DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT
SYLLABUS
GOVT 2305
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Spring 2010
Instructor Greg
Harrison
I. Course Overview and Description
This course is
an introduction to
Our government was
founded by people who took up arms against an existing, legitimate
government. The American Revolution was
indeed a revolution. The Declaration
of Independence is an amazing document.
For the first time in history, a people declared their right to sever a
political bond that did not serve the people’s own needs. This course will discuss these critical
ideas, the free constitutional government founded upon those ideas, and your
obligation and duty to your country as a citizen.
This course will
help to make you a more responsible citizen because you will better:
1. Understand the United States Constitutional
system.
2. See why politics is often a compromise
between desirable but conflicting goals.
3. Understand how political decisions are made.
4. Understand the citizen’s role in the American
political system.
5. Base your opinions on logic and evidence,
using the Internet, instead of emotion and belief.
II.
Administrative Notes.
1. Instructor: Greg Harrison.
2. Office: RRHEC Room 456 3. Office Hours: M & W 10:45 – 11:00, 12:15 – 12:30, and 1:45 – 2:15
4. Voice Mail: 223-1790
x25204 5. E-Mail: gharriso@austincc.edu
6. Web Home
Page: http://www.austincc.edu/gharriso
7. Text:
Stephenson,
Jr., Bresler, Friedrich, Karlesky,
and Turner. Introduction to American Government, 5th edition (Northwest
Publishing, 2009 - ISBN # 9781602293922).
Text is available at the
8. Grading:
You will be graded
based on the total points scored during the semester on quizzes, projects and
exams. There is no provision for extra
credit.
|
|
Number |
Points Each |
Total Point Value |
|
Quizzes |
4 |
25 |
100 |
|
Assignments |
4 |
25 |
100 |
|
Unit Tests |
4 |
100 |
400 |
|
Course Total |
|
|
600 |
Final grade will be based upon points achieved:
|
A = 600 - 537 |
D = 416 - 357 |
|
B = 536 - 477 |
F = < 356 |
|
C = 476 - 417 |
|
In order to make an A or B in this class
you must make at least a 70%
(17.5/25) on each
assignment.
If you do not the highest possible grade is a C.
9. Evaluations: The course includes four unit quizzes, four
unit tests and an optional make up comprehensive
final exam. The quizzes are multiple choice, true and
false, and short answer questions. The
unit tests are made up of 40 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions. The
final exam (50 multiple choice questions) will be the only make up for a missed
or low score test. The quizzes will
be given without notice at anytime during a lecture period. Quizzes may not be made up.
10.
Assignments: There will
be four Internet assignments and one paper during the semester. .
Assignment one is constituency research - determining who represents you
at the national level of government.
Assignment two is researching a public policy issue and contacting a
national official regarding that issue.
Assignment three is researching two special interests groups and
assignment four is researching some agency within the vast federal government.
11. How to
Study for the Exams:
First, you must read the material. Second, you must actively participate in
classroom learning by taking notes and absorbing the information your
instructor presents. The exams will be based on the chapter readings. The quizzes will focus upon the information
emphasized in class. Thus, if you miss
class, you are highly encouraged to get notes from a classmate and do the
readings.
12.
Attendance:
Attendance is an important part of a lecture course. When you miss class, not only will you miss
the glib, interesting lectures, you will miss quizzes, assignment help, and
testing hints.
13. Academic freedom: Each student is highly encouraged to
participate in class discussion.
Consider this
class a safe haven for ideas. We have
the right to agree and disagree with one another and all will respect the view
of others when expressed during discussions.
14. Scholastic
Dishonesty: As described
in the ACC Student Handbook, scholastic dishonesty constitutes a violation of
college rules and regulations and is punishable according to the procedures
outlined in the Handbook. Scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an exam (either
providing answer to or stealing answers from another student), plagiarism,
collusion and duplicity. Plagiarism
includes use of another author’s words or arguments without attribution.
Collusion is defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in
preparing written work for fulfillment of any course requirement. Duplicity is an act of deceitfulness in
speech or conduct. If a student commits
any of the above action, the student will receive an academic penalty of an “F”
for the course. This is your class, and it is up to you to decide what you want
to make of it. It is an investment in
your time and your future. You will get out of it what you put into it. Decide now what effort you want to make and
what grade you want to have. To decide
you need a good grade at the end of the semester is too late. THE DECISION IS YOURS!!
15. Withdrawals: I will NOT withdraw students from this
class. It is up to students to monitor their progress throughout the semester
and to initiate withdrawal proceedings if necessary. To withdraw from a class, students must do it
officially by filling out the required form with Admissions & Records. The final
withdrawal date is April 26, 2010. Furthermore, NO INCOMPLETES will
be given unless there is a valid reason such as a medical emergency documented
by a physician. To request an Incomplete, a student must explain the reason
he/she needs a temporary grade of 'I', and complete the necessary form. In most
cases, it is better to do the work when it is assigned and thus avoid being
disappointed or frustrated if a student cannot justify receiving an Incomplete.
