American Government, Fall 2014

GOV 310L (Unique Number XXXXX)

The University of Texas, Austin
Professor John DiPietro
Email: jdipietro@utexas.edu
Phone: (512) 687-5309
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, Batts 3.114

Class Details:
Meeting Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Room: Calhoun 100
Teaching Assistant: Anny Nimous (anny.nimous@gmail.com)
TA Office Hours: MW 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, Batts 1.118

Course Description:
This class is an introduction to the concepts and principles of American government. It focuses
on the fundamental roles of various political institutions, including Congress, the Executive
Branch, the Judiciary, and the roles of the different levels of government. This course also
examines the roles played by public input, including how public opinion is measured and how
elections affect the nature of government, as well as the roles of non-government groups such as
the media and interest organizations. Further, the class will examine the concept of democracy
in general, and give students the ability to analyze political events and news, so as to make
informed decisions as citizens. Finally, there will be specific discussion of Texas politics and
policy.
This class fulfills the first half of the state legislative requirement for Government

Pre-requisites
12 credit hours of college course work, and a passing score on the reading section of the THEA
Test.

Course Requirements
It is expected that all students will attend every lecture, and participate and contribute to
discussions during the class sessions. Although attendance will not be a direct grade component,
failure to attend class will likely mean a lack of exposure to necessary information that will be on
the exam.
Discussions on politics will often center on current events; students are thus expected to stay
informed on such events. The sources are up to the students, but a good place to start is with the
major New York and Washington, DC papers and their websites, as well as USA today and the
Wall Street Journal.
In addition to events directly related to the classroom, students will be required to keep up with
the reading, as outlined in the schedule. It is recommended that the readings for a given week be

completed prior to the beginning of the first class of the week. The material will supplement, but
not necessarily duplicate, the material discussed in class, and both are essential to achieve
success in class. The required text for this course is The American Political System, First
Edition (Paperback, Full Edition) by Ken Kollman. This book is available in the University Coop.
For discussion about Texas politics, please visit http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/.
For each exam, the students will be expected to bring a blue book and a number two pencil.
Scantrons will be provided for the multiple choice section. Short answer responses not written in
a blue book will not be graded.

Attendance Policy
Attendance will not be taken in class. It is the students responsibility to determine whether or
not they will come to class on a given day. However, it is both the instructors personal opinion
and a scientifically supported hypothesis that frequent attendance to a class greatly benefits the
student. As material will be presented in class that will not be presented in the readings, this will
be especially likely in this class. Failure to attend any class will not be considered as an excuse
for adjustment of grades.
Please show up for class on time. Show up, in this sense, means to be seated, with necessary
materials out, and all other conversations halted by the time the professor starts the session. If
you are unable to make it to class on time, please do so quietly and with a minimum amount of
disruption. Do not come into class after the start talking on your cell phone.

Use of Blackboard and Email

This course uses Blackboard, a Web-based course management system in which a passwordprotected site is created for each course. If any supplemental reading is assigned beyond the
scheduled readings, email will be used to notify you, but the readings will be placed on
Blackboard. It is the students responsibility to keep up-to-date with such assignments.
As email will be the primary method of communicating from professor to student outside of
class, it is strongly recommended that the student double check their registered email addresses,
and to change it to a regularly checked one if the registered address is not accessed on a regular
basis. Failure to read an email will not be considered an excuse for the purposes of altering
grades or requesting make-up exams.

Contacting the Professor

Students first point of contact is the Teaching Assistant during the TAs scheduled office hours.
Both the TA and the Professor only guarantee being available during office hours, and will make
changes to them known online by email, as well as by announcements in class. Neither the TA
nor Professor promise to be available outside of the scheduled office hours, and any requests for
outside appointments must be made by email.
Emails will be responded to within 24 hours unless unforeseeable circumstances prevent such
response. The exception is that weekend emails may not be answered until the following
Monday. Further, emails received after 10 PM may not be answered until the following morning,
regardless of urgency.
Please note that all emails must be written somewhat professionally. Neither the professor nor
the TA is responsible for emails that are illegible due to misspellings, poor grammar, or a lack of

clarity. Emails that are too difficult to read due to such illegibility will be replied to with a
response requesting further clarification; questions will not be answered until they are
sufficiently understandable. Also, emails which are confrontational or vulgar will not be
tolerated. Keep it professional and polite.

Etiquette in Class
When the professor has begun class, it is expected and required that all other conversations will
cease. Although the professor will allow time for questions, and may engage the class in
discussions related to the material, other conversations will not be permitted while class is in
session. This is disrespectful to the instructor and the other students, and those engaged in
excessively disruptive activity will be instructed to leave the room.
During these discussions, emotionally sensitive topics may come up. It is expected that all
students will refrain from personal attacks, obscene language, or other behavior that prevents an
intelligent and respectful conversation.
Computers are allowed for note taking purposes; however, if their use becomes disruptive, the
professor will instruct the student to put it away or leave the class. This includes, but is not
limited to, observing material unrelated to class excessively, listening to audio material with or
without headphones, and conducting unnecessary communication or transactions during class.

