GOVT2305Federal Government
CourseSyllabus:Fall2014
“Northeast Texas CommunityCollege exists to provideresponsible,exemplarylearningopportunities.”
RonnieJ.Holloway
Office: Assigned Classroom-15 min. before andafter class
Phone: 909-434-8255 Humanities Building Secretary
Email:
OfficeHours / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / OnlineTheinformation contained in this syllabus is subject to changewithout notice. Students are expectedto beawareof any additional coursepolicies presented bythe instructorduring the course.
CatalogCourseDescription(includeprerequisites):3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical: Three hours of class each week.
Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties and civil rights.
RequiredTextbook(s):
TheAmerican Democracy(Texas Edition) 11thEdition
Thomas E. Patterson andGaryM. Halter
Publisher:McGraw HillCo.
ISBN Number:978-0-07-742418-3
RecommendedReading(s):
None
Student Learning Outcomes:
1.Students will analyze and articulate the theoretical principles that guide political life in the
United States of America.
2.Students will critically evaluate the content, causes, and effects of politically significant
information gained through the news media.
3.Student will demonstrate an understanding of basic American political processes and
institutions.
SCANS Skills:
N/A
Lectures &Discussions:
In order to facilitatelearning, each lectureis accompanied with power point presentations. These
power point presentations help facilitate discussions. Duringthe process oftakingnotes and discussing the relevantmaterials, theinstructorwillalso bringin outside information and examples to help the class understand theconcepts beingtaught. After thepower point presentations, theinstructor will go through thechapter and pointout thehighlights. This re-emphasizes the main points of the power point presentations and becomes a useful review. Review questions overeachchapteraregiven to the students through the useofNTCC Blackboard tohelp in understandingand formajortest reviews.
Evaluation/Grading Policy:
You will be able to trackyouraverageexactlythroughout the course. Thegradingscale is asfollows:
A=90 or above; B=89-80; C=79-70; D=69-60; F=59 orbelow.
1. Major exams (3)willcount 50% of finalgrade.
(Completion of courseevaluation willadd fivepoints to test gradeaverage)
2. outside research paperover ChiefJusticeJohnMarshall in whichyou must identifyhis major
Supreme Court cases involvingjudicial review. This paper will count 25% ofyour finalgrade.
3. Attendance/participationwillcount 25% ofthe finalgrade.
Tests/Exams:
The first two major exams willbeshort answerand multiple choice. The final will be allshort answer.
Threemajorexams: Major ExamI-Coverschapters 1-5 andclass notes. October17
MajorExamII-Covers chapters 6-10 andclass notes November19
Final Exam-Covers chapters 11-15 and class notes-December 10 orDecember12
MajorPaper Due-On orbefore November 5
Assignments:
Majorpaper over ChiefJusticeJohn Marshall includingaBibliographyanddiscussion ofhiscourt cases
overjudicial review involving government, politicians and individuals.
OtherCourseRequirements:
American Government Calendar
August 26 – Teacher welcome and introduction- students told how to get computer registered at
NTCC- students given syllabus covering classroom expectations and grading
policies -student demonstration on how to use Web Backboard - Q & A involving
attendance and outside assignments covered.
August 28- Student introductions – discuss globalization and World country facts and figures
(population, economy, size, etc.)
September 2- Take class notes over power point presentation and discussion over Chapter 1
(American Political Culture) seeking a more perfect union-types of Equality and
order
September 4- Continue class notes over Chapter 1 and discussion – purpose of government –
liberty, order and freedoms
September 9- Conclude class notes over types of equality and Political ideologies –
conservative vs. liberal- General Election date- end Chapter 1
September 11-Terms and definitions for Chapter 1- go over Chapter 1 in book –-assignment read
Chapter 2
September 16-Finish Chapter 1
September 18- Go over early colonization (Chapter 2) American Revolution –Articles of
Confederation Shay’s Rebellion –Start class notes Chapter 2
September 23- Continue Class notes Chapter 2 over the U.S. Constitution –Cover U.S.
Constitution - Articles I through VII and ratification.
