University of Texas at Dallas

GOVT 2301.001 Fall 2008

Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Brian Bearry Teaching Assistant: TBA

Office: GR3.810 x4966
Office hrs: F, 1:00-3:00 pm; and by appointment
Email: brian.bearry@utdallas.edu

Textbooks:

Jillson, Cal. American Government: Political Change and Institutional Development, 4th edition
Routledge Publishing, ISBN-10: 0415960770

Collier, Ken; et al. Lone Star Politics: Tradition and Transformation in Texas
CQ Press, ISBN-978-0-87289-506-5

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 and Texas 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.

On completing this and its companion course, students will be able to:
1. provide examples and apply important theoretical and scholarly approaches to explaining state and
national institutional behavior, citizen involvement, and interaction between citizens and institutions of
government;
2. analyze and appreciate historical trends in the development of government institutions and their
constitutional foundations;
3. identify, describe and analyze various mechanisms of citizen political involvement.

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 and a final exam 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 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.) You will lose 5% of
your final grade for every 2 quiz failures or absences thereafter. 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. The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus at any time.
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 or face dismissal from the course. NO LAPTOP COMPUTERS MAY BE
USED IN THIS CLASS.

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. 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.

Additional reading:

Hamilton, Madison, Jay. Federalist Papers

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

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

Mayflower Compact: 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”
Course outline and reading schedule:
The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution may be found online by using a google search.

Aug 22—course introduction

Aug 25—Jillson, ch 1 (intro to democratic theory)
Aug 27—Mayflower Compact; Cato’s Letter #38; Federalist #1 (intro to American democratic
political theory, British Constitution)
Aug 29—Declaration of Independence; Jillson, pp 20-29 (colonial government, Articles of
Confederation)
Sept 1—LABOR DAY, no class
Sept 3—Jillson, pp 29-45 (Constitutional Convention)
Sept 5—U.S. Constitution (Articles 1-7 and the Bill of Rights)
Sept 8—Federalist Papers #10, 51 (constitutional principles)
Sept 10—Collier, ch 1; ch 2, pp 34-54 (Texas Constitution)
Sept 12—lecture (Texas Constitution;) test #1 review
Sept 15—EXAM #1 (short answer, ID, etc)
Sept 17—EXAM #1 cont. (essay)
Sept 19—Federalist #46; (introduction to federalism)
Sept 22—Jillson, ch. 3 (federalism)
Sept 24—Collier, pp 27-34 (federalism w/emphasis on Texas)
Sept 26—Collier, pp 145-157 (Texas local government)
Sept 29—Collier, pp 157-171 (Texas local government)
Oct 1—Tocqueville, “Power Exercised by the Majority Upon Opinion,” “Of the Principle Source of
Belief among Democratic Nations;” (introduction to American public opinion)
Oct 3—Jillson, ch 4 (political socialization and public opinion)
Oct 6—lecture (public opinion)
Oct 8—Cato Letter #15; (freedom of the press and introduction to the role of communications media in a
truly free democracy)
Oct 10—Jillson, ch 5 (news media and politics)
Oct 13—lecture (news medial and politics)
Oct 15—lecture, exam 2 review
Oct 17—EXAM #2 (short answer, ID, etc)
Oct 20—EXAM #2 cont. (essay)
Oct 22—Jillson pp 124-140 (introduction to interest groups)
Oct 24—Jillson pp 140-152 (interest gps continued)
Oct 27—Collier pp 222-233 (Texas interest gps)
Oct 29—lecture
Oct 31—lecture; introduction to political participation
Nov 3—Jillson, pp 183-194 (voting and political participation)
Nov 5—election analysis
Nov 7—Collier pp 173-180 (Texas voting and political participation)
Nov 10—Jillson pp 154-164 (political parties)
Nov 12—Jillson pp 164-181 (political parties)
Nov 14—Collier, pp 217-233 (Texas political parties)
Nov 17—lecture; introduction to democratic elections and campaigns
Nov 19—Federalist #68; Electoral College
Nov 21—Jillson pp 194-215 (campaigns and elections)
Nov 24—lecture (campaigns and elections)
Nov 26—reading day, no class
Nov 28—THANKSGIVING, no class
Dec 1—Collier pp 180-202 (Texas campaigns and elections)
Dec 3—Federalist #10 & #51 (again;) “living” Constitution v. “original intent” debate
Dec 5—lecture
Dec 8—exam #3 review

Dec 15 exam #3 at 8:00 am! (Mon)

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/right

political commentary.

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

commentary.

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

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