Houston Community College System
American Government 2301
Spring Semester, 2011
Instructor:
Mr. Jacobs
Office Hours:
The instructor can be reached at jacobsko@gmail.com
Course Description:
A survey of national, state and local government, including such topics as the U.S. and Texas
Constitutions; democratic theory; federalism; political culture, political socialization, and public opinion;
political participation and electoral behavior; political parties and interest groups; press; and local
government. These phenomena are examined at the national, state and local levels with an emphasis
placed on linkages with the formulation of public policy. THIS COURSE SATISFIES STATE
REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION IN TEXAS. (4510025125)
This course formatted to include lecture and class discussion. Student participation in class discussions is
required. Students are expected to be aware of and follow current international, national, and local
political events that might pertain to class discussions. Each class meeting will begin with a topic
(regarding interesting current events) on which students should attempt to provide opinions and
comments.
Course Goals:
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to write college level
reports, analyze various written works and have a basic understanding of:
1. The Policymaking Process;
2. U.S. and Texas Constitutions;
3. U.S. and Texas Demographics;
4. Federalism;
5. Public Opinion;
6. Political Participation;
7. Political Parties in the U.S. and Texas;
8. Interest Groups in the U.S. and Texas;
9. Campaigns and Elections in the U.S. and Texas; and
10. Local Government in Texas.
Attendance:
Students are expected to attend class regularly. Students are responsible for
materials covered during their absences. Although it is the responsibility of the student to officially
withdraw from the course, a student may be dropped from the course for reasons stated in the Policy
Regarding “W,” “F,” and “I” section on the last page of the syllabus. Failure of a student to withdraw
officially will result in the student receiving a grade of “F” in the course.
Texts:
Longman, 2009.
1. Tannahill, Neal. American and Texas Government, 10th ed. New York:
2. A copy of the United States Constitution (can be downloaded from the internet
and printed). http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html
Grading:
There will be a midterm exam, a series of quizzes, and a final exam given during
the semester. There will also be a written assignment. The exams will consist of about 30 multiple-choice,
True/False and short answer questions. The series of quizzes might consist of True/False, multiplechoice, and/or short answer questions. The number, difficulty, and length of the quizzes is at the
discretion of the instructor and will correlate to the level and quality of class participation. Therefore, a
class with a high level of participation in discussions and activities can expect one or a few easier quizzes
while a class that demonstrates a low level of participation can expect several quizzes on a more difficult
level. Quizzes will likely be unannounced and administered at the beginning of class. If the class (as a
group) maintains an excellent level of participation, there will be no quizzes. If this turns out to be the
case with this class in particular, the quiz grade will be replaced with an individual participation grade for
each student, which will be based upon attendance, punctuality, etc. The final exam is a comprehensive
multiple-choice exam and will consist of questions from the last sections of the course as well as the first
two exams. There will be extra-credit opportunities, which are optional and not a part of the graded items
listed below.
Exam 1
Participation (or Quizzes)
Written Assignment
Final Exam
30%
15%
25%
30%
Grading Scale:
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
A
B
C
D
F
There are NO make-up exams. Students who have missed an exam will not be allowed to retake
the exam. However, if you have a medical reason, please notify the instructor to discuss an alternative.
YOU MUST CAREFULLY READ ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS! Assignments not turned
in on the due date will likely not be graded. Failure to turn in the written assignment on the due
date will result in a drop of one letter-grade per day past the due date that the assignment is
turned in.
Scholastic Dishonesty:
There will be no sharing of answers on exams, quizzes, or on the written
assignment. In addition, students must present their original work on all assignments and document all
outside sources. Plagiarism is not allowed under any circumstances! Cheating will result in a grade of
“F” in the course as well as various discipline actions according to HCCS policy.
Written Assignment:
Students are required to submit a written assignment during the
semester. The written assignment is worth 15% of the final grade in this course. The report should be at
least 5 pages in length plus appendices, double-spaced, 12-point font (either Times New Roman or Arial)
with 1-inch margins, typed on any type of word processing software that allows for checking spelling and
grammar, stapled with a cover sheet. The cover sheet must include the date, CRN number, course title,
class meeting times, instructor’s name, as well as the topic and title of the report. Spelling and written
grammar are part of the written assignment grade. Students must document the sources used in the
research of the paper in an appropriate manner (footnotes or endnotes AND bibliography) using any
method (MLA, Chicago, etc.). Do not use contractions (e.g., “don’t” or “can’t”) in your paper. Do not end
sentences with prepositions in your paper. Also, remember the correct usage of “its” and “it’s” in your
paper. “Its” is possessive (e.g., “Considering its amendments,…”). “It’s” means “It is.” Failure to
document your sources will result in a grade of zero. If you have any questions regarding the written
assignment, please contact the instructor before the due date.
The written assignment topics will be assigned in class.
POLICY REGARDING “W,” “F,” AND “I”:
Withdrawal from a course (“W”)
It is your responsibility to officially withdraw from a class and prevent an “F” from appearing on
your transcript. When considering withdrawal from a course, remember the following information:

