GOVT 2306: US and Texas Constitution and Politics

• Authors: Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, Margaret Weir, Caroline J. Tolbert, Andrea L. Campbell, and Megan Ming Francis (We the People); Anthony Champagne, Edward J. Harpham, Jason P. Casellas, and Jennifer Hayes Clark (Governing Texas); and University of Houston Faculty (UH Faculty Content)
• Publisher: Norton
• Edition: 7th

We will use Top Hat (www.tophat.com) for class participation and discussions in this class.

If you opted into the Cougar Textbook Access Program (CTAP), Top Hat is included at no additional cost. If you opted out of CTAP, you will need to purchase Top Hat after the university takes the census on September 10, 2025.

To access Top Hat, log into Canvas and select our course. Click the Top Hat link in the left-hand panel. Select Open in New Window to access Top Hat. If you have not used Top Hat before, please follow the same steps above. You will be prompted to create a Top Hat account.

⚠️ Important: Always access Top Hat through Canvas first. If you access Top Hat directly before clicking through Canvas, you will be removed from the course roster during nightly syncs until you click on the link in Canvas. To restore access, use the Canvas links. Grades and answers completed with the same email used for Canvas will sync automatically and will not be lost. Once you click on the link in Canvas, you may access Top Hat directly in a browser or by downloading the mobile app.

• To download the Top Hat app for your phone or tablet, follow Top Hat’s Getting Started Guide.
• Note: You must create your Top Hat account through Canvas on a computer, not through the mobile app.
• Top Hat tech support is available:
  • Email: support@tophat.com
  • In-app support button
  • Phone: 1-888-663-5491
• Please note that you may need to provide specific details to their support team for troubleshooting.

• 930 + = A
• 900- 929 = A-
• 870-899 = B+
• 830-869 = B
• 800-829 = B-
• 770-799 = C+
• 730-769 = C
• 700-729 = C-
• 670-699 = D+
• 630-669 = D
• 600-629 = D-
• 0-599 = F

The course grading scale is based on points earned out of a total possible of over 1200 points, not based on percentages or category weights.

• Exams: 402 points
  • Midterm Exam: 201 points
  • Final Exam: 201 points
• Top Hat: More than 260 points
  • Chapter and reading quizzes: 13 quizzes at 10 points = 130 points
  • Top Hat – Lecture quizzes: 13 at 10 points = 130 points
  • Extra Top Hat – Extra Points: To be determined (no less than 28 points)
• Inquizitives (Textbook assignments): 10 x 25 = 250 (Based on percent completed)
• Professionalism: 100 points
• Syllabus Quiz and Intro Quiz: 100 points
• Simulations: 50 points (Completion points!)

• I trust you as adults to look through the abundance of available points and make informed decisions about your priorities in and out of this class.
• Many of these points are completion points. To earn full credit, they must be completed and completed on time.
• There are sufficient extra points included that there is no need for makeups on assignments.
• The late assignment policy is generous enough that there is no need for makeups.
• The automatic makeup for the midterm exam is the final exam. There is no need to ask or provide an excuse.
• Every opportunity to get any points, even partial credit for late assignments or partial credit for incomplete assignments, contributes to the point totals needed to get the grade you want.

• September 1/2: Labor Day
• September 10: Module 0 Due – Official Reporting Day (Attendance reporting)
• September 22: Module 1 Due
• October 13: Module 2 Due
• October 13-15: Midterm Exam
• October 13/14: Test days compensation no class
• November 10: Module 3 Due
• November 19: Last day to drop with a grade of W
• November 24/25: Online final exam review (not including last day’s material)
• November 26-29: Thanksgiving Holiday
• December 1/2: Last days of class
• December 3: Module 4 Due
• December 3/4: Test days compensation no class
• December 1 to 4: Final Exam

