University of Texas at Dallas

GOVT 2301 Fall 2007

Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Brian Bearry Teaching Assistant: TBA

Office: GR3.704 x4966
Office hrs: by appointment
Email: brian.bearry@utdallas.edu

Textbooks:
Wilson, James Q. American Government (Dolphin edition) Houghton Mifflin Press
Tannahill, Neal. Texas Politics: Policy and Politics 9th ed. Pearson Longman Press

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 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.) 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.
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)

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

Mayflower Compact: http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/2.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 17—course introduction

Aug 20—Cato Letter #38; introduction to democratic political theory
Aug 22—Federalist #1, Mayflower Compact; democratic political theory
Aug 24—Declaration of Independence; colonial government (British constitution)
Aug 27—Wilson, pp. 17-26; Articles of Confederation, Constitutional Convention
Aug 29—Wilson, pp. 26-49; Constitutional Convention; Constitution
Aug 31—Federalist Papers #10 & #51; constitiutional principles
Sept 3—NO CLASS, LABOR DAY
Sept 5—Tannahill, ch 2 entire; Texas Constitution
Sept 7—lecture; Texas Constitution; exam #1 review
Sept 10—EXAM #1
Sept 12— Federalist #46; introduction to federalism
Sept 14—Wilson, ch 3 entire; federalism
Sept 17—Tannahill, ch 3 entire; federalism w/emphasis on Texas
Sept 19—Tannahill, ch 12 entire; Texas county government and special districts
Sept 21—Tannahill, ch 11 entire; Texas city government
Sept 24—lecture, exam #2 review
Sept 26—EXAM #2
Sept 28—Tocqueville, “Power Exercised by the Majority Upon Opinion,” “Of the Principle Source of
Belief among Democratic Nations;” introduction to American public opinion
Oct 1—Wilson, ch 4 entire; American political culture and public opinion
Oct 3—Wilson, ch 7 entire; public opinion
Oct 5—Cato Letter #15; freedom of the press and introduction to the role of communications media in a
free democracy
Oct 8—Wilson, ch 12, pp. 354-364; news media and politics
Oct 10—Wilson, ch 12, pp. 364-381; news media and politics
Oct 12—Wilson, ch 11 pp. 320-334; interest groups
Oct 15—Wilson, ch 11, pp. 334-351; interest groups
Oct 17—Tannahill, ch. 5 entire; Texas interest groups
Oct 19—lecture, exam #3 review
Oct 22—EXAM #3
Oct 24—lecture; introduction to political participation
Oct 26—Wilson, ch 8 pp. 207-220; political participation
Oct 29—Wilson, ch 8 pp. 220-232; political participation
Oct 31—Wilson, ch 9 pp. 233-247; political parties
Nov 2—Wilson, ch 9 pp. 247-275; political parties
Nov 5—Tannahill, ch 6 entire; Texas political parties
Nov 7—lecture; introduction to democratic elections and campaigns
Nov 9—Federalist #68; Electoral College
Nov 12—Wilson, ch 10 pp. 278-305; campaigns and elections
Nov 14—Wilson, ch 10 pp 305-318; campaigns and elections
Nov 16—Cato #38, Federalist #10 & #51 (again;) “living” Constitution v. “original intent” debate
Nov 19—lecture, final exam review
Nov 21—reading or study day
Nov 23—NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov 26—FINAL EXAM
News sources:

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

opinion.

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

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

Powerline (http://www.powerlineblog.com/) Generally high-quality conservative political commentary.

Kevin Drum (http://www.washingtonmonthly.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.

Drudge Report (http://drudgereport.com/ ) Just for fun.