American Government

SYLLABUS
Semester: Spring 2015
Course #: GOV 310L
Unique #: 37775
Time: TTH 2-3:30pm
Location: UTC 1.102 (map)

Instructor: Hillel Ofek

Email: hillel.ofek@gmail.com
Office Hours: TTH 3:30-5pm
Office Location: Mezes 3.212 (map)

Course Summary:
This course examines the most important controversies in our politics. We will examine how
Americas theoretical foundations and the debates during Americas founding underlie the public and
partisan disagreements regarding public policy and institutional reform. Having established this
foundation, we will review the role of governing institutions at the federal and state level, with a brief
focus on Texas. Finally, we will apply our understanding of American political history, principles, and
institutions to contemporary public-policy debates.
Course Requirements:
There is a substantial workload in this class. There is no perfect overlap between the readings and the
lectures; neither can substitute for the other. In other words, you will be tested for material that was
covered in lecture but not the readings, as well as material that was covered in the readings but not
the lectures.
Course Materials:
Required: American Government and Politics, 2nd edition, with Coursemate. Bessette/Pitney.
ISBN: 9781285475974. Available at the co-op bookstore (~$70).
I will also assign additional readings and post them in the files section of our Canvas page.
Optional: With your book youll get free access to the digital content at CourseMate. Using it is not
required but you may find it helpful. To sign up, see instructions here:
http://support.cengage.com/Resources/ohcinmagprda01_3648_884_0_CourseMate-Student-UserGuide-CB.pdf
Youll need this key: CM-9781133944973-0000008
Grading:
25%: Attendance/Quizzes
75%: Exams:
Exam 1: 20% -- Thursday, February 19, in class
Exam 2: 25% -- Thursday, April 2, in class
Exam 3: 30% -- Thursday, May 14, 2:00-5:00 pm, location TBD
Grading Scale:
There will be plus and minus grades. Without exception, I will round up scores of 0.5 and higher and
round down scores of less than 0.5. Your final grade will be calculated as follows: I will sum all the
points you received in the class and convert them into letter grades based on the following scale:
94-100 A / 90-93 A- / 87-89 B+ / 83-86 B / 80-82 B- / 77-79 C+ / 73-76 C / 70-72 C- / 67-69 D+ / 60-66 D / 0-59 F

Assignments:
Attendance:
-

Attendance is required, and will (usually) be recorded. (1pt/day)

You are permitted three free absences, but after that your attendance grade drops five points
for each subsequent absence.
I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences, so dont miss class if you
dont have to. Instead, save your absences for unexpected emergencies and illnesses.
Coming to class late and leaving early are disruptive and are counted as absences.
Students who miss six or more classes will automatically fail.

Quizzes:
-

Some quizzes will be multiple choice, others will be short answer. (1-3pts/question)
These will usually only include one or two questions. They are not meant to be difficult; they
will gauge whether you have completed the required readings.
A few quizzes may be take-home. But most of them will be unannounced (aka pop quizzes).
If you missed a quiz because you were late or absent to class, you will receive a zero.
At the end of the semester, I will drop the lowest quiz score (but non-attendance will remain a
zero).

Exams:
-

30 multiple-choice questions (3pts/question); 2 short-answer questions (5pts/question).

These exams will test your knowledge of both lectures and readings. Not all of the material
covered in lecture is covered in the readings, and vice versa.
The second exam will only test you on material covered after the first exam and before the
second exam.
The final exam is comprehensive.

No make-up assignments or exams except for documented medical or other Dean-confirmed

emergencies.
Technology:
A growing body of research indicates that students use of technology in the classroom is detrimental
to academic performance. For example, a study in the journal Computers & Education found that
students who took notes on a laptop got lower grades then student who took notes the traditional way
with pen and paper. Studies also show that students who write longhand, without access to lecture
transcripts or audio, are more likely to retain information.
So, when class begins, we will travel back in time, to the golden agecirca 200,000 BCE to 2005 AD
when humans did not use computers for note-taking. This means no laptops or tablets (unless you have
documented special needs, in which case you are exempted from this ban).
Cellphones/smartphones are subject to Alamo Drafthouse rules: they must be put away and both the
ringer and vibration must be off. Each violation of the technology rules will subtract three points from
your final attendance/quiz grade.
tl;dr: Turn off and put away any electronic devices before class begins.

