GOVT 2305: Essentials of American Government: Roots and Reform
Instructor’s Contact Information:
Professor: Marsha N. Lindsay
Campus: Northline Campus Room: 207
Phone: 281.742.0350 (For messages only) Email: marsha.lindsay@hccs.edu (preferred means of communication).
Office Hours: I do not have an office. Conferences may be scheduled prior to, or after class.
Purpose of the Course:
Government 2305 is one of two courses designed to introduce students to the study of the origin and development of the Texas
constitution, structure and powers of state and local government, federalism and inter-governmental relations, political
participation, the election process, public policy, and the political culture of Texas. This particular survey of the Texas state
system of government includes the fundamental principles of political science, the study of the Texas state constitution, the state
legislative, executive and judicial branches, local governments, methods of participation, and analysis of contemporary policies.
This course is fully transferable to all Texas State colleges and universities.
Required Text:
O’Connor, Sabato, Yanus. Essentials of American Government: Roots And Reform, 2011 Edition. Pearson Longman Publishers.
ISBN #13-978-0-205-88399-8.
Recommended:
Study Guides are available on-line to accompany the required texts. Students are also encouraged to follow current political
events by reading newspapers and following media news reports.
Course Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Explain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.
2. Describe state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal government.
3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.
5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
6. Analyze the state and local election process.
7. Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
8. Analyze issues, policies and political culture of Texas.
Student Notification Statements:
FINAL GRADE OF FX: Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw themselves prior to the withdrawal deadline may
either be dropped by their professor for excessive absences or be assigned the final grade of "FX" at the end of the semester.
Students who stop attending classes will receive a grade of "FX", compared to an earned grade of "F" which is due to poor
performance. Logging into a DE course without active participation is seen as non-attending. Please note that HCC will not
disperse financial aid funding for students who have never attended class. Students who receive financial aid but fail to attend
class will be reported to the Department of Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of "FX" is treated exactly the
same as a grade of "F" in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory academic progress.
ADA Statement: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs
to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Ability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of
each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Ability Services Office. At Southwest
College, students should contact Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-718-7909. Students who are requesting special testing
accommodations must first contact the appropriate (most convenient) DSS office for assistance:
1
Disability Support Services Offices:
System: 713.718.5165; Central: 713.718.6164 – also for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and Students Outside of the HCC
District service areas. Northwest: 713.718.5422; Northeast: 713.718.8420; Southeast: 713.718.7218; Southwest: 713.718.7909
EGLS3: At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching
and learning. During a designated time near the end of the term, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of researchbased questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and
department 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.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy: The State of Texas imposes penalties on students who 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.
Student Services: DISTANCE EDUCATION ADVISING AND COUNSELING SERVICES: Much DE student information can be
found on the DE Student Services website: de.hccs.edu. Advising or counseling can be accomplished through our online
request form AskDECounseling. Counselors and Student Services Associates (SSA) can assist students with admissions,
registration, entrance testing requirements, degree planning, transfer issues, and career counseling. In-person, confidential
sessions, can also be scheduled to provide brief counseling and community referrals to address personal concerns impacting
academic success.
International Students: International Students are restricted to ONLY ONE online/distance education class per semester.
Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have additional questions about your visa status.
Due Dates for Assignments: All work is to be submitted to your instructor upon arrival to class (unless otherwise noted in
syllabus). If unanticipated and extraordinary circumstances prevents you from attending class and you are unable to submit an
assignment on time, you are responsible for making arrangements with the instructor as soon as possible. All written
assignments are based up reading or activities known well in advance, so a learner is expected to plan in advance the
completion of assignments considering events like holidays, travel or vacations. Effective time management will enable students
to prioritize family, work and school responsibilities.
Oral Presentation: You will select a topic from the list provided on the last page of the syllabus. You will then prepare a
presentation on your respective topic. Acceptable visual aids are as follows (PowerPoint) and poster boards, brochures,
newspaper articles, etc., if you are distributing additional material to the class). The presentation should be at least 7 minutes,
not to exceed 15 minutes. A grading rubric will be distributed for you to know in advance how it will be graded.
