GOVERNMENT 2302
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM - SOUTHWEST
Instructor: Erik Neel
Contact: neel5078@yahoo.com (Please put in Subject Line: "HCC GOVT 2302" or
something to prevent it going to the SPAM folder, or telephone 713.252.8936
All telephones, beepers, and other electronic devices must be turned off during
class
NO EXCEPTIONS
Government 2302 is one of two courses designed to introduce students to the
government in America at the national, state, and local levels. This course is fully
transferable to other colleges and universities.
Required Readings:
The Struggle for Democracy: 978-0-558-23960-2
You Decide: 978-0-205-74547-0
These books can be purchased from local college bookstores, and may also be
used for BOTH Government Classes.
GRADES
Midterm
Final
3 Papers
Class Participation
20%
40%
30%
10%
100%
The final percentage value resulting from the sum of the above components will
be converted into letter grades according to the following scale:
A = 91 - 100%
B = 81 - 90%
C = 71 - 80%
D = 61 - 70%
F = 60% and below
Please take all exams at the scheduled time. Makeup exams will be given only in
emergency situations.
DISABILITY 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."
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
You should attend class regularly, attendance may help or hurt your grade (10% of your
grade is participation), and the college provides instructors with authority to drop students
that miss more than six hours of class time (4 classes). I do not wish to drop anyone who
is making an effort to succeed in the course. If it appears to me, however, that you have
stopped attending, I will drop you because the alternative is to give you an F. Please keep
me informed if you are having problems that are affecting your attendance and I will do
my best to work with you. If you decide you must drop the course, please fill out the
appropriate form in the college office on campus.
Three-Peater Statement
NOTICE: Students who take a course for the third time or more may soon 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.
HONESTY POLICY:
Ethical conduct is part of being a competent student. Academic dishonesty (cheating) will
result in a zero for the assignment and/or failure of the course, and possible expulsion
from college, depending on the severity of the offense.
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 Objectives/Outcomes
Objectives:
1) Demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate government documents and data critical
to the study of American government and politics. 2) articulate contrasting points of view
on one or more major political issues. 3) Use online data sources to describe and critically
evaluate the budgetary policies of the United States national government, the state of
Texas, and local governments in Harris County. 4) Demonstrate the political knowledge to
understand what is being reported/discussed in the media.
Outcomes:
1) Describe and evaluate the impact of government on the lives of individuals and society
as a whole. 2) Compare and contrast the institutions of American national government
with those of the state of Texas. 3) Identify and evaluate information sources for political
news, data, and opinion.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT:
Three papers will be written throughout the semester. The assignments are bases on
what is going on in the news during the current semester, so it is advisable to watch the
national news agencies on the TV (FOX News, CNN). visit the local libraries or subscribe to
a (inter)national newspaper/magazine (Financial Times, New York Times, Wall Street
Journal, The Economist).
Topics in past:
George W Bush Tax Cuts, Chinese Currency, North Korean Attack of South in November
2010, Death Penalty, Heathcare Law 2010, etc..
5% Extra Toward Final Grade DUE BEFORE MAY 1, 2011
Write your congressman, one of the two senators, city council members. It is not
advisable to write the governor, state congress members, the president, or mayor.
International Students: please write your government's representative in the US. This is
either a trade representative or consular.
SEE ME for any help on this.
I must see the letter/email and also their response if any.
STUDENT CONFERENCES
If you have any problems in the course, with grades or otherwise, please see me.
However, conferences will be scheduled by appointment only, and within reasonable
hours.
All telephones, beepers, and other electronic devices must be turned off during
class
NO EXCEPTIONS
COURSE OUTLINE
1-19-2011
Introductions
Overview of Historical
Context
1-24-2011
Foundations
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
1-26-2011
Constitution
Article 1 - Congress
Article 2 - Executive
Article 3 - Courts
Remainder of
Articles
Read pages 318 - top of 341
1st Paper
Assigned
1-31-2011
Bicameral and the constraints to Congress
Elections and Redistricting
Repetitive patterns - party politics
2-2-2011
Congressional Leadership
Committees and Rules
2-7-2011
How a bill becomes law
Oversight role
2-9-2011
Evolution of the Presidency
From Minor 'player' to leader
Presidents role as chief executive, chief
diplomat
2-14-2011
VP and the Cabinet
First Ladies
The Bureaucracy
2-16-2011
The Courts
District Courts
Appointment Process
2-21-2011
Review of Paper Assignments
Open discussion on assignment and federal government
2-23-2011
Review for
Midterm
2-28-2011
Midterm
3-2-2011
Texas Elections
"Long Ballot"
Special Elections
Campaigns
3-7-2011
State Court Comparison
Texas Courts
Judges
2nd Paper Assigned
3-9-2011
System and Structure
Criminal vs. Civil Cases
3-14-2011
3-16-2011
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
3-21-2011
State Executive Comparison
Texas Governor
3-23-2011
Plural Executive
State Bureaucracy
3-28-2011
State Legislatures
Comparison
Texas Legislature
Structure
Duties
Leadership and Committees
3-30-2011
Comparisons
County, Schools and Special Districts
Responsibilities
4-4-2011
Educational
Financing
Hospitals, MUDs, and other Special Districts
4-6-2011
Comparisons
City Government
3rd Paper
Assigned
4-11-2011
Strong mayor vs. city manger
Incorporation and Annexation
4-13-2011
Focus on Houston and Harris County
4-18-2011
Fiscal Policy
Revenue and Expenditures
Federal Taxes and Spending Policies
4-20-2011
Cont. Fiscal Policy
Revenue and Expenditures
Federal Taxes and Spending Policies
4-25-2011
Monetary Policy
Board
Rates and Reserve
Requirment
4-27-2011
Foreign Relations
Diplomacy and War
Trade
5-2-2011
Cont. Foreign Relations
Diplomacy and War
Trade
5-4-2011
Review for Final
5-9-2011
- Finals Week -
5-11-2011
FINAL