GOVERNMENT  2301
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

INSTRUCTOR:  Carlos I. Pierott    Voice mail box : 713-718-5897

     Government 2301 is one of two courses designed to introduce students to the politics of government in America at the national, state, and local levels.  This course is fully transferable to other colleges and universities.

     The Government Department of Houston Community College requires one textbook for Government 2301

•	Karen O’Connor, Larry J. Sabato, et. al., American Government, Roots and Reform, ( Pearson, 2011 Texas Edition).  

This book can be purchased from local college bookstores and is also utilized for Government 2302.

GRADES:

Your  final course grade will be calculated according to the following formula:

          4 Examinations @ 20% each*            80%
          Written Assignment                             20%
                                                                      100%

* No test grade will be dropped.

TESTING:

All  work will be scored 0 - 100.  The final percentage value resulting from the sum of the above components will be converted into letter grades according to the following scale:

          A = 90 - 100%                                      D = 60 - 69%
          
          B = 80 - 89%                                         F = Below 60%

          C = 70 - 79%

Please take all exams at the scheduled time.  Makeup exams will be given only in emergency situations.

ADA STATEMENT:

HCC is compliant with the ADA and Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  “Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Service Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester.  Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Services Office.”  The Disability Services Office number for Southwest College is 713-718-7910.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:  

You should attend class regularly.  It is my experience that students with good attendance records usually do well in the course.  The college provides that students MAY be dropped after missing more than six hours of class time.  I do not wish to drop anyone who is making a good faith effort to succeed in the course.  If it appears to me, however, that you have stopped attending, I will drop you because the alternative is to give you an F.  Please keep me informed if you are having problems that are affecting your attendance and I will do my best to work with you.

If you decide you must drop the course, please fill out the appropriate form in the college office on campus.  Instructors are not allowed to withdraw students with a grade of “W” on the final grade sheet.  You must also drop the course by the specified withdrawal deadline.

THREE-PEATER STATEMENT:

Students who take a course for the third time or more may face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.  If   you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.

HONESTY POLICY:

Ethical conduct is part of being a competent student.  Academic dishonesty (cheating) will result in a zero for the assignment and/or failure of the course, depending on the severity of the offense. 

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT:

A research paper or other term project is to be completed by the student.  While it is customary to do a research paper, another project may be completed instead.  Ideas for papers or other projects must be     approved by the instructor early in the semester.  This means well in advance of the due date.

All papers and/or other projects should be typed and at least 7 pages long (double-spaced) unless otherwise specified by the instructor.  More details will be discussed in class.

CLASS PREPARATION

Each student must purchase all books necessary for this course and be prepared to discuss the reading assignments in advance of each class meeting.

STUDENT CONFERENCES

If you have any problems in the course, with grades or otherwise, please see me.  However, please do not wait until finals to discuss grades and/or problems in the course (I’m afraid that’s a bit too late).  Conferences will be scheduled by appointment only.  There will be no extra credit assignments given.

Note:  All telephones and other electronic devices must be turned off during class time. Only laptops and tape recorders may be utilized for taking notes or recording lectures.

                                                                    ( NO  EXCEPTIONS ! )

I sincerely hope you find this class to be both enjoyable and stimulating. 

             

COURSE OUTLINE     

1.	Introduction:  Politics, Government, Political Science, Democracy, Republic, Confederation of States, 
Checks and Balances, Political and Economic Systems.

2.	The Political Landscape
Read: chapter 1.

3.	The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas
Read: Chapter 20.

 4.  The United States Constitution
       Read:  chapter 2.

 5.  Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations
      Read:  chapter 3 and pp. 116 – 128.

 6.  The Texas Constitution
       Read:  chapter 21.

 7.  Public Opinion
      Read:  chapter 11.

 8.  Individual Political Participation
      Read:  chapter 13.

 9.  Group Participation
       Read:  chapter 16.

10.  American Political Parties
       Read: chapter 12.

11.  Political Parties & Interest Groups in Texas
       Read: pp. 836 – 856.

12.  The News Media
        Read: chapter 15.

13.  Elections in America
       Read: chapter 14.

14.  Elections in Texas
       Read:  pp.133-137, 857-869.

15.  Local Government and Politics in Texas
       Read: chapter 22 and pp. 129-132.