University of Texas at Dallas

GOVT 2301.001 Spring 2009

Syllabus

Instructor: Dr. Brian Bearry Teaching Assistant: TBA

Office: GR3.810 x4966
Office hrs: F, 11:30 am-1:00 pm; and by appointment
Email: brian.bearry@utdallas.edu

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

Colman, John, et al. Understanding American Politics and Government.

Pearson Longman, ISBN 0-205-6504-6

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.

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 (free speech)
Letter #38: http://classicliberal.tripod.com/cato/letter038.html (representative government)
Letter #96 http://classicliberal.tripod.com/cato/letter096.html (parties)

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.

Jan 12—course introduction

Jan 14—intro to democratic theory
Jan 16—intro to democratic theory
Jan 19—no class; MLK Day
Jan 21—Mayflower Compact; Cato’s Letter #38; Federalist #1 (intro to American democratic
political theory, British Constitution)
Jan 23—Declaration of Independence; reading TBD (colonial government, Articles of
Confederation)
Jan 26—reading TBD (Constitutional Convention)
Jan 28—U.S. Constitution (Articles 1-7 and the Bill of Rights)
Jan 30—Federalist Papers #10, 51 (constitutional principles)
Feb 2—lecture, U.S. Constitution cont.
Feb 4—Collier, ch 1; ch 2, pp 34-54 (Texas Constitution)
Feb 6—lecture (Texas Constitution;) test #1 review
Feb 9—EXAM #1
Feb 11—Federalist #46; (introduction to federalism)
Feb 13—reading TBD (federalism)
Feb 16—Collier, pp 27-34 (federalism w/emphasis on Texas)
Feb 18—Collier, pp 145-157 (Texas local government)
Feb 20—Collier, pp 157-171 (Texas local government)
Feb 23—Tocqueville, “Power Exercised by the Majority Upon Opinion,” “Of the Principle Source of
Belief among Democratic Nations;” (introduction to American public opinion)

Feb 25—reading TBD (political socialization and public opinion)

Feb 27—reading TBD (political socialization and public opinion)
Mar 2 —lecture (public opinion)
Mar 4—Cato Letter #15; (freedom of the press and introduction to the role of communications media in a
truly free democracy)
Mar 6—reading TBD (news media and politics)
Mar 9—lecture (news media and politics)
Mar 11—lecture, exam 2 review
Mar 13—EXAM #2
Mar 16-21—SPRING BREAK
Mar 23—reading TBD (introduction to interest groups)
Mar 25—reading TBD (interest gps continued)
Mar 27—Collier pp 222-233 (Texas interest gps)
Mar 30—lecture
Apr 1—lecture; introduction to political participation
Apr 3 –reading TBD (voting and political participation)
Apr 6–reading TBD (voting and political participation)
Apr 8—Collier pp 173-180 (Texas voting and political participation)
Apr 10—reading TBD (political parties)
Apr 13—reading TBD (political parties)
Apr 15—Collier, pp 217-233 (Texas political parties)
Apr 17—lecture; introduction to democratic elections and campaigns
Apr 20—Federalist #68; Electoral College
Apr 22—reading TBD (campaigns and elections)
Apr 24—Collier pp 180-202 (Texas campaigns and elections)
Apr 27—lecture (campaigns and elections)
Apr 29—Federalist #10 & #51 (again;) “living” Constitution v. “original intent” debate
May 1—lecture, exam #3 review
May 4 EXAM #3
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.

http://www.dallasnews.com/ State and local news.

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.