• August 25/26: Course Overview and Introduction
  • Lecture: Brief overview of Canvas Modules, Course Policies and Procedures, Study suggestions
  • Tophat Representative
• August 27/28: Introduction to the topic of government
  • Lecture: What is government? Part I
  • Canvas, Inquizitives, and Top Hat overview
• September 3/4: Origins and functions of government
  • Readings: Review the Declarations of Independence before class! (US, Texas, other – in Canvas)
  • Lecture: Origins of government (Why do we need it?, Where did it come from?, Why both concepts matter)
  • First Top Hat Quiz – Lectures previous week (both lectures including course policies)
• September 8/9: Introduction to American Government
  • Readings: Review Chapter 1 (WTP) and Chapter 1 (GT)
  • Lectures: The values of the Founding, How they relate to the nature of government, Problems in the Founding, Criticisms of social contract theory
  • Top Hat Quiz: Declaration of Independence and Chapter 1
• September 10/11: Constitutional Safeguards
  • Readings: Review Chapter 2 (WTP) and Chapter 2 (GT). Read Article I, Sections 8 and 9 (US Constitution)
  • Lecture: Constitutional Safeguards (Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers)
  • Top Hat Quiz: previous weeks lectures
• September 15/16: Federalism
  • Readings: Review Chapter 3 (WTP). Material from Chapter 3 (GT) will be on Midterm. Read Articles IV, V, and VI (US Constitution)
  • Lecture: Federalism (Historical background, Constitutional version, Elections)
  • Top Hat Quiz: – Chapters 2 & 3, and Constitution readings
• September 17/18: Freedom and the Constitutions Part 1
  • Readings: Review Chapter 4 (WTP). Read The Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10). Read Amendments 13, 14, 15. Review Texas Bill of Rights.
  • Lecture: Overview of the Bill of Rights as the basis of civil liberties
  • Top Hat Quiz: Chapter 4 and other readings
• September 22/24: Freedom and the Constitutions Part 2
  • Readings: US Constitution (Art I, Sec II, Cl 3; Am 19; Am 13, 14, 15)
  • Lecture: What’s missing in the original Constitution, The Civil War Amendments, The 19th Amendment, The Equal Rights Amendment, The Amendment Process, Changes outside the Amendment process
  • Top Hat Quiz – Previous week’s lectures
• September 24/25: Misinformation and Disinformation, The Media and Political Information
  • Readings: Review Chapter 7 (WTP)
  • Lecture: Misinformation and disinformation
  • Top Hat Quiz – Chapters 4 and 7
• September 29/30:
  • Lecture: Majorities and Fundamental Rights
  • Top Hat Quiz: Previous Week’s lectures
• October 1/2: Civil Rights Part I
  • Read: Letter from the Birmingham Jail
  • Top Hat Quiz – Letter from the Birmingham Jail
• October 6/7: Civil Rights Part II
  • Readings: Review Chapter 5 (WTP) and sections from Chapter 1 (GT)
  • Top Hat Quiz – Previous week’s lectures
• October 8/9: Review and catch up
  • Lecture: Catch up, Major Court Cases
  • Top Hat Quiz – Chapter 5 (WTP) and sections from Chapter 1 (GT)
• October 13/14 – Test days off, no class
• October 15/16
  • Lecture: 2nd half overview, Differences between US and Texas Constitutions
  • Top Hat: In lecture presentation
• October 20/21
  • Lecture: Public Opinion
  • Readings: Review Chapter 6 (WTP), Gallup, Pew Research
  • Top Hat: October 15/16 lecture
• October 22/23
  • Lecture: Political Parties
  • Readings: Review Chapter 9 (WTP), Chapter 4 (GT)
  • Top Hat: Readings for October 20/21 and 22/23
• October 27/28
  • Lecture: Primary Campaigns and Party Conventions
  • Readings: Review Chapter 5 (GT), Democratic & Republican Party Platforms 2024
  • Top Hat: October 20 – 23 lectures
• October 29/30
  • Lecture: General and Special Elections
  • Readings: Review Chapter 8 (WTP), Electoral College, Gerrymandering
  • Top Hat: Readings for October 27/28 and 29/30
• November 3/4
  • Lecture: Direct Democracy: Initiative, Recall, Referendum and Other
  • Readings: NCSL links, tom-hanna.org
  • Top Hat: Lectures for October 27/28 and 29/30
• November 5/6
  • Lecture: Direct Action: Peaceful Protests and Petitioning the Government
  • Readings: ACLU, Vanderbilt, Rice
  • Top Hat: Readings for November 3/4 and 5/6
• November 10 – Module 3 Due!!!
• November 10/11
  • Lecture: Interests Groups and Lobbying
  • Readings: Review Chapter 6 (GT), OpenSecrets
  • Top Hat: Lectures from November 3/4 and 5/6, Module 3 Review
• November 12/13
  • Lecture: Costs, Benefits, and Trade-offs in policy
  • Reading: US Issues (TBA)
  • Top Hat: Reading for November 12/13
• November 17/18
  • Lecture: Government Officials Motivations (The Political Marketplace)
  • Reading: Texas Issues (TBA)
  • Top Hat: Lectures November 12/13 and 17/18
• November 19 – Last Day to Drop with a W!
• November 19/20
  • Lecture: Global Politics: Cooperation Under Anarchy
  • Reading: Global Issues (TBA)
  • Top Hat: Readings for November 17/18 and November 19/20
• November 24/25
  • Online Final Exam Review (Recorded)
  • Top Hat (Online): Lectures for November 17/18 and 19/20, Module 4 Review
• November 26-29 – Thanksgiving Holiday
• December 1/2: Wrap up
• December 3 – Module 4 Due
• December 4 – All late work due
• December 1 to 4 – Final Exam – Online Lockdown Browser with Webcam Proctoring (tentative)

