Jason Casellas

Prerequisites:

Twelve semester hours of college coursework and a passing score on the reading section of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test (or an appropriate assessment test).

Course Description:

This course will examine the foundations, principles, institutions, and processes of American government. Through the examination of the Constitution, federalism, and the American creed, we will gain an appreciation for the political institutions that have sustained the United States for more than two hundred years.  We will examine in detail the characteristics of the three major branches of government, and how separation of powers has worked and works in today’s polity. We will then discuss the various extra-governmental institutions, which have an influence on governmental decisions, such as interest groups, political parties, and the media. Finally, we will explore American elections, political participation, and public opinion in order to better understand the processes which give American politics its very life. The course will conclude with a discussion of domestic and foreign policy, with reference to current political events.

Required Text

Bianco, William and David Canon. 2013. American Politics Today, 3rd Edition. W. W. Norton Publishers.

GOV 370K LATINO POLITICS

MAS 374, LAS 337M cross-listings

Course Description:

Latinos are now the largest minority group in the United States, and any follower of recent elections knows that both political parties have heavily courted the Latino vote. The course will begin by examining the history of Latinos in the United States, including the diverse nature of the Latino community. We will begin with an introduction to the Chicano movement, and its major players, Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales and Reies Lopes Tijerina. We will examine the extent to which Latinos are represented at all levels of government, including school boards, state legislatures, and Congress. We will also examine major public policies, like the origins of English-only legislation and recent efforts to revive such policies. We will also examine immigration policy, including a brief history of how immigration has affected people of Latino backgrounds, including the potential impact of proposed policies such as a guest worker program on Latino political incorporation. Finally, we will examine education policy, especially how No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has impacted the Latino community, as well as the determinants of the high school dropout problem, which is highest in the Latino community.  We will delve deeper into the politics of Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans, by examining the Puerto Rican political experience in New York City, as well as the Cuban American “model” in Miami. New waves of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Central America, and South America have also changed the traditional focus on the three large Latino groups. Additionally, we will examine how traditional gender roles have subordinated Latinas, especially in the Chicano movement, but also in many recent political events. We will conclude by examining the future of the Latino vote by examining Latino voting behavior in recent elections and how the future may look for both political parties.

Required Texts

García, F. Chris and Gabriel R. Sanchez. (2008). Hispanics and the U.S. Political System: Moving into the Mainstream. Prentice Hall

Geron, Kim. (2005) Latino Political Power. Lynne Rienner Press

Torres, Maria de los Angeles. (1999). In the Land of Mirrors: Cuban Exile Politics in the United States. University of Michigan Press

**Other readings will be journal articles, or selected chapters from other books. These will be marked with an * below in the appropriate week.

Course Grading 

Grades will be computed as follows:

Exam I                                                 20%

Exam II                                                25%

Exam III                                               30%

Book Review                                          20%

Random Attendance Quizzes                     5%

Total                                                    100%

Exams

The exams will test your knowledge of the readings, lectures, and films.

Random Attendance

Random attendance quizzes will be given throughout the semester. They may include true/false or short answer questions about the readings. The lowest quiz score will be dropped. No makeups allowed for quizzes.

Book Review

Each review should be 5-7 pages in length (double-spaced, 12 point, 1 inch margins). Possible books to review will be suggested in class and/or office hours. I must approve your choice of a book. The book must be related to Latino politics in some major way. Suggestions on how to go about writing the review, and the instructor’s expectations will be discussed in class.  

Course Description:

This course will examine the foundations, principles, institutions, and processes of American government. Through the examination of the Constitution, federalism, and the American creed, we will gain an appreciation for the political institutions that have sustained the United States for more than two hundred years.  We will examine in detail the characteristics of the three major branches of government, and how separation of powers has worked and works in today’s polity. We will then discuss the various extra-governmental institutions, which have an influence on governmental decisions, such as interest groups, political parties, and the media. Finally, we will explore American elections, political participation, and public opinion in order to better understand the processes which give American politics its very life. The course will conclude with a discussion of domestic and foreign policy, with reference to current political events.

Prerequisite:

Twelve semester hours of college coursework and a passing score on the reading section of the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) test (or an appropriate assessment test).

