GOVT2306: US and Texas Constitution and Politics
Course Introduction

First Week Agenda

• Today

    - Introduction
    - Course Outline/Procedures
    - Questions

• Wednesday

    - Course Overview
    - Introduction to the topic of government
    - Walkthrough of Clicker/Point Solutions, Canvas Modules, and AccessUH
    - Questions

Second Week Agenda

• Monday

    - Philosophies and Ideologies in American Government
    - Walkthrough of CASA Registration
    - Questions on Canvas, PointSolutions, AccessUH (if needed)
    - Questions

• Wednesday

    - The Constitutional Framework: Checks and Balances, Separation of Powers
    - 
    - Questions

Introduction

• Welcome to GOVT2306: US and Texas Constitution and Politics

• Instructor: Tom Hanna, MA

    - Office: Phillip Guthrie Hoffman Hall (PGH 391)
    - Office Hours: Monday 12:00 to 12:45 and Wednesday 2:45 to 3:45 
    - Email: tlhanna@central.uh.edu

About me:

    - Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Houston
    - MA in Political Science from the University of Houston, BS in Political Science from the University of Houston
    - I have been teaching at the University of Houston since July 2022 and at Houston Community College since June 2023
    - Courses taught: Statistics for Political Scientists; Argument, Data, and Politics, Introduction to Comparative Politics, and this course at UH; Federal Government and Texas Government at HCC; State Government at OLLU.
    - Research: My research focuses on the international behavior of dictators. I have a specific interest in threats to freedom and modern liberal democracy (aka Madisonian republics). 
    - Second/third career - former business manager and owner.
    - cooking, camping, kayaking, and computer gaming
    

Major course expectations

• I do not expect you to be experts on the course material at the end

• I do expect you to:

    - Respect other people, starting with your classmates and myself
    - Do the work
    - Do your best
    - Take responsbility for the work you did or not do
    - Take some time to seriously consider the implications of the material for your own life and the lives of people you care about

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

    - We will look at it now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

• Please read the Syllabus

    - It is in Canvas! We will look at it now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

• Please read the Syllabus

• Most of your work outside class will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook

    - We will look at it now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course

• Please read the Syllabus

• Most of your work outside class will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook

• Complete Modules in order or you will be locked out of later assignments

    - I will show you how now!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course
• Please read the Syllabus
• Most of your work outside class will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook
• Complete Modules in order or you will be locked out of later assignments
• You must pass the Syllabus Quiz with a perfect score to continue with the rest of the course!

Course Outline/Procedures

• Please read the Canvas Homepage for the Course
• Please read the Syllabus
• Most of your work outside class will be done through the Canvas Modules - this includes accessing the textbook
• Complete Modules in order or you will be locked out of later assignments
• You must pass the Syllabus Quiz with a perfect score to continue with the rest of the course!

Course Outline/Procedures (Continued)

• Check Canvas Announcements and your official school Outlook email three times a week

    - If you don't know how to get your school email, it is available in AccessUH...I will show you how to get there!

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

    - You must get 100%

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

    - You must get 100%
    - You can retake it until you get 100%

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

    - Even if you miss everything, you get 1 point for taking it

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

    - Even if you miss everything, you get 1 point for taking it
    - You are required to take it

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

    - Even if you miss everything, you get 1 point for taking it
    - You are required to take it
    - You can only take it once

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by August 26

    - We will go over it on Wednesday

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by August 26

    - We will go over it on Wednesday
    - You must register by August 26, because...

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by August 26

    - We will go over it on Wednesday
    - You must register by August 26, because...
    - We will start using it August 26, for points

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by September 4

• CASA registration complete by September 4

    - We will go through it on Monday, August 26

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!

• The Syllabus Quiz is required

• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required

• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by September 4

• CASA registration complete by September 4

    - We will go through it on Monday, August 26
    - I will talk briefly about test registration procedures then

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!
• The Syllabus Quiz is required
• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required
• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by September 4
• CASA registration complete by September 4
• Introduction Module complete by 11:59 PM, September 4…

September 4 Independent Work Day! No Class!

• No class September 4! Introduction Module Work Day!
• The Syllabus Quiz is required
• The Extra Credit Quiz is extra credit AND it is required
• Clicker/Point Solutions Registration by September 4
• CASA registration complete by September 4
• Introduction Module complete by 11:59 PM, September 4
• September 5 - instructor drop date!

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people

• The policies exist to help me help you

    - 250 students in this class 
    - I am just one person
    - Six hour a week devoted to this class (including 3 hours class time, office hours, administration, and class prep)
    - I have other classes and other professional commitments.

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people
• The policies exist to help me help you
  
• I may update policies if things are not working

Course Policies: Basics

• Number 1 Rule: Respect for other people
• The policies exist to help me help you
  
• I may update policies if things are not working
• You are responsible for keeping track of due dates and assignments

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

• According to SACSCOC:

    - 1 credit hour = 1 hour in class + 2 hours out of class

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

• According to SACSCOC:

    - 1 credit hour = 1 hour in class + 2 hours out of class
    - 3 credit hour class = 3 hours in class + 6 hours out of class

Time Commitment

• UH is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

• Without accreditation a UH degree is worthless

• According to SACSCOC:

    - 1 credit hour = 1 hour in class + 2 hours out of class
    - 3 credit hour class = 3 hours in class + 6 hours out of class
    - 3 credit hour class = 9 hours a week
    - This is a minimum, but the institution (UH) may set a higher standard!

https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/08/Credit-Hours.pdf

Commitment

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

• A major hallmark of professionalism is taking responsibility for doing what is expected of you and not blaming others for the consequences if you do not.