• The number one rule of this class is respect for others including your classmates, myself, guests, UH staff, and UH administration, but not limited to those. Acting like a jerk towards anyone will likely cause a deduction of professionalism points.
• I trust you as adults to look through the abundance of available points and make informed decisions about your priorities in and out of this class.
• Many of these points are completion points. To earn full credit, they must be completed and completed on time.
• There are sufficient extra points included that there is no need for makeups on assignments.
• The late assignment policy is generous enough that there is no need for makeups.
• The automatic makeup for the midterm exam is the final exam. There is no need to ask or provide an excuse.
• Every opportunity to get any points, even partial credit for late assignments or partial credit for incomplete assignments, contributes to the point totals needed to get the grade you want.

• Because of the other course policies and the 750 students enrolled for these three sections, the need for email communication will be minimal to non-existent. I will email and post in Canvas for class cancellations. Other Announcements will be posted to Canvas only during class time barring any errors, in respect for your work-life balance. There will be no last minute email or Announcement assignments.
• In respect for my time with over 700 students and my commitment to your privacy, please do not email me with excuses, grade questions, makeup requests, extension requests, etc. All of these may be discussed in person during office hours. The preferred mode of communication for this course is Face-to-Face.
• The only legitimate need for email communication that I foresee is a confirmation of office hours or a request for an appointment outside normal office hours. (These will be minimal as I teach almost all day Monday through Thursday.) Please allow one day Monday to Thursday only for these requests. Friday to Sunday emails will be address on Mondays only.
• Emails from any email address not ending in @cougarnet.edu or @uh.edu will be ignored for reasons of protecting student privacy.

• Attendance is not a graded component of this course, but those who miss no more than one class will receive a small attendance bonus of 25 points.
• Attendance will be taken by TopHat and you must work with TopHat technical support if necessary to get it working on your device, because…
• Attendance still matters for:
  • Verifying you were actually present during TopHat quizzes. Taking quizzes outside the classroom will result in a zero for the quiz and an academic integrity report to the University.
  • Verifying you are present to not be dropped for complete non-attendance, especially for not attending by the Official Date of Record.
  • Verifying financial aid compliance. This information will be shared with the Financial Aid Office to deter fraud.