Group Debates/Peer Evaluations: During the course of the semester, discussion topics will be distributed. Based upon the
topic, you will be assigned to a group. After which, you will prepare to debate either the affirmative or negative. In addition, you
will do peer evaluations on the other groups, as well as during class presentations. Discussion questions will relate to the weekly
chapter. However, depending upon time, we may have discussions that are based on the current events of the week.
Critical Thinking Questions (CTR”s): The critical thinking questions are designed for you to develop your personal perspective on
topics related to American Government. The critical thinking questions will be provided weekly. You are required to complete 5
critical thinking questions (which are worth 20 points each). Each response should be no more than one page.
Newspaper Articles: Collect 10 newspaper articles, or magazine stories, of or relating to an issue of local, state, national or
foreign government (these are worth 10 points each). Prepare a one paragraph summary of the article. (Specific guidelines for
articles will be discussed in class and an example provided for article submissions).
Quizzes: There will be four quizzes during the course of the semester.
Midterm: You will be tested over chapters 1-5. You will need a #2 pencil. A scantron will be provided.
Final: You will be tested over chapters 6-12. You will need a #2 pencil. A scantron will be provided.
Feedback Schedule: Students are expected to read and participate in discussions every week. Assignments will be graded and
feedback given back to students within one week.
2
Grading:
A=90 -100
B=80– 89
C=70 – 79
D=60– 69
F= 59 and below
Class participation/Debates
Critical thinking questions (20 points each)
Oral Presentation
Newspaper Articles (10 points each)
Quizzes (multiple choice, true/false, short answer essay)
Midterm (multiple choice, true/false, short answer essay)
Final (multiple choice, true/false, short answer essay)
10%
10%
20%
10%
20%
20%
10%
Class Schedule and Assignments
Week & Date
WK 1: 01/18
Weekly Activity
Class introductions and course expectations.
WK 2: 01/25
Reading Assignments
Introduction to Government: Roots, Context, and Culture. Distribute student
contact sheet, and review syllabus.
Chapter 1: American Government: Roots, Context, and Culture (2-23)
WK 3: 02/01
Chapter 2: The Constitution: (24-53); Group Debate
Instructor lecture; class discussion.
WK 4: 02/08
Chapter 3: The Federal System (54-77); distribute debate questions for 02/15.
Instructor lecture; class discussion; Quiz # 2
WK 5: 02/15
Chapter 4: Civil Liberties (78-109); Group Debate
Instructor lecture; class discussion.
WK 6: 02/22
Movie Presentation: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Instructor lecture; class discussion.
WK 7: 03/01
Chapter 5: Civil Rights (110-139); Review for Midterm
WK 8: 03/08
Midterm: Chapters 1-5 (You must be in class by 9am. Late arrivals, will not be
permitted to take the exam).
WK 14: 04/26
NO CLASS : SPRING BREAK HOLIDAY 03/10-03/16
Chapter 6: Congress (140-171); Chapter 7: The Presidency (172-195).
Movie Presenation: The Presidency
Chapter 8: The Executive Branch and the Federal Bureaucracy (196-219);
Chapter 9 : The Judiciary (220-247)
Chapter 10: Public Opinion & The Media (248-279) ; Chapter 11 : Political
Parties and Interest Groups (280-311) ; distribute debate questions for 04/12
Chapter 12: Campaigns, Elections, and Voting: (312-345); Group debate.
Chapter 13: Social and Economic Policy (346-375); Chapter 14: Foreign
Defense Policy (376-407). Movie Presentation: Foreign Defense Policy
Presentations:
WK 15: 05/03
Presentations:
WK 9: 03/22
WK 10: 03/29
WK 11: 04/05
WK 12: 04/12
WK 13: 04/19
WK 16: 05/10
Instructor lecture; class discussion; Quiz # 1
Midterm: 03/08/14
Please bring a #2 pencil.
A scantron will be provided.
Instructor lecture; class discussion;
presentation topics due. Quiz # 3
Instructor lecture; class discussion.
Instructor lecture; class discussion; Quiz # 4
Instructor lecture; class discussion.
