Houston Community College
Social Science Division
Government 2302
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM II
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 the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
at both the national and state levels; economic and regulatory policy; social policy; civil liberties
and civil rights policy; and foreign policy.
Course Prerequisites: Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing
Course Objectives: The main objective of the course is to broaden and deepen the student’s
understanding of American politics. This objective has at least three parts. The first part is to
develop a body of shared knowledge about American politics. The second part is to become
acquainted with and understand a number of important concepts and theories with which to make
sense of American politics. The third part is to develop some of the skills necessary to the
understanding and practice of American politics.
Student Learning Objectives: After completing GOVT 2392, students will be able to do the
following:
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Demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate government documents and data critical
to the study of American government and politics.
Articulate contrasting points of view on one or more major political issues.
Demonstrate the political knowledge to understand what is being reported/discussed
in the media
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Have an understanding of the relationship of various social factors on politics in the
government.
Particular attention will be given to state government at the executive, legislative and
judicial levels of Texas.
Student Learning Outcomes: After completing GOVT 2302, students will be able to do the
following:
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Describe and evaluate the impact of government on the lives of individuals and
society as a whole
Compare and contrast the institutions of American national government with those of
the state of Texas
Identify and evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion
Understand how globalism affects American politics.
There will be five (5) examinations including the final examination all of equal value. The
formal examination is not comprehensive. If factors intervene to alter the number of
examinations the adjustments will be made.
Make up Policy:
Missed exams can be taken with legitimate written excuse.
Grading Scale
Examination 5 = 500 points
450 – 500
400 – 499
350 – 399
300 – 349
Below 300
=A
=B
=C
=D
=F
If there are fewer examinations given because of circumstances, the scale will be adjusted.
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 November 18.
Students who stop attending class prior to November 18 may be dropped. Students who attend
class after November 18 cannot receive a W. Withdrawing is the responsibility of the student.
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
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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 no 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 an 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 an 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 3-mailed to you. To see the answers, log back in to the system and click the
bright yellow NEW button.
Students with Disabilities: Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities
are encouraged 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 Honest, found in the
catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules
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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
 Knowingly 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)
Course Textbooks and Readings: The two textbooks for the course can be purchased at the
bookstore at HCCS Central College, 1300 Holman. Take this syllabus with you to make sure
you get the correct books.
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.
The two texts for the course are:
1. Edward Greenberg, Benjamin Page, Neal Tannahill, The Struggle for Democracy with
Texas Government, Second Custom Edition (Pearson, 2011) ISBN-13:978-1-256-141990
2. John Rourke, ed., You Decide! 2011: Current Debates in American Politics (Longman,
2011) ISBN-13: 978-0-205-11489-4
Discussion Topic:
I. The Legislative Branch
A. Overview of the founders intent
B. Empowering Congress
C. Organization of Congress
D. How legislation is made
E. Impact of external forces
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F. The Texas Legislature powers and fuctions
G. Compared to the National legislature
Required Readings:
The Struggle for Democracy Chapter 11
Texas Government Chapter 28
You Decide Chapter 11
Test I
II. The Executive Branch
A. The Roles of the President
B. The Power of the President
C. The Executive office of the President
D. The Executive Branch
E. The Role and Powers of the Governor
F. The Texas Executive Branch
Required Readings:
The Struggle for Democracy Chapters 12 and 13
Texas Government Chapter 29
You Decided Chapter 12
Test II
III. The Judicial Branch
A. The foundation of Judicial Power
B. The Court System
C. How judges are chosen
D. The court in policy making
E. The Texas Judiciary
Required Readings:
The Struggle for Democracy Chapter 14
Texas Government Chapter 30
You Decide Chapters 14 & 20
Test III
IV. Civil Liberties are Civil Rights
A. What are civil liberties
B. The Role of the Bill of Rights
C. The Struggle for Civil Rights
D. The role of Government and courts in the struggle
Required Readings:
The Struggle for Democracy Chapter 15 and 16
You Decided – assigned in class
Test IV
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V. Economics and Foreign Policy
A. What is the Role of Economic theory
B. What is the Role of Social Policy
C. How does foreign policy affect American politics
Required Readings:
The Struggle for Democracy Chapter 17, 18, and 19
You Decide – assigned Reading
Final Exam
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