Study Outline
Political Science 2301

Chapter 1: The Democratic Republic

  1. The Study of Politics
    1. The problem of conflict over resources and values in society
    2. Resolve conflict through collective-decision making institutions
    3. The necessity for government
  2. Concepts associated with the study of American Government
    1. Politics
    2. Power
    3. Government
    4. Constitution
    5. Political System
    6. Public Policy
    7. Democracy
  3. The Political System Model
    1. Definition and description
    2. Component parts of political system model
      1. Inputs - demands and supports
      2. Outputs - public policy
      3. Linkage institutions - parties, interest groups, media, elections
      4. Feedback
      5. Environment
  4. American Democracy
    1. Distinguish between representative democracy and direct democracy
    2. Distinguish between referendum and initiative
    3. Core Principles of Democracy
      1. Universal suffrage
      2. Political Equality
      3. Guarantee basic freedoms
      4. Majority Rule
      5. Protection of Minority Rights
      6. Economic Freedom & Property Rights
  5. Models of American Democracy
    1. Majoritarian Model
    2. Pluralist Model
    3. Elite Model
  6. Political Ideology
  7. The Challenge of Change

Chapter 2: The Constitution

  1. Definition - Constitution
  2. Principles of the U.S. Constitution
    1. Republicanism
    2. Fragmentation of Power
      1. Separation of Power
      2. System of Checks and Balances
      3. Federalism
  3. Foundations of U.S. Constitution
    1. Colonial Foundations
      1. Colonial grievances
      2. England's pursuit of mercantilism
      3. Independence struggle
      4. Inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation
      5. Impact of Shays's Rebellion
    2. Philosophical Ideals
      1. Impact of new political philosophy
      2. Influence of John Locks
    3. Drafting a new Constitution
      1. Convening a Constitutional Convention
        1. Attendance of distinguished individuals
        2. Major dilemma - how to protect from both anarchy and tyranny
      2. Major compromises attained
  4. Features of Constitution
    1. Structure of government
      1. Limited and balanced form
      2. Madisonian Model
    2. Powers of government - Articles I, II, & III
  5. Ratification of Constitution
    1. Struggle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists
    2. Incorporation of Bill of Rights
  6. Altering the Constitution
    1. Formal amendment process
      1. Article V of the Constitution
      2. Several amendments proposed and ratified
    2. Informal method of constitutional change

Chapter 3: Federalism

  1. Introduction to Federalism
    1. What is federalism?
    2. Federalism and the politcs of same-sex marriage
  2. Types of Governmental Systems
    1. Unitary Model
    2. Confederal Model
    3. Federalism
  3. Understanding the American Federal System
    1. Advantages and Disadvantages
    2. Constitutional Basis of Federalism
      1. 10th Amendment
      2. Art VI - Supremacy of national government over states
      3. Case law: McCulloch v. Maryland
      4. Case law: Gibbons v. Ogden
  4. Powers of Government
    1. Inherent
    2. Expressed
    3. Implied
    4. Reserved
    5. Concurrent
  5. Evolution of Federalism
    1. Historical imprints
    2. Dual federalism
    3. Cooperative federalism
    4. Picket-fence federalism
  6. Implementing Federalism (Grants-in-Aid Programs)
    1. Categorical grants
    2. Block grants
    3. Formula grants
    4. Significance of federal mandates
  7. Failure of Federalism
  8. Relations Among the States (Relations between the States)
    1. Full faith and credit clause
    2. Privileges and immunities clause

Chapter 6: Public Opinion and Political Socialization

  1. The Concept of Public Opinion
  2. The Expression of Public Opinion
  3. Types of Public Opinion
  4. Characteristics of Public Opinion
    1. Intensity
    2. Fluidity
    3. Stability
  5. Concept of Political Socialization
  6. Important Agents of Political Socialization
    1. Family
    2. Schools
    3. Peers
    4. Mass Media
    5. Events
    6. Political Figures
  7. Political Preferences and Voting Behavior [Identify different influences]
  8. Measurement of Public Opinion (Public Opinion Polls)
    1. Types of polls
      1. Straw polls
      2. Scientific polls
      3. Exit polls
      4. Push Polls
    2. How does one measure public opinion?
      1. Select the universe
      2. Draw a representative sample
      3. Determine sampling error
    3. Problems with scientific polls
  9. Public Opinion Towards Government - Level of Trust Towards Government