Lectures/Presentations:
I will post my power-point presentations on Canvas where you can access them at any time, so
please dont waste energy copying them in your notes. Note, however, that the presentations are
merely an outline meant to organize the lecture and your notes; they are no substitute for the readings
or the lectures (which wont be posted).
Official Matters:
Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities may request appropriate academic
accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services for Students
with Disabilities, 471-6259, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/
Religious Holidays: Absences for religious observances will be accommodated. By university policy,
you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of
a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in
order to observe a religious holy day, you will be given an opportunity to complete the missed work
within a reasonable time after the absence.
Honor Code and Academic Honesty: Any indication of academic dishonesty (such as cheating on
an exam) will be taken to the highest levels allowed by the university.
The UT Honor Code: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/downloads/HonorCode.pdf
UT Standards of Conduct: http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php
Schedule:
The readings for each day are the readings I expect you to have done prior to the beginning of class.
If this schedule changes (as is likely), I will post a revised schedule on Canvas.
Part One: Principles and Foundations of American Democracy
Tues Jan 19
Thurs Jan 22
Tues Jan 27
Thurs Jan 29
Tues Feb 3
Thurs Feb 5
Tues Feb 10
Thurs Feb 12
Tues Feb 17
Thurs Feb 19

Tues Feb 24
Thurs Feb 26
Tues Mar 3

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, "A World Split Apart" (Canvas)

Chapter 1: Deliberation and Citizenship, pp. 2-11

- The Declaration of Independence (Appendix A in book)

- Chapter 1: Deliberation and Citizenship, pp. 11-26
- Chapter 2: The American Constitution, pp. 29-35
- The Antifederalist, selections (Canvas)
- Chapter 2: The American Constitution, pp. 46-61
- Tocqueville, Democracy In America, selections (Canvas)
- Chapter 3: Federalism (entire)
- The Federalist Papers, selections (Canvas)
- Chapter 4: Civic Culture, pp. 114-128
- The Five Conceptions of American Liberty, Carl Eric Scott (Canvas)
- No readings; study!
EXAM 1
Part Two: Liberties and Rights
-

Chapter 5: Civil Liberties, pp. 132-149

Chapter 5: Civil Liberties, pp. 149-161
Chapter 5: Civil Liberties, pp. 161-170
Chapter 6: Civil Rights, pp. 187-195, 203-206
3

Part Three: Democratic Politics and Public Deliberation

Thurs Mar 5
Tues Mar 10
Thurs Mar 12
Mar 16-20

Tues Mar 24
Thurs Mar 26
Tues Mar 31
Thurs Apr 2
Tues Apr 7
Thurs Apr 9
Tues Apr 14
Thurs Apr 16

- Chapter 7: Public Opinion and Political Participation, pp. 217-220, 226-232

- Chapter 9: Political Parties, pp. 260-262, 278-281
- Nivolas essay on partisanship (Canvas)
- Chapter 10: Elections and Campaigns, pp. 292-294, 296-299
No class. Spring break.
Part Four: Governing Institutions
- Chapter 12: Congress, pp. 345-354.
- Chapter 12: Congress, pp. 357-363, 367-372
- No readings; study!
EXAM 2
- Aaron Wildavsky, Two Presidencies (Canvas)
- Ceaser, The Presidential Nomination Mess (Canvas)
- Chapter 13: The Presidency, pp. 376-387, 391-399, 405-407
- Chapter 15: The Judiciary, pp.437-442
- Brutus, The Problem of Judicial Review (Canvas)
- Chapter 15: The Judiciary, pp. 449-456, 459-461, 468-470
Part Five: The Issues of American Politics

Tues Apr 28

Chapter 16: Social Policy, pp. 475-489

American Exceptionalism and the Entitlement State, Nicolas Eberstadt (Canvas)
Chapter 16: Social Policy, pp. 494-502
Tocqueville, selections (Canvas)
A Tattered Welfare State, Dissent Magazine (Canvas)
Chapter 17: Economic Policy, pp. 507-517

Thurs Apr 30
Tues May 5
Thurs May 7

Chapter 17: Economic Policy, pp. 517-530

Chapter 18: National Security/Foreign Policy, pp. 534-550
Chapter 18: National Security/Foreign Policy, pp. 550-557

Tues Apr 21
Thurs Apr 23

Thurs May 14
2-5pm
(location TBD)

FINAL EXAM