16.
Incompletes: A grade of “I” will be given only for very
special circumstances such as a medical emergency verified by physician. The student must notify me explaining why an
incomplete is temporarily warranted.
He/she will fill out the necessary form.
17. Accommodations for students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who believe
that they may need accommodations in a lecture class are encouraged to contact
the Office of Students with Disabilities at 512-223-3142 or at http://www.austincc.edu/osd/index.html
as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented
in a timely fashion.
III. How to
Succeed in this Course.
1. Start
working from the first lesson:
Many students fall behind early which makes it difficult for them to do their
best later in the semester.
2. Do the
readings: Anything from the reading is testable, so you should take notes as you
read. Your instructor can’t possibly
cover all the information in class. It
is your responsibility to complete the readings. A complete list of assignments can be found
in attachment 1.
3. Take notes
in class: Taking notes
(a) helps focus your attention on the material, (b) keeps you alert, and (c)
helps you study for exams.
4. Participate
in class: You will
become more articulate by presenting your ideas extemporaneously, and you will
show your instructor that you're prepared.
5. Write an
early draft: Stay ahead
of your project dates with an early draft of your current event.
6. Vigorously
edit your projects:
Editing involves far more than just proofreading. All good writers make
wholesale changes to several drafts because no one can get it right the first
time. Have a classmate proofread your
work. Read through it one last time
before hitting “send or print.” These
two things can consistently improve your grade.
7. Turn in
assignments/paper on time:
Failure to turn in assignments/paper on the due date will result in a loss of
points based on how late the work is turned in.
A 25% penalty will be assessed for each day an assignment is turned in
late. No assignment will be accepted
after two days (not including Saturdays and Sundays).
8. Study for
exams without your textbook:
Study your notes from the reading and class. Read through them several times,
emphasizing the particularly important points. Refer to your text to clarify
unclear concepts.
|
Lesson
Number |
Date
|
Topic |
|
|
1 |
Jan 18 |
MLK Birthday - |
Introduction |
|
2 |
Jan 20 |
Administrivia |
Introduction/Chapter
4 |
|
3 |
Jan 25 |
Politics and Ideas - Ideology |
Chapter 4 |
|
4 |
Jan 27 |
Constituencies |
Assignment # 1 |
|
5 |
Feb 1 |
Constitutions |
Chapter 1 |
|
6 |
Feb 3 |
Federalism Concepts |
Chapter 2 |
|
7 |
Feb 8 |
Federalism in Action |
Chapter 2 |
|
8 |
Feb 10 |
Test # 1 |
Intro plus Chapters 1, 2, 4 |
|
9 |
Feb 15 |
Civil Liberties and Rights |
Chapter 3 |
|
10 |
Feb 17 |
Government Public Policies |
Chapter 13 |
|
11 |
Feb 22 |
Domestic policies |
Chapter 15 |
|
12 |
Feb 24 |
Public Policy Issue Research |
Assignment # 2 |
|
13 |
Mar 1 |
Public
Opinion and Participation |
Chapter 5 |
|
14 |
Mar 3 |
Campaigns |
Chapter 8 |
|
15 |
Mar 8 |
Elections |
Chapter 8 |
|
16 |
Mar
10 |
Test # 2 |
Chapters 3, 5, 8, 13 and 15 |
|
17 |
Mar 22 |
Politics and the Media |
Chapter 6 |
|
18 |
Mar 24 |
Special Interest Groups (SIG) |
Chapter 7 |
|
19 |
Mar 29
|
SIG Research |
Assignment # 3 |
|
20 |
Mar 31 |
Political
Parties |
Chapter 7 |
|
21 |
Apr 5 |
Economic Policy |
Chapter 14 |
|
22 |
Apr 7 |
Foreign Policy |
Chapter 16 |
|
23 |
Apr 12 |
Test # 3 |
Chapters 6, 7, 14, and 16 |
|
24 |
Apr 14 |
Executive Branch |
Chapter 10 |
|
25 |
Apr 19 |
Bureaucracies |
Chapter 11 |
|
26 |
Apr 21 |
Bureaucracy research |
Assignment # 4 |
|
27 |
Apr 26 |
Legislative Structure |
Chapter 9 |
|
28 |
Apr 28 |
Legislative
Process |
Chapter 9 |
|
29 |
May 3 |
Divided Government |
|
|
30 |
May 5 |
Judicial Branch |
Chapter 12 |
|
31 |
May 10 |
Test # 4 |
Chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12 |
|
32 |
May 12 |
Optional
Final Exam |
Comprehensive
|
Attachment 1