Course Instructor Term Meetings

GOVT 2301-004 John Connolly Fall 2011 TR 1:00-2:15 p.m. GR 2.530

Table 1 - Instructor's contact information

Office Location: Email address: Office Hours:

GR 3.314 jpc011500@utdallas.edu Tues/Thurs 1:00-2:15 p.m.

Table 2 - General Course Information

Course Description:

Required Texts:

GOVT 2301 Constitutional Foundations and Political Behavior in the U.S. and Texas (3 semester hours). This course examines the evolution and current state of political behavior and public policy making in the U.S. and Texas. Topics discussed will include the constitutions, federalism, intergovernmental relations, voting, elections, political parties, public opinion, and interest groups. Practicing Texas Politics, 14th edition. Lyle Brown, et al. Houghton-Mifflin. Political Behavior of the American Electorate, 12th edition by William Flanigan and Nancy Zingale. CQ Press 2009.

Table 3 Course Policies

Class Attendance: Grading Criteria:

Exam Procedures: University Policies:

Class attendance is required. You are responsible for all announcements and information given in class. Three exams, each constituting a third of the grade, will be given on the dates listed below. Grades are based on the standard grading scale: A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, etc., with plus/minus cut-offs to be determined. If you have any questions about your grade, please wait until 24 hours after receiving your assignment before discussing the grade with the instructor. More information about the exams will be given before the exam dates. If you miss one exam, you make take an optional makeup exam that has two components, as per the schedule listed below. The makeup exam may only be taken to replace a missed exam, not to raise your grade. Each component of the makeup exam constitutes 50% of the replaced exam. If you miss more than one exam, you will receive a zero for the additional missed exam. You must bring your UTD photo ID with you to class and keep that on the desk in front of you. You will need to show this ID when you turn in your exams. Additional UTD policies regarding student conduct and discipline, academic integrity, email use, withdrawing from class, grievance procedures, incomplete grades, disability services, religious holy days, and resources to help you succeed can be found at http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies.

Table 4 - Class schedule and assignments

25-Aug 30-Aug 1-Sep 6-Sep 8-Sep 13-Sep 15-Sep 20-Sep 22-Sep 27-Sep 29-Sep 4-Oct 6-Oct 11-Oct 13-Oct 18-Oct 20-Oct 25-Oct 27-Oct 1-Nov 3-Nov 8-Nov 10-Nov 15-Nov 17-Nov 22-Nov

Topics Introduction Political Culture US Political Culture TX US Constitution Federalism TX Constitution Civil Rights Breakout Session Review Exam 1 Voting: Suffrage and Turnout Elections Partisanship Voting Behavior Voting Models Critical Elections Social Characteristics of Voters Breakout Session Review Exam 2 Public Opinion Ideology Mass Media Political Parties Interest Groups Vote Choice and Electoral Decisions Thanksgiving

Reading Assignment Pick up syllabus/handouts Flanigan and Zingale (F&Z), chap. 1 Brown, chap. 1 Handout Handout Brown, chap. 2

F&Z, chap. 2 Brown, chap. 5 F&Z, chap. 3 F&Z, chap. 4

F&Z, chap. 5

F&Z, chap. 6 F&Z, chap. 7 Brown, chap. 4 Brown, chap. 6 F&Z, chap. 8

29-Nov 1-Dec 6-Dec 13-Dec

Review
Exam 3 Essay - makeup Exam - makeup

This syllabus is subject to change at the Instructors discretion.