Syllabus: United States Government and Politics
Instructor: Steve A. Holland
Room: G221 E-Mail: sholland@houstonisd.org
Conference: By Appointment
This course is designed inform students on the ins and outs of our United States Government and its’
Politics. Students will gain perspectives on government and politics in the United States and will study
both the general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics along with specific examples. Students will focus
on the relationships and connections that occur to establish the public agenda and set public policy, topics
include:
• Constitutional underpinnings of the U.S. government,
• Institutions of national government
• Civil rights and Civil liberties.
• Political beliefs and behaviors,
• Voting and Elections,
• Public policy,
Primary Text
Edwards, George C. III, Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry.
Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 10th ed. New York: Longman,
2002. Note: (You are responsible for obtaining a textbook from the bookroom)
Supplemental Texts
 TCI Student Edition, Government Alive: Power, Politics, and You, Palo Alto CA, 2009
Other Materials
Assigned and used in class: articles from current newspapers, such as the New York
Times or the Wall Street Journal; newsmagazine excerpts from Time, Newsweek, or
the Economist; news footage and documentaries; C-SPAN’s coverage and current
events materials; numerous websites.
EVALUATION
Students’ grade in this class will be based primarily upon their performance on chapter examinations,
quizzes, and written examinations. Multiple choice examinations or quizzes covering material presented
in class and in assigned reading will be administered weekly during regular class periods. Every week to
ten days students will complete a free response timed writing. All free response timed writings will count
as test grades. Students will have Chapter Expert assignments which will be included in the summative
grades. In addition to free response written examinations, students will be evaluated on their participation
in classroom activities, completion of in-class and homework assignments. Final grades will be
calculated as follows:
Chapter Examinations, Quizzes, and Chapter Expert Assignments 60%
Homework, In- class assignments and Participation
40%
PLAGIARISM
This action is considered stealing and is unacceptable in any form. This includes copying the work of
other students and cheating on quizzes and exams. Any such actions could receive a grade of “F”.
Class Expectations:
 Submit assignments on the designated due date. Late work is not accepted.
 Come prepared for class with reading and homework assignments completed.
 Follow business decorum by using active listening, giving constructive responses, and have a
positive “can-do” attitude.
 Please refrain from texting, eating, drinking, buying or selling anything resembling food,
including candy.
Supplies
 Your Brain
 (Mandatory) large 3 ring binder
 Several notebook dividers