    - In other words, if you don't attend class and pay attention...
    - If you don't put in two hours a week of real work outside class...
    - If you don't do the assignments...
    - If you don't study for the exams...

Your grade is on you!

Professionalism

• Professionalism is a graded component of this class.

• A major hallmark of professionalism is taking responsibility for doing what is expected of you and not blaming others for the consequences if you do not.

• You are responsible for:

    - Time management
    - Your own learning
    - Doing the assignments
    - Showing up and engaging
    - Applying brainpower
    - Working on the material
    - Following through on commitments
    - Taking responsibility for your own work and results!

Professionalism

• I am responsible for

    - Providing you a structured environment to learn
    - Providing alternate explanations to help you understand the material
    - Setting standards and goals
    - Challenging you to do your best
    - Holding you accountable
    - Providing you with resources to succeed
    - Assessing you fairly based on the standards and goals provided

• I am not responsible for:

    - Forcing you to work
    - Doing your work for you
    - Navigating the UH bureaucracy for you *
    - Anything your other professors require of you that may interfere with this class

• I will offer suggestions on this during office hours

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication:

    - Office hours are your main communication to me outside class

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication:

    - Office hours are your main communication to me outside class
    - There will be a question period every class

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication:

    - Office hours are your main communication to me outside class
    - There will be a question period every class
    - Any important announcements will always be made in class

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication:

    - Office hours are your main communication to me outside class
    - There will be a question period every class
    - Any important announcements will always be made in class

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication

• Announcements: Canvas

    - Since class cancellations can't be announced in class, you'll find them here if they happen
    - These are a good written place for recording important information

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication

• Announcements: Canvas

• Email announcements

    - go to your official @cougarnet.uh.edu email address

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication

• Announcements: Canvas

• Email announcements

• Emails to me - to ensure your privacy! - must:

    - come from your official @cougarnet.uh.edu email address
    - come to my official tlhanna@central.uh.edu email address

Course Policies: Communications

• Face-to-face is the best communication

• Announcements: Canvas

• Email announcements

• Emails to me - to ensure your privacy! - must:

    - come from your official @cougarnet.uh.edu email address
    - come to my official tlhanna@central.uh.edu email address

• Canvas messages will NOT be answered, except Gradebook messages

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted

    - 10% per day penalty
    - No exceptions, no excuses
    - No need to email
    - No need to apologize or explain
    - All work must be turned in by the 26th of November

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted with penalty
  

• Makeups for exams

    - The final is your makeup
    - You will get the percentage score for the final applied to any missed exam
    - No excuses, no exceptions
    - This is completely automatic
    - Let your grandmothers know their lives are safe from this class!

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted with penalty
  

• Makeups for exams - the final is the makeup, automatic

• Makeup for quizzes, participation exercises, etc.

    - I will drop three participation scores
    - No makeups, no exceptions

Course Policies: Late Work and Makeups

• Late work is automatically accepted with penalty
• Makeups for exams - the final is the makeup, automatic!
• Makeup for quizzes, participation exercises, etc. - Three dropped, no makeups!

Course Policies: Attendance and Participation

• Participation points will be from quizzes, surveys, and other activities using the Clicker/Point Solutions software.
• I will refer to all of these collectively as participation exercises.

Course Policies: Attendance and Participation

• For participation exercises, you must be physically present in the classroom!
• No sharing of access codes!
• Sharing of access codes is an academic integrity violation and will be treated as such

Course Policies: Attendance and Participation

• I will take location-based attendance periodically with the Clicker/Point Solutions software

    - There will be some extra credit available for those who miss less than three days of class
    - This is extra credit. You do it or you don't. No excuses policy applies 100 times as much!
    - UH now requires us to track attendance for financial aid purposes; you can be required to repay financial aid if you fail a course and did not attend

Course Policies: Attendance and Participation

• I will cross reference the location based attendance with participation exercises to prevent academic dishonesty.
• If an access code is shared, at least one of the parties will be referred to a hearing with a recommendation that they fail the course and be suspended.
• If the person caught using the code comes clean, it will be the person sharing the code.

Course Policies: Attendance and Participation

• Must be present in class for participation exercises
• Location based attendance with Clicker/PointSolutions
• Some extra credit for good attendance

Course Policies: Academic Integrity

• Academic integrity is non-negotiable

• Specific issues:

    - Sharing access codes with people outside the classroom
    - Using shared codes to gain participation points without attending class
    - Not doing your own homework
    - Lying to me or any member of the faculty or administration about your work
    - Trying to cheat in CASA 

You are responsible for following the full UH Academic Integrity Policy

Exams - CASA

• Exams will be taken in person at the CASA Testing Center
• These are in person exams, not online
• You must register with CASA before September 4th
• You must reserve your seat for each exam
• You must follow CASA rules and procedures
• I have no influence with CASA
• There will be no class on exam day - see syllabus schedule

Grade Weights

• Syllabus Quiz: 5%
• Participation and Professionalism: 20%
• Inquizitive Exercises (Textbook or Chapter assignments): 25%
• Two Midterm Exams (60 points each) and one Final Exam (75 points): 50%

Major course expectations - revisit

I sincerely hope that all of you will succeed in this course, but UH and I are not in the business of selling grades and degrees. You will get out of this course what you put into it, both in learning and your final grade.

Questions

Authorship and License

• Author: Tom Hanna

• Website: tomhanna.me

• License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.