• Opportunities for points abound.
• Asking for special treatment is asking me to commit an ethical violation, is an academic integrity violation, and may result in a Professionalism deduction.
• No individual grade (overall or assignment) will be dropped or curved. All points earned contribute to your total.
• Extra points may be offered in a Top Hat quiz as an alternative to a curve for the exams.
• Late work on any assignment submitted through Canvas is automatically accepted with a 5% per day penalty. After 19 days, no credit will be given. There are no extensions as this is already extremely generous and all points contribute to your total.
• The only makeup is for the Midterm. It is made up by taking the Final Exam as scheduled. It is automatic. No excuse, apology, or email needed or wanted.
• There is no makeup for the Final except in the case of pre-arranged incompletes for real, documented emergencies.
• There are no makeups for Top Hat quizzes, as there are already extra Top Hat quizzes included above the point total. All points contribute to your total.

• Exams will be taken in the in-person, on campus CASA testing centers or the DART Center. No exceptions.
• I will cover CASA procedures one time during the first two weeks of class.
• There will be no makeup for the Final Exam except for an Incomplete discussed before the exam for documented, serious emergencies .
• The makeup for the Midterm Exam is a doubling of the Final Exam score. No exceptions. No excuse required, this will be done automatically.
• All points contribute to your total, so it is better to take a test and earn some points than to earn a zero by not taking it.

• A combination of attendance, proper class preparations, and leveraging of resources can best ensure success in class. Office hours are available to students to review any material and prepare for exams. Further, university provided tutoring for this class is available through LAUNCH (the link to which will be provided in canvas announcements.) These resources can be leveraged early and often to student benefit and offer further information or pathways to enhance comprehension.
• Students are to read or thoroughly review assigned materials prior to class discussion of the chapter in class. Lecture time will be used to address difficult concepts from the readings, draw forth key points, and provide alternative explanations possibly not included in the textbook. Only attending lecture or only reading the book will not lead to optimal success in class. However, being prepared for class by reading will help you better understand lecture material and attending lecture will help you as you revisit the readings during study.
• In your lecture note-taking, you should focus on major themes of this course as these concepts will be the basis tests questions from the lecture material:
  • How do we live together in a peaceful society of dignified equals?
  • How do we maintain organized violence at the lowest possible level?
  • How do we solve collective action problems with the lowest level of organized violence?
  • How do we limit government, both formally and informally, to minimize the possibility of tyranny?
  • Why does limiting government matter?
  • How do we empower government to achieve its legitimate ends without risking tyranny?
  • How did the American and Texas systems achieve this, how have they gotten better at it, how can they continue to improve?
• Inquizitives are the study guides for the textbook portion of grades. The Inquizitives work through adaptive learning, concentrating on the areas where students are having the most difficulty while reinforcing the areas where students are doing well. A great way to use Inquizitives effectively is to take the first round without notes to establish a baseline, taking notes as you go, and improving until you hit 100%. Then come back to the Inquizitive periodically before the Exams to conquer the forgetting curve. Once your grade is locked at 100%, future study can not hurt your grade!

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• I fully support and encourage you to get accommodations for any appropriate issue.
• I can only make accommodations after receipt of official notice from the Dart Center.
• If an accommodation would significantly change the course’s essential requirements, learning outcomes, or core content, it is considered a fundamental alteration and is generally not considered a reasonable or permissible accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Examples of fundamental alterations include lowering academic standards, removing essential skills, or waiving requirements necessary for a license.
• Extra time for the major exams is available in both the Dart Center and CASA and I will automatically take care of this before each exam.
• Extra time for Top Hat quizzes is not possible, as it is disruptive to the flow of the classroom time and fundamentally alters the nature of the course, but there are extra points available to make up for this. We can discuss this in person to preserve your privacy.
• Extra time for assignments is highly discouraged regardless of accommodations, as the late policy is already extremely generous to the extent that this is a lowering of very basic academic standards, affects learning outcomes, and removes essential skills (time management). If you have accommodation for extra time, you may discuss it with me in office hours.