Office: 414 PGH Phone: 743-3911
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00-12:00 and by Appointment
E-mail: MATLAND@uh.edu

Teaching Assistant: Duane Burk
TA Office: 426 PGH Phone: 743-3926
TA Office Hours: Wednesday 1:00-3:00 pm & by Appointment
TA e-mail: dburk@gateway.net

Course Homepage: http://www.uh.edu/~pols1oj/1336.html

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is an American government lecture course designed to introduce undergraduates to the basic concepts, ideas, and approaches to the study of American Politics. It is the first half of a two course sequence. This first half concentrates on inputs, i.e. how people voice their concerns in the American political system. The second half concentrates on outputs, how those concerns and desires are turned into public policy. We start by looking at the central building blocks of the U.S. system, our Constitution and our system of Federalist governance. We will spend a considerable amount of time on civil liberties. After considering what is public opinion and the proper role public opinion should play in a representative democracy, we will look at elections. Who participates, what do elections revolve around, and what effect do elections have. We then turn to the news media and how it covers elections before looking at the agents that carry forth the public's demands in the political arena, primarily political parties and interest groups. The semester will end with a consideration of civil rights and the position of minority groups in the U.S. system. It is hoped that at the end of the semester students will have a better understanding of how people make themselves heard in our political system, and how the demands that are made are processed.

EXAMINATIONS: There will be three exams. Each examination will consist exclusively of multiple choice questions. Each exam is worth 100 points. The examinations are scheduled: September 20^th, October 27^th, and December 1st. Anything included in the readings or discussed in lecture (let me assure you they won't be the same) is fair game for the examination. The exams are not cumulative. The third examination will be held during the final class period, there is no final exam. If you cannot take an exam at the scheduled time you should submit a request for a make-up exam in writing to me AT LEAST 24 HOURS before the exam. If I approve your request we can schedule an alternate essay exam, shortly after the scheduled exam. If a serious emergency prevents you from taking an exam at its scheduled time, but occurs too late to submit a request in advance, you must contact me as soon as possible. Students failing to contact my office within 48 hours of the exam will not be allowed to take a make up. Students must also have written documentation supporting their claim that they could not make it. My car conked out, without a towing bill, or I had the flu, without a confirmation from a doctor that you went to the doctor, are not acceptable. If I determine that your reason for failing to take the exam is acceptable, we will arrange a make-up essay exam. Strategically, it makes sense to take the in-class exam. The in-class examinations will be easier. It is the student's responsibility to make sure that a make-up exam is taken, even if your excuse for missing the exam is entirely legitimate. No make ups will be given after ten days have elapsed since the officially scheduled examination.

TEACHING IN THE 21st CENTURY? Using the World Wide Web: I use the World Wide Web to assist me in teaching this class. A class web site has been set up at http://www.uh.edu/~pols1oj/1336.html This web site is a supplement to the in-class activities. I hope it will provide a forum in which students can ask questions, engage in political debate, prepare for examinations, and hopefully learn more about the American political system. The web site includes the following features: links to the textbook publishers (Norton) Web Site where mock exams are presented for each chapter, an electronic bulletin board for discussion of issues raised in class, and general information on the class. I will actively participate and make a strong effort to answer all legitimate questions concerning the class on the website.

CLASS ETIQUETTE: There are 250 and 400 people registered for the two sections of this class that I am teaching. If the class is to function people will need to show a reasonable amount of courteousness. Please! I expect students to arrive on time, I expect them not to carry on conversations during class, nor should they be reading, or taking naps. There are other places for those activities. I also request that you turn off your cell phones. I will not tolerate having my lectures regularly interrupted by ringing telephones. Finally DO NOT leave until class is over. The class will finish on time.

COURSE TEXTS: The course textbooks are available at Barnes and Noble (the University Bookstore). They are also available via Varsity Books, an on-line university bookstore. You can get to Varsity Books via my web page. (Consumer Note: New Books are cheaper at Varsity than at the University Bookstore, but when used copies are available at the University Bookstore they are cheaper).

Ginsberg, Benjamin, Theodore J. Lowi and Margaret Weir (1999) We The People: An Introduction to American Politics 2nd edition. New York: Norton.

Tedin, Kent, Donald Lutz and Ed Fuchs. 1998. Perspectives on American and Texas Politics. 5th edition. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, We The People, Chapters 1 and 2.

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, WTP, Chapter 3, Appendix A3-A5, A10-A23.

Tedin, Lutz, and Fuchs, Perspectives, Chapter 2.

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, WTP, Chapter 4.

Ginsberg, Lowi and Weir, WTP, Chapter 5.

Ginsberg, Lowi and Weir, WTP, Chapter 7.

Tedin, Lutz, and Fuchs, Perspectives, Chapters 3 and 4.

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, WTP, Chapter 10.

Tedin and Lutz, Perspectives, Chapters 6, 7, and 8.

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, WTP, Chapter 8.

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, WTP, Chapters 9 and 11.

November 20 – November 29: Civil Rights

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir, WTP, Chapter 6.