Chapter Seven: Interest Group

  1. Definition of an Interest Group
  2. Difference between an Interest Group and a Political Party
  3. Problem of an Interst Group - Mischief of the Faction
  4. Explaination for Group Formation
  5. Why do invididuals join interest groups?
  6. Functions of Interst Groups
  7. Types of Interest Groups
    1. Economic Interest Groups
      1. Business
      2. Agriculture
      3. Labor
      4. Public Employee
      5. Professional Associations
      6. The Unorganized Poor
    2. Environmental Interest Groups
    3. Public Interest Group
      1. Consumer Groups
      2. Common Cause
      3. Women's Groups
    4. Other Interest Groups
      1. Elderly
      2. Ideological Groups
      3. Religious Groups
      4. Single-Issue versus multiple issue group
  8. Factors that Make an Interest Group Powerful
    1. Size and resources
    2. Leadership
    3. Cohesiveness
  9. Tactics of Interest Groups
    1. Direct lobbying techniques
    2. Indirect lobbying techniques
  10. Role of Political Action Committees (PACs)
    1. What are political action committees?
    2. The rise in the number of PACs
  11. Regulating Lobbyists
    1. Applicable Laws
    2. The Jack Abramoff Scandal
  12. Iron Triangles
  13. Texas Interest Groups
    1. Examples of interest groups in Texas
    2. Power of interest groups in Texas
    3. Factors that affect interest groups in Texas
      1. A part-time Texas legislature
      2. Decentralization of the executive branch
      3. Law in Texas
      4. Media
      5. Constituent influence

Chapter Eight: Political Parties

  1. Introduction to Political Parties
    1. Definition of a political party
    2. Development of parties in the U.S.
    3. Two-party system in the U.S.
    4. Link between society and government
    5. Difference between Republicans and Democrats
  2. Parties and Elections
    1. Party in government determines health, economic, and social welfare policies
    2. Alternating control of government between Democratic and Republican Parties
    3. Divided government
  3. Functions of a Political Party
  4. Development of American Party System
    1. Party realignment
    2. Development of different party eras
      1. 1789-1815 (1st party period) - Creation of parties (early formative years)
      2. 1815-1824 (2nd party period) - Era of one-party rule
      3. 1828-1860 (3rd party period) - Development of mass parties
      4. 1860-1896 (4rd party period) - Post-Civil War period
      5. 1896-1932 (5th party period) - Era of progressive reforms (Ascendancy of Republicans)
      6. 1932-1968 (6th party period) - New Deal period (Rise of Democrats)
      7. 1970s-Present (7th party period) - Modern Era
        1. Relative parity of parties
        2. Disengagement and competition
        3. Divided government and split-ticket voting
        4. Dominance of the Democrats after the 2008 elections
        5. Democrats lose dominance after the 2010 elections
  5. Component Parts of a Party - Three Faces of Political Party
    1. Party in the electorate
    2. Party in government
    3. Party as an organization - Three levels
      1. The national party organization
      2. The state party organization
      3. The local party organization
  6. Characteristics of the American Party System
    1. American party system is a two party system
    2. Difference between Democrats and Republicans
    3. Reasons for a two party system in the U.S.
  7. Why has the two-party system endured?
  8. Role of Third Parties
    1. Types of Minor Parties
    2. Influence of Minor Parties
  9. Political Parties in Texas
    1. The one party tradition in Texas politics
    2. The ideological basis of factionalism
    3. Development of factions in the Texas Democratic Party
    4. Rise of the Republican Party in Texas
    5. Party Organization
      1. Temporary party organizations
      2. Permanent party organizations
    6. Realignment and dealignment in Texas parties

