Syllabus+-+GOVT+2301+-+spring+2011+-+3+week+mini

Kevin Jefferies Office: D-225 Office Phone: 281-756-3736 email: kjefferies@alvincollege.edu class blog: [] class wiki: http://theweakerparty.wikispaces.com/
 * Government 2301**

05/11/2011 - 05/26/2011 Monday - Friday 8am - 12pm Building D, Room D227
 * GOVT 2301-M3**

//This is the official information about the class from the ACC catalogue://

//American National & State Governments I (3 credits):// This course surveys the origin and development of the federal system and includes an analysis of the federal constitution and various state constitutions, particularly the Texas constitution. The course focuses on federal, state and interstate relations, Texas state government, and citizenship in a modern democratic society. (3 lecture hours per week). Prerequisites: READ 0310 and ENGL 0310.

We live in a democratic republic. In such a system the people are sovereign, meaning that ultimate political authority rests with the people. This isn't necessarily good news. Overall levels of knowledge about governmental are quite low. The founding generation recognized this and created a governing system that placed a significant number of barriers between the people and the law. This was to ensure that the "instability, injustice, and confusion" common in democracies would not lead the new country to an early demise. Nevertheless it was understood that participation would expand and an educated population would be required to ensure that the country would survive. Public education and democratic government therefore go hand in hand. This class is not only offered, but required, in order to ensure that you become a knowledgeable participant in the American governing system. I might be prejudiced, but I happen to think that this is the most important class you will take in college, and I treat it as such.
 * Introduction: Why is This Course Offered?**

The purpose of GOVT 2301 is to become familiar the basic terminology of government and politics, the Constitutions of Texas and the United States, and the political institutions that help determine what policies are enacted into law. We begin with a simple overview of the terms "government" and "politics" and all the additional terms related to them. We then proceed to the evolution of the concept of natural rights and how it is embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Then we have a series of sections devoted to, first, an overview of the constitutions of the United States and Texas, and then the various principles embedded within it (republicanism, separated powers, federalism, individual liberty). This allows us to dig into the Federalist Papers and various pertinent sections of the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. We then shift to a discussion of Civil Rights and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Being a democracy, elections are central to our political and governing process, as are political parties, which are the principal institutions that contest in elections and structure governing institutions once elected. We conclude with an overview of public opinion, the media, and interest groups. Together these three factors reflect our collective right to participate politically.
 * Learning Objectives: What Do I Plan to Accomplish?**

Below (under "Calendars") you will see a series of links which take you to pages I have put together on class subject matter. You will be expected to read not only the material I have assembled for you, but additional material pulled from various sources online. You'll see a lot of links, but you aren't expected to know everything I link you to. The class is designed to introduce you to the large number of additional sources of information which exist online. Your understanding of the assigned material will be assessed in two ways. The first is based on your ability to answer short answer questions while the second will be based on answering multiple choice and other similar questions. The first is subjective and is meant to force you to think critically about the subject matter while the latter tests your factual understanding of the material.
 * Methods for Accomplishing Course Objectives**

Over the course of two decades of teaching government, I've come to the conclusion that the Constitution is simply establishes a way to make decisions publicly, of non-violently reconciling the different points of view -- or interests -- that exist in society. James Madison says as much in Federalist #10: //The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.// Conflict is part of the process. I see my job as helping you understand how the constitutional system structures that conflict. While it is common for people to consider the political and governing process as hopelessly complex and confusing, it isn't. Once you properly understand the framework of the overall, while you still might get lost in the specifics, the general process make sense.
 * My Teaching Style**


 * BlackBoard:** All assessments for this class will given through BlackBoard. If you do not have an account, please obtain one immediately. You cam link to blackboard through the ACC website. Contact Dena Faust for assistance: dfaust@alvincollege.edu.


 * Readings:** Although all of the readings in this class are available online in the pages you are linked to below, you may wish to use a traditional textbook. If so, the following two are available in the bookstore:

//Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg and Kenneth Shepsle. American Government. 11th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton.// //Brown, Lyle et al. Practicing Texas Politics. 13th Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.//

You will notice that I also maintain a blog -- [|http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com] -- where I post items, usually on a daily basis, that pertain to the subject matter of the class. Everyday we will spend time discussing how current events illustrate the principles we cover in class. The blog features a large number of links to the various institutions we will come to understand in this class. In order to better communicate, I want you to go to the page and subscribe to it, you will notice a subscription widget on the right of the page. By subscribing, you will receive daily information regarding not only what we will cover in the class, but also various other notices such as whether class will be cancelled.

