2301 COURSE OUTLINE

Aug. 29

Introduction: Politics, Government, Political Science, and the Public Policy Process

Read: American and Texas Government, pp. 1-11

Political Culture & International Environment

Read: American and Texas Government, pp. 14-19

Read: Brown, Peter. "U.S. Not Wrong to Disregard Other Nations",

Orlando Sentinel, January 25, 2003. (Democracy and Capitalism)

Read: Reynolds, Alan. "The Truth About the Top 1%"

Cato Institute, Oct., 29, 2007

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=8759

Read: Rector, Robert. "Poverty in America",

New York Post, Aug. 30, 2007

Demographic & Economic Environment

Read: American and Texas Government, pp. 20-29

Sep. 5

The People, Economy, and Political Culture of Texas

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 19

Sep. 12 TEST #1 (1 hr) 1st ASSIGNMENT DUE

The United States Constitution

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 2 & pp. 927-937

Federalist No. 10 (James Madison) pp. 33-37

Federalist No. 51 (James Madison) pp. 38-41

Sep. 19

The Texas Constitution

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 20

Read: Petracea, Mark. "What Every Student Should Know About The Bill of Rights",

Dialogue of Democracy, (Vol. III). Pp. 52-56

Sep. 26 2nd ASSIGNMENT DUE

The Federal System

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 3

The Federal Context of Texas Policy Making

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 21

Oct. 3

Public Opinion

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 4

Read: "20 Questions Journalists Should Ask About Poll Results" http://www.publicagenda.org/pages/20-questions-journalists-should-ask-about-poll-results

Oct. 10 3rd ASSIGNMENT DUE – (Group Discussion)

Media

Read: Issac, David. "Live with TAE", American Enterprise, April/May 2005

Read: "Even Harvard Finds The Media Biased"

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=278808786575124&kw=even%20harvard

2301 COURSE OUTLINE (continued)

Oct. 17 TEST #2 (1 hr)

Individual Political Participation

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 5

Political Participation In Texas

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 22

Read: Mann, Judy. "When We Fail to Vote Democracy Loses",

Dialogue of Democracy (Vol. III), pp. 103-104

Oct. 24

Interest Groups

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 7

Political Parties

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 8

Read: Fallow, James. "How the Media Undermine American Democracy"

Dialogue of Democracy (Vol. III), pp. 127-130

Oct. 31

Political Parties in Texas

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 24

Nov. 7 TEST # 3 (1 hr)

Elections in America

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 8

Read: Kimberling, William C., "Electoral College – Anachronism or Bulwark of Democracy",

Dialogue of Democracy (Vol. III), pp. 82-87

Nov. 14 4th ASSSIGNMENT DUE

Texas Elections

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 25

Nov. 21

City Government in Texas

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 29

Dec. 5 5th ASSIGNMENT DUE

Texas Counties, School Districts, and Special Districts

Read: American and Texas Government, Ch. 30

Dec. 12 FINAL EXAM