Chapters Nine & Ten: Voting, Elections & Campaigns

  1. The American Electorate and Participation
    1. The expansion of suffrage in the US
    2. Limitations on the right of suffrage
  2. Turning Out to Vote
    1. Voter turnout levels in recent elections
    2. Explanations of voter turnout in the U.S.
  3. The Twenty-First Century Modern Campaign
    1. The professional campaign
    2. Today's modern campaigns are extremely expensive - How much?
    3. The strategy of the modern campaign - raise money, secure media attention, and develop the winning candidate image
    4. Today's campaigns have become candidate-centered.
    5. Many are largely conducted through television appearances and commercials.
  4. Money and Campaigns
    1. Campaign finance reform
    2. Political Action Committees (PACs)
  5. Types of Election Campaigns
    1. The general campaign - the successful campaign for office involves two distinct phases
      1. The campaign to win the party's nomination
        1. Caucuses and conventions - What are they?
        2. Primaries - open and closed
      2. The campaign to win the general election
        1. Majority vote
        2. Plurality vote
    2. Presidential campaigns
      1. Capture the party's nomination at the national convention by winning a majority of the delegate votes at the convention.
        1. win primary elections
        2. win caucus conventions
      2. Win the general election - win a majority of electoral college votes
        1. How does the electoral college work?
        2. Criticism of electoral college
  6. Recent Presidential Election Outcomes
    1. 2008 - Presidential Elections
    2. 2004 - Presidential Elections
    3. 2000 - Presidential Elections
  7. Elections and Voting in Texas
    1. Voter turnout levels in Texas
    2. Explainations of voting in Texas
    3. Primary and general elections in Texas

Chapter Eleven- The Media and Cyberpolitics

  1. Introduction to the Media
  2. The Power of the Media
  3. The Media and Functions
  4. The Development of the Media
    1. Political/Partisan Press
    2. Public Press
    3. Broadcast Press
    4. Mass Media
  5. Primacy of Television
  6. The Media and Politics
    1. Political campaigns
    2. Politicians
    3. Levels of access between media and public officials
  7. The Valerie Plame Affair
  8. The Media and Government
    1. Presidents
    2. Congress
    3. Military
  9. Concentration of the Media Ownership
  10. Bias in the Media

Texas Politics

Chapter 19: Texas History and Culture

  1. Factors That Influence Texas Politics
  2. Historical Development of Texas
    1. Before statehood (colonial history and annexation)
    2. Early years
    3. Post-Civil War years
    4. Contemporary period
    5. Present era
  3. Analysis of Historical Development
    1. Role of individuals
      1. Gov. E.J. Davis
      2. Gov. James Ferguson
      3. Pres. Lyndon Johnson
      4. Gov. William Clements
      5. Gov. Gov. Ann Richards
    2. Significant events
      1. End of reconstruction era
      2. A state dominated by Democrats
      3. Civil Rights movement
      4. A state dominated by Republicans
  4. Politics in Texas Impacted by Several Factors
    1. A Diverse Economic Base
      1. Agriculture industry - cotton and cattle
      2. Oil industry
      3. Diversified industrial base
    2. A Diverse Population
  5. Characterization of Texas politics
  6. Political Subcultures
    1. Individualistic
    2. Traditional
    3. Moralistic
  7. Texas Political Culture

Chapter 20: The Texas Constitution

  1. Constitutions and Policymaking
    1. The Politics of Education Finance Policymaking
      1. Rulings of the Texas Supreme Court
      2. Actions of the Texas legislature
      3. Funding sources for Texas public school districts
    2. Policymaking is accomplished through constitutional amendments in Texas
  2. Comparison of State Constitutions and the Federal Constitution
    1. State constitutions differ with the U.S. Constitution. [How?]
    2. How are they similar?
  3. Purposes of a Constitution
  4. Texas Constitutional History
    1. A state with a legacy of six constitutions
    2. How do the various state constitutions differ with each other?
    3. Criticisms directed against the present state constitution
  5. Characteristics of the Present Texas Constitution
  6. Amending the Texas Constitution
    1. Proposal of a constitutional amendment
    2. Ratification of a constitutional amendment
  7. Informally Changing the Constitution
    1. Constitutional procedure
    2. Judicial interpretation
    3. Political practice
  8. Electoral Participation in Texas
    1. Texas constitutional amendments
    2. Congressional and Governor's elections
    3. Presidential elections

Chapter 28: Local Government

  1. Reasons for the Importance of Local Government
  2. Different levels/types of Local Government
  3. Formation of Municipal Government
    1. Requirement of charter
    2. Types of charters
  4. Types of Municipal Governments
    1. Mayor-council form
    2. Council-manager form
    3. Commission form
  5. Municipal Budgets
    1. Sources of Revenues
    2. Expenditures
  6. Municipal Election Systems
    1. At-large election systems
    2. Single-member district elections
  7. County Government
    1. Structure of County Government
    2. Elected offices
      1. Different types of elected officials
      2. Duties of county elected officials
    3. Sources of Revenue
  8. Special District Governments
    1. School District Governments
    2. Nonschool Special District Governments
    3. Sources of Revenue
  9. Council of Governments