Course Grading:

Grades will be computed as follows:

 Exam I (February 17)                                        30%

Exam II (April 6)                                                30%

Exam III (May 4)                                               30%

Random Quizzes/ Attendance Checks                  10%

Required Text:

 Bianco, William and David Canon. 2011. American Politics Today, 2nd Edition. W. W. Norton Publishers.

University of Texas at Austin Online ProjectTexas Government Websitehttp://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/

Recommended:

Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist Papersed. George W. Carey and James McClellan, The Gideon Edition.

Congress is the branch that makes the nation’s laws. How does Congress conduct its business? Who are the key leaders in Congress? What do committees in Congress do? Why is Congress divided into two branches? This course seeks to answer all of these questions and many more. The importance of Congress is demonstrated by the fact that Article I (not II or III) of the U.S. Constitution outlines the powers and restrictions placed on Congress. Congress is composed of the House and the Senate—two chambers which must agree in order to send legislation to the President. Because it is difficult for 535 people to come to agreement easily, the institution is designed so that members compromise in order to pass legislation. This course will examine all of these structural issues, as well as congressional representation, elections and redistricting, the role of political parties, congressional decision-making, and the relationship between Congress and the President, the Judiciary, and the Press.

see syllabus

Course Description:
This course will examine the foundations, principles, institutions,
and processes of American government. Through the examination of the
Constitution, federalism, and the American creed, we will gain an
appreciation for the political institutions that have sustained the
United States for more than two hundred years.  We will examine in
detail the characteristics of the three major branches of government,
and how separation of powers has worked and works in today’s polity.
We will then discuss the various extra-governmental institutions,
which have an influence on governmental decisions, such as interest
groups, political parties, and the media. Finally, we will explore
American elections, political participation, and public opinion in
order to better understand the processes which give American politics
its very life. The course will conclude with a discussion of domestic
and foreign policy, with reference to current political events.

Grading Policy:

Grades will be computed as follows:

Exam I (September 29)             25%
Exam II (November 3)               30%
Exam III (December 3)              30%
Attendance/Section Performance  15%


Textbooks:

Fiorina, Morris P., Paul Peterson, Bertram Johnson, and William Mayer (2008) America's New Democracy, The Alternate Edition (6th Ed.). New York: Pearson Longman Publishers.

University of Texas at Austin Online Project
Texas Government Website
http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/

Recommended:
Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay. The Federalist Papers
  ed. George W. Carey and James McClellan, The Gideon Edition.

Course Description:

Latinos are now the largest minority group in the United States, and
any follower of recent elections knows that both political parties
have heavily courted the Latino vote. The course will begin by
examining the history of Latinos in the United States, including the
diverse nature of the Latino community. We will begin with an
introduction to the Chicano movement, and its major players, Rodolfo
“Corky” Gonzales and Reies Lopes Tijerina. We will examine the extent
to which Latinos are represented at all levels of government,
including school boards, state legislatures, and Congress. We will
also examine major public policies, like the origins of English-only
legislation and recent efforts to revive such policies. We will also
examine immigration policy, including a brief history of how
immigration has affected people of Latino backgrounds, including the
potential impact of proposed policies such as a guest worker program
on Latino political incorporation. Finally, we will examine education
policy, especially how No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has impacted the
Latino community, as well as the determinants of the high school
dropout problem, which is highest in the Latino community.  We will
delve deeper into the politics of Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans,
by examining the Puerto Rican political experience in New York City,
as well as the Cuban American “model” in Miami. New waves of
immigrants from the Dominican Republic, Central America, and South
America have also changed the traditional focus on the three large
Latino groups. We will conclude by examining the future of the Latino
vote by examining Latino voting behavior in recent elections and how
the future looks for both political parties.

Grading Policy:

Grades will be computed as follows:

Exam I                                          20%
Exam II                                         25%
Exam III                                        30%
Book Review                                     20%
Random Attendance Quizzes                         5%
Total                                                   100%

Textbooks:

García, F. Chris and Gabriel R. Sanchez. (2008). Hispanics and the
U.S. Political System: Moving into the Mainstream. Prentice Hall  
0130615005


Geron, Kim. (2005) Latino Political Power. Lynne Rienner Press
978-1-58826-321-6

Torres, Maria de los Angeles. (1999). In the Land of Mirrors: Cuban
Exile Politics in the United States. University of Michigan Press  
978-0-472-08788-4

**Other readings will be journal articles, or selected chapters from
other books.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.