If you withdraw before the Official Date of Record, no grade is given and your transcript reflects
no record of the course.

A “W” (indicating withdrawal) appears on your transcript if you drop a course after the Official
Date of Record and before the final deadline.

If you do not attend class before the Official Date of Record, the college may automatically drop
you from the course.


A “W” (withdrawal) may negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid or your visa status if
you are an international student.
If you MUST withdraw, visit with your instructor, a counselor or online student services associate
prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class BEFORE the “Last Day for Administrative/Student
Withdrawals” posted in the HCCS Schedule of Classes. Instructors are no longer allowed to
process a “W” on their final grades—YOU are responsible for processing the paperwork in a
timely manner.
Failure of a course (“F”)
You will receive an “F” in this class if your grade is less than 60%. Receiving an “F” (failure) may
negatively impact your ability to receive financial aid. It is YOUR responsibility to submit collegelevel quality work in a timely fashion or to withdraw yourself from the course by the deadline if you
cannot complete your work satisfactorily.
Incomplete (“I”)
You will receive an “I” (incomplete) ONLY in the event of a documented emergency situation that
prevents you from completing the last assignment, such as the final exam. You must speak with
your instructor as soon as possible in the event of such an emergency to arrange a course
completion schedule. If you receive an “I,” you must arrange with the instructor to complete the
course work before the end of the next long semester. After that deadline, the “I” becomes an
“I/F.” All “I” designations must be changed to grades prior to graduation. The changed grade will
appear on your record as “I/Grade” (e.g., “I/B”).
NOTICE OF STUDENTS’ RESPONSIBILITY TO READ THE HCC STUDENT HANDBOOK: Please
refer to the HCCS Student Handbook for information about students’ rights and responsibilities. It is your
responsibility to be aware of the information provided in this document.
Course Outline:
The following course assignments fulfill the reading, listening, speaking, writing,
computer literacy, and critical thinking components required by the HCCS core curriculum.
This course outline is tentative and is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
Students are to read assigned chapters BEFORE the listed dates.
January 18
Review Syllabus, Introduction
January 20
Theories of Government
January 25
Ch. 1 A Changing America in a Changing World
Ch. 18 The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas
January 27
Ch. 2 The American Constitution
February 1
Ch. 2 The American Constitution
February 3
Constitutional Analysis
February 8
Constitutional Analysis
February 10
Ch. 3 The Federal System
February 15
Ch. 3 The Federal System
February 17
Ch. 3 The Federal System
Ch. 20 The Federal Context of Texas Policymaking
February 22
Review for Exam 1
February 24
EXAM 1
March 1
Ch. 8 Political Parties
March 3
Ch. 8 Political Parties
March 8
Ch. 23 Political Parties in Texas
March 10
Ch. 23 Political Parties in Texas
March 14-20
SPRING BREAK!
March 22
Ch. 4 Public Opinion
March 24
Ch. 4 Public Opinion
Ch. 5 Political Participation
March 29
Ch. 7 Interest Groups
March 31
Ch. 7 Interest Groups
April 5
Ch. 22 Interest Groups in Texas
April 7
Ch. 6 The Media
April 12
Ch. 6 The Media
RESEARCH PROJECT DUE!
April 14
Ch. 9 Elections
April 19
Ch. 9 Elections
Ch. 24 Texas Elections
April 21
Ch. 28 Local Government in Texas
April 26
Ch. 28 Local Government in Texas
April 28
Ch. 29 Texas Counties, School Districts, and Special Districts
May 3
“Putting it all together” (comprehensive class discussion)
May 5
LAST DAY OF CLASS!
Review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM: TBA
In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the information on this syllabus is subject to change.