Instructor: Kevin D. Burns Sr. Section: CRN # 647961
E-mail: kevin.burns@hccs.edu Days/Times : Fri 11 :00am – 2 :00pm
This course is designed as a study of theories of U.S. democracy, federalism, state and local government, political economy, political socialization and public opinion, the media, interest groups, and political parties and elections. The course is the first of a two-part core requirement for Texas state colleges and universities. It is fully transferable. Because this is an introductory course, the subject matter includes basic information about the structures and functions of government and politics. The more important goal of the course centers on equipping students with the language and the skills for effectively analyzing, discussing, and participating the political arena. The role of the instructor is to coordinate and encourage this learning process and to evaluate the performance of students.
Textbook
Neal Tannahill, American and Texas Government: Policy and Politics, 10th edition (New York:
Pearson, 2010).
Additional Readings
Supplemental readings will be accessed online throughout the semester.
Recommended
A study guide for your textbook is available here: www.pearsonhighered.com/tannahill10e
Web
Course resources, including this syllabus, your supplemental readings, and other information will be made available.

Attendance and Drops
A record of attendance will be maintained. Students who miss frequently rarely perform as well as those who attend regularly. There is no need to call the instructor to notify him of an absence.
If a student wishes to drop the course, it is his or her responsibility to fill out the appropriate form in the college office on campus.
A student may drop the course for any reason.
After the deadline, a student will receive the grade that he/she has earned. College policy now prohibits faculty from submitting a grade of W after the official drop date.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Please refer to your student handbook for definitions of these terms. The maximum penalty for scholastic dishonesty is failure of the course.
ADA Statement
HCCS is compliant with the ADA and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. "Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Service Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office." The Disability Services
Office number for Southwest College is 713-718-7910.
“Three-Peat” Statement
Students who take a course for the third time now 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/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.
Testing and Grading
Grades will be based on the following:
4 EXAMS = 60%
Students’ position paper = 30%
(Class participation & attendance = 10%

Make-Up Exam
Students may be eligible for one make-up exam, with a documented excused absence. Make-up exams are scheduled at the instructor's convenience and may be delayed until the end of the semester.
Grading Scale:
A = 90 – 100 F = below 60
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
D = 60 -69

Topical Outline and Reading Schedule Revised Syllabus
Date Topic
01/21/11 Course Introduction
01/28/11 Introduction: A Changing America in a Changing
World
02/04/11 The American Constitution / Sub Reading –Halpin and Agne, State of American Political Ideology
02/11/11 Test Review For Chapters Introduction : 1 & .2
02/18/11 Exam 1 (Scantron) covers Public Policymaking and
American Constitution
02/25/11 The Federal System
03/04/11 Public Opinion
03/11/11 Test Review Chapters .3 & .4
03/18/11 Exam 2 (Scantron) covers U.S. and Texas
Constitution and Federalism
03/25/11 Political Participation and Media
04/01/11 Interest Groups & Political Parties
04/08/11 Elections & Congress - Exam Review
Readings
Introduction, pp.1-10
Chapter 1.
Tannahill, Chapter 2.
Exam Review I.
Multiple Choice & Short
Answers
Tannahill, Chapter 3.
Tannahill, Chapter 4.
Exam Review II.
Multiple Choice & Short
Answers
Tannahill, Chapter 5.& 6
Tannahill, Ch. 7 & 8
Tannahill, Ch. 9 &10
04/15/11 Exam 3 (Short Answers) Chapter 5 - 10 Short Answers
04/22/11
04/29/11
or
05/06/11
05/13/11
The Presidency & Federal Bureacracy – Exam
Review
Exam 4 (Scantron)
Each students present before turning in.
5 minute presentation of paper
Tannahill, Chapter 11 & 12
Multiple Choice Exam
Presentation and paper due