University of Texas at Dallas

GOVT 2301. Summer 2008

Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Brian Bearry

Office: GR 3 810 ext. 4966
Office hrs: by appointment
email: brian.bearry@utdallas.edu

Alexander Hamilton argued during the Constitutional Convention that men are attached to their
governments for what he considered five reasons: self-interest, opinion, habit, force of law or arms, and
honor. With this in mind, what would you say is the cause of most Americans’ attachment to their
government? Is it merely opinion imprinted through education; is it simply habit; or is the American model
of government the best guarantor of freedom and liberty yet devised by human beings? Or, are the
principles of the Constitution an eloquent deception so that the wealthy and “elite” can rule? What is your
attachment? Do you belong to that class of citizens who Roger Sherman argued (when discussing the
incompetence of the American people to elect Congress) should not be allowed to vote because you “lack
for information and are constantly liable to be misled?” Or, do you know the basic underlying principles,
institutions and functions of American government and politics? The purpose of this course is to discuss
questions such as these and to give you a broad overview of the foundation and purpose of American and
Texas governmental institutions and politics. The focus of this course will be twofold. The first aspect of
this course will be devoted to American foundational ideals and principles, such as republicanism,
federalism (to include local government,) separation of powers, majority rule etc.; as well as an excursion
into the meaning and structure of the US and Texas Constitution. The second part of this course should
help you should gain an appreciation for American and Texas governmental secondary institutions and
politics, in which we will explore public opinion, the media, political parties and interest groups, as well as
political campaigns and elections. By the end of the semester, you should have the intellectual foundation
to understand, analyze and discuss American and Texas national government and politics as it pertains to
contemporary American political life.

Requirements, grading and participation:

Each student will be required to follow current events (you may use whatever newspapers, magazines,
internet sites—please ensure the source is considered “legitimate” as defined by common journalistic and
political standards). You will see current events questions on the tests and quizzes. There will be three
exams for this course. Thus, your final grade will be determined as follows:

Three exams 30% each

Quiz/participation 10%
Total 100%

Attendance, etc.
Attendance is expected and required. Failure of 3 quizzes will cause the loss of 5% of your final grade;
failure of 5 quizzes will result in the loss of 10% of your grade (one full-letter grade.) Should you miss a
quiz due to an absence or tardy, a grade of “F” will be assigned and will stand; the only exception will be
for a previously determined excused absence. You may use handwritten outlines of your reading when
taking a quiz. There are no make-up exams or quizzes. When challenging a grade, it is the responsibility
of the student to produce the requisite materials.
Cell phones, pagers, palm pilots and any other electronic device that rings, beeps, clicks, whirrs, etc.; turn
them off.—should a student need to be reminded more than once, it is possible that he or she could lose his
class participation grade.
DO NOT BRING CELL PHONES INTO EXAMS. ANYONE CAUGHT WITH A CELL PHONE
OR ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE WILL IMMEDIATELY
RECEIVE A 0 (F) FOR THAT EXAM.

Class rules and grades:

1. email: You must put your name on all email correspondence. Emails sent without a name will not
be answered. We will NOT send exam, quiz, assignment and final grades via email. You may
receive your grades when exams, etc., are returned during or after class, or you may drop by my or the
TA’s office hours to receive your grades and other pertinent material.

2. Computers: YOU MAY NOT USE A LAPTOP IN CLASS.

3. In order for you to receive an excused absence, you must notify me or the Teaching Assistant prior
to class; or you must have a documented medical emergency; otherwise, all absences and each tardy
will be considered unexcused.

4. All grades are final (unless there is a mistake when determining a grade—this does happen).
The time to be concerned with a grade is during the semester, not after. When challenging a grade, it is the
responsibility of the student to produce the requisite materials. There is no extra credit given in this class.

University Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty:

It is the policy of the University of Texas at Dallas that cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated under
any circumstances. Violations will result in immediate disciplinary action to the fullest extent of the
policy. See the University catalog for a detailed explanation.

Textbooks and reading:

Wilson, James Q. American Government (Dolphin edition) Houghton Mifflin Press

Tannahill, Neal. Texas Politics: Policy and Politics 9th ed.

Hamilton, Madison, Jay. Federalist Papers

These papers may be found at: http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/federalist/

Mayflower Compact reading: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/mayflower.htm

Tocqueville readings:
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/1_ch15.htm read section entitled: “Power Exercised by the
Majority Upon Opinion”
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/DETOC/ch1_02.htm read: “Of the Principle Source of
Belief among Democratic Nations”

John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon (Cato’s Letters):

Letter #15 http://classicliberal.tripod.com/cato/letter015.html
Letter #38 http://classicliberal.tripod.com/cato/letter038.html

The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution may be found at:

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/declare.htm
Course outline and reading:

May 27—course introduction and lecture (introduction to American democratic and political theory)
May 29--Mayflower Compact, Cato’s Letters #15 & #38, Declaration of Independence, Federalist #1,
Wilson, ch. 1. (introduction to American Founding principles and government)
June 3—Wilson, ch 2; U.S. Constitution (American Founding cont. U.S. Constitution)
June 5--Federalist #10 & #51, exam #1 review (ratification, constitutional principles)
June 10—EXAM #1, Federalist 46 (introduction to federalism)
June 12—Wilson, ch. 3; Tannahill, chs. 2, 11, 12 (federalism, Texas Constitution)
June 17—Wilson, ch 4, 7 &12; Tocqueville, “Power Exercised by the Majority on Opinion,” and “Of the
Principle Source of Belief among Democratic Nations”
(political socialization, public opinion, media)
June 19—EXAM #2 Wilson, ch 11; Tannahill, ch 5. (interest groups)
June 24—Wilson, ch 9; Tannahill, ch 6 (political parties)
June 26—Wilson, ch 8, 10; Tannhill, ch 7 (political participation, campaigns and elections)
June 27—EXAM #3 THIS IS A FRIDAY

News and editorial sources:

Realclear Politics (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/index.html) Excellent source of political news and

opinion.
Drudge Report (http://drudgereport.com/ )

Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/) “Conservative” or right-leaning news site.

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/) “Liberal” or left-leaning news site.

Just One Minute (http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/ ) Generally high-quality conservative political

commentary.

Talking Points Memo ( http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/ ) Generally high-quality liberal political

commentary.

Redstate (http://www.redstate.com/) Partisan conservative political commentary.

Daily Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/) Partisan liberal political commentary.