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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

University of Houston
POLS 1337:13 US Federal Government Institutions
Fall Semester 2014

Professor Cyrus Ali Contractor Office: Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall 373
Office Hours: MW 12:00-1:00 PM or by appointment Phone: (713) 743-7027
Class Time & Place: TTh 2:30 3:50pm SW 101 Email: ccontractor@uh.edu

THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
AT ANY POINT IN TIME DURING THE SEMESTER!!!!

REQUIRED TEXT:

Harrison, Harris, Halter, and Deardorff. American Democracy Now. (Texas Edition|Third Edition), McGraw Hill, 2013.

Other readings will be assigned periodically throughout the semester.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

This course is an introduction to the study of American Federal Government. The course will examine each of the
three branches of the federal government and the historical events leading up to the founding of the republic through
the Constitutional convention and the Bill of Rights. The Objectives of this course include:
To evaluate the fundamental relationships within the federal government.
To identify principle ideas contained in the course material through class discussion, assignments,
and exams.
To understand, analyze and to be critical of current events, both nationally and internationally, that
pertain to this course.
To discuss current issues facing the institutions, attitudes, and political behavior related to the United
States federal government and Texas state government.
Essentially, I want you to be able to look at American politics in a critical manner. I want you to become informed
citizens, but in order to do so there is a necessity for you to understand the basics of the political system.

GRADING: Computation of final semester grades will involve the course requirements being weighted as
follows:

Active Learning Assignments 50%
Quizzes 30%
Learnsmart Exercises 20%

The grading categories are as follows:
93-100 A 73-76.99 C
90-92.99 A- 70-72.99 C-
87-89.99 B+ 67-69.99 D+
83-86.99 B 63-66.99 D
80-82.99 B- 60-62.99 D-
77-79.99 C+ 0-59.99 F

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IN CLASS CONDUCT:

It is assumed that this class can be conducted in a spirit of full academic freedom but also with civility and courtesy
directed toward all. Accordingly, any member of the class may express ANY serious idea or point of view, but this
must be done with civility.

Once class has started, I do not want to see any newspapers or other reading material on your desk; it is
distracting to me while trying to teach.
Please turn off electronic devices (phones, iPods, etc). You may have a recorder or a laptop computer if
you need one.
Please come to class on time. It is a massive disturbance when people come in late. If you know you will be
late every day, let me know (i.e. your class before this one is on the other side of campus or you have
arrangements off campus that take place right before class).
Do not leave early unless you let me know before class and please do not sleep in class!!!

MISSED ASSIGNMENTS:

Students are permitted to take a make-up quiz only in the cases of illness or a death in the family, which must be
documented in writing from a physician or Student Affairs. Make-up quizzes will cover the same material but
may be a different format, including identification, and short essay questions. All other assignments CAN
NOT be turned in late or made-up, and the resulting grade will be a 0.

BLACKBOARD:

This course will use a web site which you may access by going to http://www.uh.edu/blackboard a web-based course
management tool. When you go to this site, you must then log in by using your Cougar Net username and password.
You will see a Blackboard Learn web site for this course if you are enrolled in it. The Blackboard Learn site is
the place where assignments and exams will be administered and where grades will be posted.

In particular for this course, familiarity with Blackboard Learn is of the utmost importance, as the overwhelming
majority of assignments will be conducted utilizing that site. Students in this course will use a very powerful
interactive study tool called Connect, and such students are required to study for class discussions, prepare for
quizzes and exams, and take quizzes and exams via this study tool. Students must go through Blackboard Learn to
access the Connect material, which will also contain the required text for this course.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her
abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure
full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:

The university can best function and accomplish its objectives in an atmosphere of high ethical standards. It expects
and encourages all students, faculty and staff to contribute to such an atmosphere in every way possible and
especially by observing all accepted principles of academic honesty. It is recognized, however, that a large university
will include a few students who do not understand, appreciate, and practice these principles. As a consequence,
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alleged cases of academic dishonesty will inevitably occur, and students will be accused. Procedures are designed to
handle these cases in fairness to all concerned: the accused student, the faculty, and the university.

A comprehensive explanation of the Universitys policy on academic honesty can be found at
http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/policies/academ-reg/academic-honesty/.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:

It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide
without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious
holidays.



COURSE SCHEDULE

INTRODUCTION

August 26: Introduction to Course

August 28: Intro to Government in America and Democracy
Reading: American Democracy Now (ADN) Chapter 1, 19 & 28

August 29: MANDATORY SYLLABUS ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY 8/29 BY 5PM!!!
o STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED THIS WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE COURSE
Pre-test Completion due Friday 8/29 by 5pm.

CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS

Tuesday 9/2 Active Learning Assignment #1
The Newsroom Opening Scene Fact Checking due by 10pm


September 2, 4: American Republicanism
Reading: ADN Chapters 2, 20, 29 and Federalist #10 in Appendix B
Chapter 1 & 19 Learnsmarts due Wednesday 9/3 by 5pm
Chapter 2 & 20 Learnsmarts due Friday 9/5 by 5pm


Tuesday 9/9 Quiz #1: Chapters 1, 2, 19, 20, 28, 29 and Federalist #10


September 9, 11: Federalism
Reading: ADN Chapter 3
Chapter 3 Learnsmart due Friday 9/12 by 5pm



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PEOPLE AND POLITICS

Tuesday 9/16 Quiz #2: Chapter 3

September 16, 18: Congress
Reading: AND Chapter 12
Chapter 12 Learnsmart due Friday 9/19 by 5pm

Tuesday 9/23 Active Learning Assignment #2:
Congress Guns and Gun Control due by 10pm.

September 23, 25: The Presidency
Reading: ADN Chapter 13 & 37
Chapter 13 Learnsmart due Friday 9/26 by 5pm

Tuesday 9/30 Quiz #3: Chapter 12 and 13

September 30 and October 2: The Bureaucracy
Reading: ADN Chapter 14
Chapter 14 Learnsmart due Friday 10/3 by 5pm

Tuesday 10/7 Active Learning Assignment #3:
Presidency Obamacare due by 10pm.

October 7, 9: The Judiciary, Judicial Review and Constitutional Development
Reading: ADN Chapter 15, 30 and Marbuy v Madison.
Chapter 15 Learnsmart due Friday 10/10 by 5pm

POLICY ISSUES


Tuesday 10/14 Quiz #4: Chapter 14, 15, 30, 37 and Marbury v Madison

October 14, 16: Civil Rights
Reading: ADN: Chapter 5
Chapter 5 Learnsmart due Friday 10/17 by 5pm.

October 21, 23: Economic Policy
Reading: ADN Chapter 16
Chapter 16 Learnsmart due Friday 10/24 by 5pm.

October 28, 30: Domestic Policy
Reading: ADN Chapter 17
Chapter 17 Learnsmart due Friday 10/31 by 5pm.

November 4, 6: Providing Public Goods and Americas Market-Oriented Approach to Poverty
Reading: ADN Chapter 38 & 39
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Tuesday 11/11 Quiz #5: Chapters 5, 16, 17, 38 &39

November 11, 13: Immigration and American Politics
Reading: AND Chapter 40

November 18, 20: The Shock Doctrine Documentary

Tuesday 11/25 Active Learning Assignment #4:
Shock Doctrine due by 10pm.

November 26 30: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY NO CLASS

December 2, 4 Foreign Policy
Reading: ADN Chapter 18
Chapter 18 Learnsmart due Friday 12/5 by 5pm.


Friday 12/5 Quiz #6: Chapters 18, 40, Lecture notes, and The Shock Doctrine