Houston Community College
Social Science Division
Government 2301
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
Office Hours: By Appointment
Telephone: (713) 718-6063
sanders.andersonjr@hccs.edu
3 Hour lecture course/48 hours per semester/16 weeks
TEXTBOOKS
The Struggle for Democracy with Texas Government: Policy and Politics (Custom Edition for
Houston Community College Central).
Taken from:
The Struggle for Democracy: Tenth Edition by Edward S. Greenberg and Benjamin I. Page
Texas Government: Policy & Politics: Eleventh Edition by Neal Tannahill and
You Decide! 2011: Current Debates in American Politics: Edited by John T. Rourke .
Course Description. A study of theories of American democracy and other ideologies, United
States and Texas constitutions, federalism, state and local government, political economy,
political socialization and public opinion, the media, interest groups, and political parties and
elections.
Course Prerequisites. Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to assist the students in the attaining of knowledge of American
Government from the national, state and local levels. We will study the American principles of
government, the constitution, public opinion, socialization, interest groups, political parties and
local government. Particular attention will be given to state and local government in Texas.
After having taken this course the student should be able to:
1.
Understand the setting of American National government and Texas government.
2.
Understand constitution making at the federal and Texas level.
3.
Know the structure and functioning of local government in Texas.
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INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
4.
Understand the role that political socialization and public opinion play in the government
process.
5.
Understand how interest groups and parties articulate citizen concerns to government.
There will be four (4) examinations including a final examination all of equal value. Missed
exams can be taken with a proper excuse and at the discretion of the instructor. Attendance is
compulsory. More than 4 unexcused absences may result in failure. Dropping the class is the
responsibility of the student. The use of electronic devices or cell phones will be not allowed
during the examination and their use is discouraged during class.
GRADING SCALE
EXAMINATIONS-4 =
360-400
320-359
280-319
=
=
=
400
A
B
C
In the event that unscheduled quizzes are given, further division might be
necessary.
Make-Up Policy. The general make-up policy for work missed is the following:
Exams: Make-up is possible only with written legitimate excuse.
Instructional Methods. This class will consist of lectures and class discussions.
Course Website. The course website is http://hccs.blackboard.com.
Your Blackboard login user ID will be your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the “W”
number). All HCC students have a unique User ID. If you do not know your User ID you can
look it up by visiting the HCC home page:


From www.hccs.edu, under the column “CONNECT”, click on the “Student System
Sign In” link.
Then click on “Retrieve User ID” and follow the instructions.
The default student password is “distance.” Students will then be prompted to change their
password after their first login. Please visit the Distance Education Technical Support website if
you need additional assistance with your login.
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INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
Course Attendance and Withdrawal Policy. Attendance will be taken on a daily basis.
A student may officially drop at the registrar’s office anytime up to and including March 29.
Student who stop attending class prior to March 29 may be dropped. Students who attend class
after March 29 cannot receive a W.
Students who take a course for the third time or more face significant tuition/fee increases at
HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. If you are considering course withdrawal
because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor or a counselor as early as
possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance,
course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
Beginning Fall 2007, the State of Texas imposes penalties on students who withdraw/drop
courses excessively. Students are limited to no more than SIX total course withdrawals
throughout their educational career at a Texas public college or university. Students are
encouraged to review the HCC 6 Drop Policy.
To help you avoid having to withdraw from any class, contact your professor regarding your
academic performance. You may also want to contact your counselor to learn about helpful
HCC resources (e.g. online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.).
How to Drop
If a student decides to withdraw from a class upon careful review of other options, the student
can withdraw online prior to the deadline through their HCC Student Center.
HCC and/or professors may withdraw students for excessive absences without notification (see
course attendance policy above).
AskOnline. All government students are encouraged to use HCC’s online tutoring system for
help with any GOVT class. Questions submitted to the ASK queue will be answered within 24
hours – and usually much before that. Tutors are on duty 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Online tutors will not do homework for you, but they will guide you in the right direction. To
maximize the effectiveness of the system, be specific when you ask questions, and let the tutor
know what class you are taking. You will receive two responses – one from and English tutor
and one from a government tutor.
