This class is designed to provide a broad overview of the structure and function of U.S. and Texas governments. Topics covered will include, but not be limited to, the constitutional basis for U.S. and Texas governments, the institutions and structures of U.S. and Texas government, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of both the U.S. and Texas governments, and local governments.

As much of this course covers topics which are in the news, it is most important you be aware of current affairs. Take a newspaper, subscribe to one of the weekly news magazines, watch the nightly news. This is an ongoing assignment, and some test questions will cover our current affairs discussions.

Textbook:
America’s New Democracy, Fiorina, Peterson, and Voss, 2003. Texas Politics Supplement, Third Edition, St. John, 2003 will be bundled with the textbook and is free.

Attendance:
Be here. If you are going to miss class, please call and let me know. (I realize this may not be possible in all instances.) Punctual attendance is essential and habitual tardiness will adversely affect your grade.

Withdrawals:
If you decide to drop this course, it is your responsibility to do so: there will be no instructor initiated drops. Failure to do so will result in receiving a performance grade, usually an "F". The last day to withdraw is Thursday, April 28th, 2005. After that, a performance grade will be assigned.

Incomplete policy:
Any requests for an incomplete will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please see me if there is a problem completing the course.

Academic freedom:
Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical writing, particularly about political ideas, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my hope that these differences will enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, be assured that your grades will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.

Policy regarding scholastic dishonesty:
As described in the SPC Student Handbook, scholastic dishonesty constitutes a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable according to the procedures outlined in the Handbook. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an exam (either providing answers to or stealing answers from another student), collusion and plagiarism.

Plagiarism is defined as offering the work of another as one's own, without proper acknowledgment; therefore, any student who fails to give credit for quotations or essentially identical expression of material taken from the Internet, books, encyclopedias, magazines and other reference works, or from the themes, reports or other writings of a fellow student, is guilty of plagiarism.

If a student commits any of the above actions, the instructor may seek disciplinary action in the form of an academic penalty (which will include a course grade of 'F'). Such disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the instructor.

Grades:
Your grades will be computed from the following sources:

I. Three tests given over the course of the semester.

II. There will be a number of quizzes throughout the course. These will focus primarily on comprehension of material just covered (whether readings, textbook reading assignments, films, or lecture), and analysis and application of concepts and ideas. The readings will also have questions for you to answer as you read. These quizzes and readings will collectively count for 20% of your grade. Any quizzes missed will be taken at the end of the semester along with the final exam.

III. The student will be responsible for four one page analysis of some current affairs article that applies to the subject or topic currently under discussion. These articles are designed to 1) allow the student to see the relevance of American government to everyday life, and 2) allow the student opportunities to understand how political events shape and influence our lives. These articles have to be typed; 12 point font, double spaced, one inch margins, and about one page in length. Papers that do not meet these requirements will not be accepted. These will collectively account for 20% of your final grade. See the handout for due dates, but note that I will not accept reaction papers that are not turned in by the due date.

IV. Students are expected to be in class, on time, and participate in class activities and discussions.

V. Grades will be computed on the following scale:

A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 59 and below

Miscellaneous:
As per SPC policies, there will be no drinking, eating, weapons, smoking, gambling, unruly behavior, or any member of the Family Gekkonidae in the classroom. Also, if it beeps, buzzes, rings, chirps, dings, dongs, plays music, or otherwise makes noise, turn it off. Do not antagonize the instructor, as this will have serious repercussions.

Enjoy the semester. Learn.

As you have seen from the syllabus, there are four current affairs articles which are due during the course of this class. These are to be summary and reaction papers; the first part of your paper you will summarize the article, and the in second part you will give your reactions to the content. This section should contain more than just 'I agreed' or the like. These articles should tell me why you feel the way you do, and suggest alternatives or opinions on the policies or actions under discussion.

The most common mistake when writing a reaction paper is to do too much summarization and not enough reacting. Please do not fall into this habit, as it will be detrimental to your grade. The example to the right is an approximation of what is expected.

Your reaction paper and article should be stapled together. If you use an article from the Internet please list the site address under your name.

Reaction papers may be turned in early at any time, but I will not accept reaction papers that are turned in late.

These reaction papers are more than cutting something out of that mornings newspaper and writing several lines of text. They are to be lucid, well reasoned analysis and reaction papers. Take the time to do them right.