COURSE DESCRIPTION

MIDLAND COLLEGE
GOVERNMENT 2301: STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PART I
Dr. Jerry Franks

Office: Science-Faculty Building, Room 109 (hours to be announced)
Telephone: 685-4607 (direct line to my office)
E-mail, MC: franx@midland.edu
E-mail, Cox: franx@cox.net

Course Description

In general, Government 2301 surveys the political environment of the governments of the United States and the State of Texas: the theory of democracy, the origin and development of the United States and Texas Constitutions, federalism, civil rights and civil liberties, political parties, voting and elections, interest groups, and public opinion.

Book students are expected to obtain:

Thomas Dye, Politics in America (Sixth edition;  Texas edition)

SPECIAL NOTE for ONLINE STUDENTS:  This is the text currently in use at Midland College, and it is adequate for your Government 2301 webcourse.  The study questions and exercises for the online version are not specific to any particular text, however.  The questions are "generic," so that sufficient background reading can usually be found in a wide variety of sources, including any reputable textbook that is currently in use at an accredited college or university in Texas.  Contact Dr. Franks if you have concerns.

What this course aims to accomplish (in tandem with Government 2302):

1. To cultivate confidence among students in their capacity to make informed judgments about the political environment in which they live; that is, to encourage "critical thinking" about politics.

2. To help students acquire the political vocabulary, terminology, and concepts needed for active and informed citizenship.

3. To remain flexible enough to deal with relevant political events as they arise, while updating lessons with material concerning current officeholders, elections, and other ongoing political business.

4. To encourage outside readings and use of newspapers and newsmagazines as well as other media; that is, to cultivate an appreciation for the advantages of learning via good books, good talk, and constructive argument.

5. To allow for as much topical discussion as possible, while maintaining an atmosphere of openness, humor and tolerance at all times.

Student Contributions; Class Policies

Class attendance is a must, since material developed in class often will have no exact parallel in the assigned readings. IF YOU INTEND TO CLAIM STATUS UNDER THE FEDERAL DISABILITIES ACT, PLEASE INFORM ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

All tests will involve writing. You will be expected to describe, explain, or demonstrate how well you understand selected topics that have been discussed thoroughly in class. Tests will be designed to reward and encourage careful study of all reading assignments as well. The test make-up procedure for any missed test, for any reason, will vary with the circumstances and will require a personal office consultation with me. It will probably involve a written project that expands on questions that appeared on the original test. In such event, different standards will apply: Students will need to write more carefully and cite their references properly. Students must take responsibility for arranging make-ups.

Evaluation of Students

Topical coverage for Government 2301 will divide into three roughly equal parts, with a scheduled test following each of the first two segments, and a final examination following the third. Each of the two regular tests, as well as the final, will be averaged as one-fourth of a student’s final grade.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR WEBCOURSE STUDENTS:  There will be no conventional tests.  Instead,  grades will derive from a sequence of carefully written exercises and essays parallel to the test sequence of the conventional course.

The remaining one-fourth of your grade will be for attendance and participation. I will assign this grade as soon as I have adequate impressions to go on. For many of you, this is likely to be a very good grade. It is intended to encourage you to come to class and demonstrate your interest in what we are doing. I will revise it upward or downward as seems appropriate towards the end of the semester.

Please note: "Participation" also means responding to any suggestions that I may write on your test papers, especially regarding office conferences. These meetings are the best chance for me to review your work with you and to suggest ways to improve your performance.

The timing of readings and tests will be kept flexible, to reflect student response. You will get a week’s notice prior to all tests!

I. During roughly the first five weeks of the course, we will read relevant chapters in the Dye text while discussing the nature of politics and government, the nature of demo-cracy, and the origins and significance of the American Constitution. We will also read and compare The Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution. For deeper insight, we will read Federalist 10 and 51. A major test will follow, in essay form.

II. During roughly the second five weeks of the course, we will read the relevant chapter from Dye on Federalism (as time permits), and then go on to a thorough coverage of chapters on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights. A major test will follow, in essay form.

III. During the rest of the course, we will highlight topics (as time permits) from the Dye text dealing with Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections. We will reserve time for the addendum chapters that deal with the Texas Constitution and Political Parties as they function in Texas.  A final examination will follow, in essay form, at the time scheduled on the College candendar.