He was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable!
  • Dr. Stacy was incredibly effective in challenging assumptions and prompting the class to think critically.
  • Dr. Stacy was constantly engaged and never missed an opportunity to help his students learn the material. He always challenged our opinions and often times played "devils advocate" which I thoroughly appreciated. His ability to challenge the status quo of midshipman is important and allows us to stay on our toes. Overall, Dr. Stacy was a very effective professor and his ability to connect with his students allowed me to learn a great deal more.
  • This course did a great job teaching me about the inner workings of Congress and I feel like I actually learned a lot
Show 10 more from Fall 2022
  • Good elective class for a comp sci major
  • Very effective
  • Very effective.
  • It was very thorough in covering a large part of Congress' behavior in one semester
  • Professor Stacy was a great teacher and I really enjoyed having him. I was genuinely excited to show up to class everyday and he made somewhat dry material much more interesting with his interactive teaching style
  • Great class, run very effectively. I would recommend Doctor Stacy to anyone interested in political science.
  • Very effective and was able to successfully set up a trip to DC.
Show 2 more from Fall 2022
  • Dr. Stacy was very passionate and personable. He is a fun instructor to learn from.
  • Prof. Stacy was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the course material. I can tell he is very passionate about what he teaches and that makes a big difference for a lot of students.

This capstone course investigates why Congress so often appears unable to act. Students examine explanations for dysfunction—ranging from electoral incentives and partisan polarization to institutional rules and procedural barriers—and assess their consequences for American governance. Each student then designs and carries out an independent research project, working closely with the instructor to frame questions, gather evidence, and develop original analysis. The course concludes with presentations that connect individual findings to broader debates about reform and responsibility. Combining scholarship with hands-on research, the course challenges students to grapple with institutional limits while preparing them to be thoughtful citizens and leaders within a constitutional system.
Student opinions for this course

Grouped by semester. Each click reveals at most 10 more comments per semester.

Spring 2024
Spring 2024
5 opinions
  • Course materials guided the capstone project well and were clear.
  • Class presentations for feedback and peer edits were significant help in improving our project.
  • Class sessions were generally helpful, but I think went in person for a few weeks over, I would've preferred more time to work on our own. Regardless in-person meetings were helpful and generally informative.
  • Spent most classes creating a structured baseline and background, basically holding our hand from a crawl to a walk to a run in order to continue the project on our own.
  • Was always available for one-on-one help.
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