Instructor lecture; class discussion.
You must be in class by 855am.
Presentations will begin promptly at 9:00am.
Late entrance will not be permitted.
You must be in class by 855am.
Presentations will begin promptly at 9:00am.
Late entrance will not be permitted.
FINAL EXAM (YOU MUST ARRIVE TO CLASS ON TIME. LATE ARRIVALS
WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENTER. NO EXCEPTIONS!!
PRESENTATION TOPICS:
3
Civil Rights, Leaders, Activists, Advocates, Politicians & Lawyers:
Esther Buckley
Henry Cuellar
Elma Salinas Ender
Alicia Dickerson Montemayor
Sonya Sotomayor
Richard Raymond
Earl Warren
Antoinette Brown Blackwell (1825-1921) - founded American Woman Suffrage Association with Lucy Stone in 1869
Julian Bond (1940–) - American activist, politician, scholar, lawyer, NAACP chairman
Lenny Bruce - free speech advocate, comedian, political satirist
Stokely Carmichael (1941–1998) - American SNCC and Black Panther activist, organizer, speaker
Humberto "Bert" Corona (1918–2001) - labor and civil rights leader
James Farmer (1920–1999) - Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) leader and activist
Frankie Muse Freeman (1916-) American civil rights attorney, and the first woman to be appointed to the United States
Commission on Civil Rights
Harry Hay (1912–2002) - early leader in American LGBT rights movement, founder Mattachine Society
Dolores Huerta (1930– ) - American labor and civil rights activist, initiator, organizer
Sigmund Livingston (1872-1946) - Jewish rights activist, founder of the Anti-Defamation League
Mamie Till Bradley Mobley - American who held an open casket funeral for her son, Emmett Till; speaker, activist
Charles Morgan, Jr. (1930–2009) - attorney, established principle of "one man, one vote"
Harvey Milk (1930–1978) - American politician, gay rights activist and leader, inspiration
Alice Paul (1885–1977) - American 1910's Women's Voting Rights Movement leader, strategist, and organizer
Elizabeth Peratrovich (1911–1958) - Alaska activist for native people
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) - women's rights and human rights activist both in the United States and in the United Nations
Al Sharpton (1954–) - American clergyman, activist, media
Judy Shepard (1952–) - gay rights activist, public speaker
Gloria Steinem (1934–) - writer, activist, feminist
Wyatt Tee Walker - American activist and organizer with NAACP, CORE, and SCLC
Ida B. Wells (1862–1931) - journalist, early activist in 20th Century Civil Rights Movement, women's suffrage/voting rights activist
Walter Francis White (1895–1955) - American NAACP executive secretary
Elie Wiesel - (1928–) Jewish rights leader
Roy Wilkins - (1901–1981) American NAACP executive secretary/executive director
Frances Willard (1839–1898) - American women's rights activist, suffrage leader
Landmark Civil Rights/Movement Cases:








Dred Scott v Sandford (1857). A landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court held that African
Americans, whether slave or free, could not be American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court.
Plessy v Ferguson, (1896) landmark United States Supreme Court decision in the jurisprudence of the United States,
upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of
"separate but equal".
Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corp., (1971). An employer may not, in the absence of business necessity, refuse to hire
women with pre-school-age children while hiring men with such children.
Gonzales v. Carhart, (2007) Held that the Congress can prohibit a specific abortion procedure (Intact dilation and
extraction—also known as partial-birth abortion) on grounds that it "implicates additional ethical and moral concerns
that justify a special prohibition."
Reid v. Covert, (1957), U.S. citizens abroad, even when associated with the military, are not deprived of the protection
of the Constitution or of the Bill of Rights and cannot be made subject to military jurisdiction.
Hernandez v. Texas, (1954), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that decided that Mexican
Americans and all other racial groups in the United States had equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution.
Sweatt v Painter (1950) A Black man (Herman Marion Sweatt) refused admission to the University of Texas.
Hopwood v Texas (1996) plaintiff Cheryl Hopwood (White American) denied admission.
4