Registering for online tutoring is easy. Go to www.hccs.askonline.net. (For DE classes, this link
is on the front page of Blackboard.) Select a user name and password that you will remember.
Use any e-mail address, and add your student ID number (W number). It will probably take five
minutes to set up your askonline account. After that, you can submit questions in seconds. Tutor
responses are not e-mail to you. To see the answers, log back in to the system and click the
bright yellow NEW button.
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INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
Students with Disabilities.
Students who require reasonable accommodations for
disabilities are encourage to, report to LHSB 106, or call 713-718-6164 to make necessary
arrangements. Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations requested by the Disability
Support Services Office.
International Students. Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student
Visa. Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F because of the visa
consideration. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any
questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty. A student who is academically dishonest is,
by definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned, and that student is claiming an
advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each
student’s individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level
playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles.
You are expected to be familiar with the University’s Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the
catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules
will not help you. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity
in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by
College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. “Scholastic
dishonesty”: includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:





Copying from another students’ test paper;
Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
Knowing using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part
the contents of a test that has not been administered;
Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged
incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty
may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment, failure in the course,
and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See
the Student Handbook)
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INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
EGLS3 ----Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System. At Houston
Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be
asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to
instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your
professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for
the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near
the end of the term.
DISCUSSION TOPIC
I.
INTRODUCTION
A.
What is Political Science?
B.
What is Politics?
C.
Why study Government?
II.
THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND THEORETICAL SETTING
A.
Who are the people of the U.S.?
B.
What is the nature of the economic system?
C.
What are the ideological underpinnings?
D.
What is the Texas political culture?
Required Readings: The Struggle For Democracy Chapters 1, & 2
Texas Government, Chapter 20 & 21
You Decide p. 11-15
TEST 1
III.
FEDERALISM AS A FORM AND ITS CHANGING NATURE
A.
The Nature of Federalism
1.
Unitary System and Confederacy
2.
The Power Distribution Patterns
3.
The New Federalism
B.
Constitutional Limitations on the State Government
1.
The Bill of Rights
2.
Other Restrictions on National and State Government
3.
Absolute Restrictions on State
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INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
C.
Obligations of the State and National Government
1.
A Republican Form of Government
2.
Protection from Form of Government
3.
Other Obligations
D.
Interstate Relations
1.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
2.
Interstate Renditions
3.
Privileges and Immunities
4.
Interstate Discrimination
5.
Interstate Cooperation
E.
The Changing Character of Federalism
1.
The increase in Nation Power
2.
Reagan’s Attempts as Reversals
3.
The Present Character of Federalism
Required Readings: The Struggle For Democracy Chapter 3
Texas Government – Chapter 22 & 23, You Decide, Debate 2
F.
Local Government and Politics
1.
What are the types of local government?
2.
What are the forms of city charters?
3.
What are county government/?
4.
What are measures for reform of local government?
Required Readings: Texas Government – Chapters 31 & 32
TEST 2
IV.
POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION AND PUBLIC OPINION AND MEDIA
A.
How does one learn about government?
B.
What factors determine one’s beliefs?
C.
How is opinion measured?
D.
What factors affect political beliefs?
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INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN
POLITICAL SYSTEM I
DR. SANDERS ANDERSON, JR.
V.
POLITICAL PARTISIPATION
A.
What are the forms of participation?
B.
What is the history of participation?
C.
Campaigns and elections
Required Readings: The Struggle For Democracy Chapters 5, 6, 8, 10
Texas Government – Chapter 24 & 27, You Decide, Debate 6 and 7
TEST 3
VI.
INTEREST GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES
A.
What are political parties?
B.
What are interest groups?
C.
What is the difference?
D.
How do they exercise their influence?
Required Readings: The Struggle For Democracy Chapters 7, & 9
Texas Government – Chapter 25 & 26, You Decide, Debate 8 and 9
Final Exam
OTHER READINGS MAY BE ASSIGNED
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