You will also notice that I often link to Wikipedia pages, the open-sourced web based encyclopedia. Wikipedia is often criticized as being unreliable and subject to manipulation. In some cases entries are edited by people who wish to bias the information contained in the article for self interested reasons, but the site has become increasingly reliable, especially with relatively non-controversial or historical topics. I have found the range of articles available to be impressive. There is easily accessible information available there, that simply cannot be found elsewhere. I have found it to be very useful for my purposes. Perhaps its best feature is that it records all edits and allows for discussions of controveries associated with how subjects are discussed.

Here are some links that touch on controversies associated with Wikipedia:

- [|Dean's World]. - [|EDUCAUSE]. - [|Reliability of Wikipedia, from Wikipedia itself].


 * Grading:** A = 89.5 - 100; B = 79.5 - 89.5; C = 69.5 - 79.5; D = 59.5 - 69.5; F 59.5 - 0


 * Your grade will be based on how well you perform in the following:**

1 - Daily Quizzes (30%): You will be expected to take an assessment after every day's lecture. The purpose is to ensure that you have familiarity with the subject matter we cover each day. These assessments will be given through BlackBoard, so once again, please get an account immediately. The assessments are intended to reinforce the principle points made the previous day and assess - objectively - your retention of those points. You can use the power points available on each wiki page while answering the questions.

2 - A Report on the 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature (30%): As you may know, the Texas Legislature has been meeting this spring and will do so until May 30th. If you have been following the news, this has been a contentious and consequential session. I want you to write a report on some aspect of it and present it to class the last day of our semester. I am open to any area of interest to you, but I suggest one of the following:

- The 2010 Campaign - Controversies Prior to the Election - The 2010 Election Results - The Comptroller's Report - The Legislative Budget Board Proposal - Consequences of Budget Cuts - The Republican Caucus - The Weakness of the Democrats - The Election of the Speaker - Power Struggles within the House - Power Struggles within the Senate - The Fight over Redistricting - Major Legislative Initiatives

Please email your finished work to me by noon May 26th: kjefferies@alvincollege.edu 3 - A Cumulative Final (40%): On the last day of class, after you present your written work, we will have a cumulative final. It will be composed of 100 multiple choice questions.


 * Regarding Student Behavior:** You are adults and will be expected to act accordingly. For online students this means that I expect you to do your own work. You will not ask anyone else to write papers for you, or you will not simply copy text from various sources and tell me you did it. Turnitin, and other techniques will be used to determine if you have plagiarized. Among the Founders, proper behavior was considered to be a necessary mark of a civilized person and a requirement for political participation. Read through Washington's [|Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior]. It is a great example. Consider adopting a few.


 * //Please Note: If you have any disabilities or other special needs that will affect your ability to learn in this class, please inform me. Appropriate steps will be taken to make reasonable accommodations and assistance with your needs.//**


 * Scholastic Dishonesty:** If you cheat in any way in this class and are caught, you will fail the course. Do not download items from the internet and pass them off as your own. If you do so, you will receive a zero for that paper or assignment and that grade will be final. If you do it a second time, you risk failing the course, or receiving a sanction for your actions.


 * Calendar and Readings:**

The links below will take you to the readings for each class. I also want you to regularly read the material on the blog.

Please note that the quizzes (assessments) for each section will be opened on noon of each day and will stay open until 8aqm the next day. Those scheduled on the weekends will be opened throughout the weekend. In some cases this means that the assessment will be longer.
 * Wednesday, May 11**
 * -** Introduction

- Natural Rights and the Declaration of Independence.
 * Thursday, May 12**

- The Texas Constitution.
 * Friday, May 13**
 * -** The United States Constitution.


 * Monday, May 16**
 * -** Federalist 10 and the Violence of Faction


 * Tuesday, May 17**
 * -** Federalist 51 and the Separation of Powers.

- Local Governments.
 * Wednesday, May 18**
 * -** Federalism.


 * Thursday, May 19**
 * -**Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights.


 * Friday, May 20**
 * -**Elections.
 * -**Political Parties.


 * Monday, May 23**
 * -**Civil Rights and The Equal Protection Clause.

- The Freedom of Speech and Public Opinion.
 * Tuesday, May 24**

- The Freedom of the Press and the Media. - The Freedom to Peacefully Assemble and to Petition Government for a Redress of Grivances and Interests Groups.
 * Wednesday, May 25**

- Review, Discussion of Projects and Final
 * Thursday, May 26**