GOVERNMENT 2301: AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
CRN 54504 - Fall 2010
Central Campus - Room EDC A218
01:00 PM - 03:00PM | Mon/Wed
3 hour lecture course / 36 hours per semester/ 12 weeks
Instructor:
Kimberly P. Washington
Instructor Contact Information:
E-Mail: kimberlypwashington@gmail.com
Voice Mail: 281-773-9499
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.
Course Objectives. The main objective of the course is to broaden and deepen our 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 2301 students will be able to do the
following:

Demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate government documents and data critical to the
study of American government and politics, election returns, public opinion data, Census data,
and political party platforms.

Describe the methods individuals and groups use to affect government policy and evaluate their
effectiveness.

Articulate contrasting points of view on one or more major political issues.

Give specific examples of the impact of election systems at different levels on contemporary
policymaking.

Demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate the U.S. and Texas Constitutions. [GOVT 2301]

Demonstrate the political knowledge to understand what is being reported/discussed in the
media.
1
Student Learning Outcomes. After completing GOVT 2301, students will be able to do the
following:

Describe and evaluate the impact of government on the lives of individuals and society as a
whole.

Compare and contrast the election systems of American government.

Trace the development of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions from their drafting through the
present.

Identify and evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion, including
newspapers, websites, television, radio, and social media.
Instructional Methods. This class will consist of lectures and class discussions.
Course Requirements. The course requirements are:
Example:
Exam #1
Exam #2
Exam #3
Final Examination
Research Papers
Class Participation/Exercises
Total Points
20% of the course grade
20% of the course grade
20% of the course grade
20% of the course grade
10% of the course grade
10% of the course grade
100% of the course grade
Grading Scale. The grading scale for all exams, the class presentation, and the course is:
A = 100 - 90
B = 89 - 80
C = 79 - 70
D = 69 - 60
F = 59 and below
Make-Up Policy. No Makeup Exams will be given.
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 will be dropped. Students who attend class after November 18
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.
2
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 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 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-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 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
3
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.
The two texts for the course are:
1. Edward Greenberg, Benjamin Page, Neal Tannahill, The Struggle for Democracy with Texas
Government (Pearson, 2009) ISBN-13: 978-0-558-23960-2
2. John Rourke, ed., You Decide! 2010: Current Debates in American Politics (Longman, 2010)
ISBN 0-205-74547-4
The bookstore should have a package containing both textbooks, along with an access code for
MyPoliSciLab. This package is less expensive than buying the books separately. Ask the bookstore if
they have the package. The ISBN for the package is 0-558-65325-1.
Course Topics and Schedule of Readings.
Date
Topics and Readings
Week One
COURSE OVERVIEW
I. DEMOCRACY AND THE STRUCTURAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN POLITICS
1. "Declaration of Independence" in Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy,
pp. A2-A3
2. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Chs. 1 and 4 and pp. 147-148
4
3. John Fonte, "The Cultural Assimilation of Immigrants: The Melting Pot Is
Broken" in You Decide! pp. 66-71
4. Gary Gerstle, "The Cultural Assimilation of Immigrants: Blending
Satisfactorily" in You Decide! pp. 72-79
Week 2
II. UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION: PRINCIPLES AND PROVISIONS
1. Constitution of the United States in Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for
Democracy, pp. A4-A12
2. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 2
3. Madison, 'Federalist #51' in Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, pp.
A15-A17
III. UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION: THE FRAMERS' INTENTIONS
1. Madison, 'Federalist #10' in Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, pp.
A13-A15
Week 3
IV. UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION: AMENDMENTS/INTERPRETATION
1. Constitution of the United States, Article V and Amendments
2. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, pp. 52-53, 424-427
3. Hamilton, "Federalist #78" in The Struggle for Democracy, pp. A-17-A19
4. Keith E. Whittington, “Deciding the Constitution’s Meaning: Rely on the
Original Authors” in You Decide! pp. 4-10
5. Erwin Chemerinsky, “Deciding the Meaning of The Constitution: Interpret in
Light of Modern Circumstances” in You Decide! pp. 11-14
Week 4
V. AMERICAN FEDERALISM
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 3 & 23
2. Brian W. Walsh, " Enacting a Federal Hate Crimes Law: Unwise, and OverFederalization of Law " in You Decide! pp. 18-25
3. Eric H. Holder, Jr., " Enacting a Federal Hate Crimes Law: Just and
Appropriate" in You Decide! pp. 26-34
VI. TEXAS CONSTITUTION
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 21 & 22
2. EXAM #1 REVIEW (1, 2, 3, 4, 21, 22, 23)
Week 5
VII. LOCAL GOVERNMENT
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 31, 32
2. EXAM #1
VIII. NEWS MEDIA: PERCEPTION AND REALITY IN AMERICAN POLITICS
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 5 & 6
2. David Simon, " The Future of Quality Journalism: Imperiled " in You
Decide! pp. 104-108
3. Arianna Huffington, " The Future of Quality Journalism: Secure" in You
Decide! pp. 109-111
5
Week 6
X. INTEREST GROUPS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 8 & 25
2. Tyson Slocum, " The Oil Industry and Energy Prices: Profiteering " in You
Decide! pp. 116-121
3. John Felmy, " The Oil Industry and Energy Prices: Responding to Market Forces
" in You Decide! pp. 122-125
4. EXAM #2 REVIEW (5, 6, 8, 25, 31, 32)
Week 7
XI. THE AMERICAN PARTY SYSTEM
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 9 & 26
2. David W. Brady, et al., " The Foreseeable Future of Party Politics: Dominant
Democrats" in You Decide! pp. 130-137
3. EXAM #2
Week 8
XII. ELECTIONS: REDISTRICTING
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 10 & 27
2. Jay Cost, " The Foreseeable Future of Party Politics: Resurgent Republicans” in
You Decide! pp. 138-143
Week 9
XIII. ELECTIONS: GENERAL CAMPAIGN AND GENERAL ELECTION
1. Greenberg, et al., The Struggle for Democracy, Ch. 24
2. Ron Hayduk, " Allowing Noncitizens to Vote: Expanding Democracy" in You
Decide! pp. 84-90
3. Stanley Renshon," Allowing Noncitizens to Vote: Undermining Citizenship “in
You Decide! pp. 91-100
4. EXAM #3 REVIEW
Week 10
XIV. ELECTIONS: ELECTORAL COLLEGE
1. Constitution of the United States, Article I (Section 3), Article II and
Amendments 12, 20, 23, 25
2. John Samples, “Electing the President: Preserve the Electoral College,” in You
Decide! pp. 155-166
3. EXAM # 3
Week 11
XV. ELECTIONS: CAMPAIGN FINANCING
1. National Popular Vote, “Electing the President: Adopt the National Popular
Vote Plan,” in You Decide! pp. 148-154
****RESEARCH PAPERS DUE & REVIEW (FINAL EXAM) ****
Week 12
XVI.
FINAL EXAMINATION
The professor reserves the right to change the course calendar as needed.
6