Grading and Exams

Grading will be based on four exams. Each exam will be 25 percent of the grade for the class,
and will not be cumulative with regards to the material; they will each consist of the material,
from both the book and class lectures, assigned since the previous exam. Attendance for exams
is required, barring exceptional circumstances (see the make-up policy below). No exam will be
given during the University Finals Period. Grades will not be put on a curve, and are nonnegotiable. The grading scale is as follow:
Letter Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+

Percentage
93 and above
90-92
87-89
83-88
80-82
77-79

Letter Grade
C
CD+
D
DF

Percentage
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-68
60-62
59 and below

The exams will constitute a set of multiple choice questions from a database provided by the
textbook company, and which will make up 60% of the grade, and short answer questions which
will total to 40% of the exam, and which will be based on in-class discussions.
Please note that short answer exams will not be graded if they lack a name or EID (preferably,
both will be included). Similarly, failure to properly identify yourself on the Scantron may result
in a failure by the machine to grade the exam; if such identification proves impossible based on
the information on the Scantron, that portion of the exam will remain ungraded.

Make Up Exam Policy

There will be a single make-up exam at the end of the semester, which will be comprehensive for
the entire semester. Students will only be allowed to take the make-up exam due to the most
extreme circumstances preventing students from attending a scheduled exam. Such absences
must be approved prior to the date of the exam unless the nature of the circumstance prevents
such approval, such as an illness. Even then, the student must contact the professor on the day of
the exam, and must provide documentation within one week of the exam date; a lack of such
documentation will mean an inability to attend the make-up. Students may only make-up one
missed exam; repeated absences from exam will result in zeroes for the exam in question. In
addition, failing to show up for a make-up exam will also mean that the student will receive a
zero for the exam in question.
No student may use the exam to replace a grade on an exam the student attended.

Religious Holidays
Religious holy days sometimes conflict with class and examination schedules. If you miss a
work assignment or other project due to the observance of a religious holy day you will be given
an opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence. It is the
policy of the University of Texas at Austin that you must notify each of your instructors at least
fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates you will be absent to observe a religious
holy day.

The University of Texas Honor Code

The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom,
leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the University is expected
to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and
community.

Scholastic Dishonesty
The University defines academic dishonesty as cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration,
falsifying academic records, and any act designed to avoid participating honestly in the learning
process. Scholastic dishonesty also includes, but is not limited to, providing false or misleading
information to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment, and
submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior
permission of the instructor. By accepting this syllabus, you have agreed to these guidelines and
must adhere to them. Scholastic dishonest damages both the students learning experience and
readiness for the future demands of a work-career. Students who violate University rules on
scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in
the course and/or dismissal from the University. For more information on scholastic dishonesty,
please visit the Student Judicial services Web site at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs
Cheating on exams can include, but is not limited to: copying material from another students
exam, allowing another student to copy your exam, using hidden notes in written or electronic
format, and leaving class during the exam, then coming back to alter answers. Please note that
you will not be allowed to leave class for any reason save emergencies without turning in your
exam to be graded. Also note that the use of any electronic device during an exam will be seen
as cheating, and any devices that are taken out or seen out during an exam will be assumed to be

used as a cheating device; if such devices are spotted, your exam will be confiscated, and you
will be subject to disciplinary action.

Services For Students With Disabilities

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of
Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.
Please note that it is the students responsibility to contact SSDD to arrange for necessary
accommodations, as well as to provide notice for any necessary accommodations to the
professor. Failure to arrange necessary testing arrangements will not constitute an excuse to miss
the exam during its regularly scheduled period. Similarly, failure to notify the professor of any
in-class accommodations will not be considered valid reasons to re-evaluate student
performance.

Classroom Evacuation Procedures

Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to evacuate
buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement requires exiting and
assembling outside.
Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of each classroom and building you may occupy.
Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when entering the building.
Students requiring assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first
week of class.
In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class instructors.
Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following: Austin Fire Department,
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire Prevention Services office.

Course Schedule
Please note that the professor reserves the right to alter this schedule at any time due to the
needs and progress of the class.
Date
8/28
9/2
9/4
9/9
9/11
9/16
9/18
9/23
9/25
9/30
10/2
10/7
10/9
10/14
10/16
10/21
10/23
10/27
10/29
11/4
11/6
11/11
11/13
11/18
11/20
11/25
12/2
12/4

Topic
Introduction, Overview, and Syllabus
Fundamentals and Structure of American Government
Civil Rights and Liberties
Introduction to Institutions
Congress Structures and Institutions
Congress How They Make Decisions; Exam Review
First Exam
The Powers of the President
Executive Management, Part 1 the White House
Executive Management, Part 2 the Bureaucracy
The Courts
The Basics of Policy; Review
Second Exam
Budget Politics
Types of Policies
Policy Processes
Organized Interests
The Media; Review
Third Exam
Political Parties
Public Opinion, Part 1 What It Is
Public Opinion, Part 2 Elections
Public Opinion, Part 3 Voting
Local and State Politics, Overview
Texas Politics In-depth
Review for Last Exam
Fourth Exam
Make Up Exam (Only if you missed an exam and received
prior approval; otherwise, 12/2 is the last day of class)

Readings
Syllabus
Kollman 1, 2, 3
Kollman 4
Kollman 5
Blue Book, Pencil
Kollman 6
Kollman 7
Kollman 8
Blue Book, Pencil
Kollman 6, 7
Kollman 11
Kollman 14
Blue Book, Pencil
Kollman 12
Kollman 9
Kollman 10
Kollman 13
Texas Politics Site
Blue Book, Pencil
Blue Book, Pencil