University of Texas at Dallas

GOVT 2301. Fall 2005

Syllabus

Instructor: Brian Bearry Teaching Assistant: TBA

Office: GR 3.312 ext. 4906
Office hrs: by appointment
email: bxb022100@utdallas.edu

Textbooks:
O’Connor, Karen and Larry Sabato. American Government: Continuity and Change, 2004 Texas Edition.
Pearson Longman Publishing.

Hamilton, Madison, Jay. Federalist Papers

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

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 exams. There will be four exams for this
course and your lowest exam grade will be dropped. Thus, your final grade will be determined as follows:

Three exams 20% each

Comprehensive final 30%
Quiz/participation 10%
Total 100%
Attendance, etc.
Attendance is expected and required. Failure of 4 quizzes will cause the loss of 5% of your final grade;
failure of 6 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 full 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. 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 tardies will
be considered unexcused.

3. 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.
Course outline and reading:
The Declaration of Independence may be found in the appendix of American Government or through a
Google search online. The U.S. Constitution may be found on pp. 68-93 of your text.

Aug 19—course introduction

Aug 22 —lecture (introduction to democratic and political theory) (general, Greece, Plato)
Aug 24—Federalist #1, lecture (introduction to democratic and political theory) (Aristotle, Machiavelli)
Aug 26—O’Connor ch. 1 pp. 3-14 (introduction to liberalism)
Aug 29--Declaration of Independence (liberalism cont.)
Aug 31—O’Connor ch. 2 pp 33-43 (American Founding)
Sept 2--lecture (American Founding)
Sept 5 LABOR DAY—no class
Sept 7—O’ Connor ch. 2 pp 43-66; (U.S. Constitution)
Sept 9—O’Connor pp. 68-93 (U.S. Constitution)
Sept 12—Federalist Papers #10 & 51 (U.S. Constitution)
Sept 14—O’Connor ch. 21 entire (Texas Constitution)
Sept 16—lecture; exam #1 review
Sept 19—EXAM #1
Sept 21—Federalist #46 (introduction to federalism)
Sept 23—O’ Connor ch 3 pp. 95-104 (federalism)
Sept 26—O’Connor ch. 3 pp 104-122 (federalism)
Sept 28--lecture (federalism)
Sept 30--O’ Connor ch. 4 pp. 125-142 (state and local government—emphasis on Texas)
Oct 3-- O’Connor ch. 22 entire (Texas local government)
Oct 5--lecture (state and local government/federalism)
Oct 7--exam #2 review
Oct 10--EXAM #2
Oct 12--O’Connor ch 11 pp. 385-408 (American public opinion and political socialization)
Oct 14--O’Connor ch. 11 pp. 408-416 (American public opinion and political socialization)
Oct 17--lecture (American public opinion and political socialization)
Oct 19--O’Connor ch. 15 pp. 547-559 (media and politics)
Oct 21--O’Connor ch. 15 pp. 559-580 (media and politics)
Oct 24--lecture (media and politics)
Oct 26--O’Connor ch.16 pp. 581-594 (interest groups)
Oct 28--O’Connor ch. 16 pp. 594-610 (interest groups)
Oct 31--O’Connor ch. 26 pp. 933-939 (Texas interest groups)
Nov 2--exam #3 review
Nov 4--EXAM #3
Nov 7--O’Connor ch 12 pp. 417-427 (political parties)
Nov 9--O’Connor ch 12 pp. 427-434 (political parties)
Nov 11--O’Connor ch 12 pp. 434-458; ch. 26 pp. 921-933 (Texas political parties)
Nov 14--O’Connor ch. 13 pp. 459-480; Federalist # 68 (voting and elections)
Nov 16--O’Connor ch. 13 pp. 481-507 (voting and elections)
Nov 18--O’Connor ch. 14 pp. 509-534 (political campaigns)
Nov 21--O’Connor ch 14 pp. 524-545; ch. 26 pp. 939-949 (political campaigns-Texas)
Nov 23--lecture (political campaigns)
Nov 25 THANKSGIVING—no class
Nov 28 final exam review

DEC 5 FINAL EXAM 11:00 A.M.