American Government

SpringSemester 2018

Mr. Matthew White: Rm. 2047

Course Description: The course is a survey of the federal system of government. The class will provide students with an understanding of civic life, politics, and the constitutional process. It will also provide a basis for understanding the rights and responsibilities of citizens and a frameworkfor active participation in government.

Content:

The content of the course will be broken down in to units of study. The units include:

Unit 1: The Constitution and Federalism (Ch.1-4)

Unit 2: Political Parties, Civic Responsibility, Elections/Campaigns, & Mass Media (Ch.16, 17, 19)

Unit 3: Congress and Interest Groups (Ch. 5-7, 18)

Unit 4: President and the Bureaucracy (Ch. 8-10)

Unit 5: Judiciary, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Ch. 11-15)

Unit 6: Policy Making and Civic Responsibility (Ch.20-22)

Attendance and Make-up Policy:

Regular attendance is strongly encouraged to assist students in being successful in the course. Your being absent the day or days before a test or quiz does not exempt you from that assessment. A student’s absence the day before a known assessment will not excuse or exempt that student from the assessment. Make-up days and times are posted in the room. You MUST tell the teacher when you are coming. If the given times do not work, you are responsible for arranging an alternate time with your teacher.

Course Grades:

Unit Tests (5)35%

Project15%

Assignments/Quizzes30%

Final exam20%

Homework/Class work:

  • No late work will be accepted, and all missing work will be entered into Synergy as a zero (0). Therefore, it is better to turn in an incomplete assignment for partial credit than nothing at all.
  • Assignments eligible to be made up due to absence will be entered into Synergy as a one (1).
  • Work will be graded for completion and/or accuracy.

Tests:

  • Tests and quizzes will be announced in advance, and there will be a review session either in class or before school.
  • A student’s absence the day before a known assessment will not excuse or exempt that student from the assessment.
  • You will need a pen, pencil, and paper on test days.

Textbook:United States Government: Democracy in Action. (Replacement cost: $62.97)

Classroom Expectations:

  • Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Giving or receiving information on tests or other assignments will result in a zero, an administrative referral, and could result in the loss of a letter grade.
  • Have all materials with you, including your textbook, notebook, paper, pen/pencil. There will be no passes to your locker.
  • Keep all notes, handouts, quizzes and any other class work for the entire semester in your required one inch binder to review later.
  • In compliance with the Student Handbook, absolutely no cell phones, iPads/tablets, or any other electronic devices will be allowed or VISIBLE in class without teacher permission; any such devices must stay either in the phone box on your desk or in your bag. Use of headphones to listen to music is strictly prohibited during instructional time. This is your warning and you will be written up after the first offense.
  • Absolutely no food or drinksare allowed in the classroom. All food and drink must be thrown away before entering the classroom.
  • There will be a seating chart and you are expected to adhere to it. Not doing so will result in a detention.

Restroom:

You are expected to use the restroom before or after class. However, in case of emergency, you will be given five passes to use during student-directed learning time. Your pass will be located in the card boxin the back of the room. If you use all your passes, then make a friend and ask to use one of their passes. Otherwise, you will be unable to leave the classroom unless an administrator sends for you. An additional three passes will be provided for visits to the library, other teachers, or the office.

Detentions:

Teacher detentions will be assigned for: talking, sleeping/head down, having food or drink, talking while the teacher is talking, violation of the class cellphone policy, or other reasonable circumstances not listed.

  • Students must schedule detentions with the teacher promptly; missed detentions will result in an administrative referral.
  • Parents will be contacted by phone to inform them of the assignment of a teacher detention.

ISS/OSS:

It is the student’s responsibility to get work from the instructor in advance. If this is not possible, the instructor will leave missed work with the front office staff.

Work must be completed and submitted the 1st day back or the student will receive no credit.

I have read and agree to the aforementioned classroom guidelines and procedures

______

Student NameParent Name

______

Student SignatureDateParent SignatureDate