September 25- Continue notes Amendments 1-27 and Definitions Chapter 2
September 30- Cover highlights in book Chapter 2
October 2 – Chapter 3 class notes (Federalism- Duel and Cooperative) - Legislation shifts and
Balances - Slides 1-33
October 7- Continue Chapter 3-National Government Predominant- grants in aid –
Definitions Chapter 3
October 9- Cover Chapter 3 in book –Start Chapter 4 review in book
October 14- Continue Chapter 4 in book-Review for first major test (Chapters 1-5)
October 16- Major Test over Chapters 1-5 plus Declaration of Independence and
U.S. Constitution in back of book
October 21- Start notes on Chapter 6 – Media
October 23-Continue notes over Chapter 6- Media-Definitions on Chapter 6
October 28- Chapter 6 review in book-Chapter 6
October 30- Start Chapter 7 notes over Political participation to slide 20
November 4- Continue Chapter 7 notes – Cover Chapter Definitions
Review Chapter 7 in book - (The Judiciary Major Paper Due-John Marshall)
November 6- Chapter 8 notes and Start Definitions Chapter 8
November 11- Definitions on Chapter 8- Chapter 9 -Start Chapter 9-
Interest Groups Notes
November 13 - Continue Chapter 9 and Definitions over Chapter 9 and 10
Review for major test Chapters 6 – 10
November 18– Second Major Test Chapters 6-10
November 20 – Start Chapter 11- Congress
November 25 – Finish Chapter 11 notes and Review Chapter 11 in book
Start Chapter 12- The President
November 26 through November 30 Easter Break
December 2– Cover Chapter 14 notes and summary
December 4- Review for major exams
December 9 – FINAL EXAM
December 11- FINAL EXAM
Student Responsibilities/Expectations:
Attendanceis a veryimportant part of theclass because of class notes anddiscussions missed during an
absence. Agradeisgiven for attendanceand classroom participation. All students should remember onebasicprincipleofconduct, yourrights end wheresomeone else's begin. You should always treateach other with respect and dignity. This includesyour modeof dress, speech, and conduct in class.
NTCC Academic Honesty Statement:
"Students are expected tocomplete coursework inan honest manner, usingtheirintellects and resources
designated as allowable bythecourseinstructor. Students areresponsiblefor addressingquestions about allowable resources with the courseinstructor. NTCC upholds the highest standards ofacademic integrity. This coursewillfollow theNTCC AcademicHonestypolicystated in theStudent Handbook."
Academic Ethics
The collegeexpects all students to engagein academicpursuits in a manner that is beyondreproach.
Students areexpected tomaintain complete honestyand integrityin their academicpursuit. Academic dishonestysuchas cheating, plagiarism, and collusion is unacceptableandmayresultin disciplinary action. Refer to thestudent handbook formoreinformation on this subject.
ADA Statement:
It is the policyof NTCCto provide reasonable accommodations forqualified individuals who are
students with disabilities.This Collegewilladhereto all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, andguidelines with respect to providingreasonable accommodations as required toafford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’sresponsibilitytoarrangean appointment with a
College counselor to obtain a Request forAccommodations form. Formoreinformation, please refer to the NTCCCatalogor Student Handbook.
Family Educational Rights AndPrivacy Act(Ferpa):
The FamilyEducational Rights and PrivacyAct (FERPA)is a federal lawthat protects theprivacyof student education records. Thelaw applies to all schools that receivefundsunder an applicable program ofthe U.S. Department of Education. FERPAgives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s educational records.These rights transfer to thestudent whenheor she attends aschool beyond thehigh school level. Students to whom the rights havetransferred are considered “eligiblestudents.”Inessence, aparent has no legal right toobtain information concerningthe child’scollegerecords without the written consent of the student.Incompliancewith FERPA, information classified as “directory information” maybereleased to thegeneral publicwithoutthe written consent of thestudent unless the student makes a request in writing. Directoryinformation is defined as: thestudent’s name, permanent address and/orlocal address, telephonelisting, dates of attendance, most recent previous education institution attended, otherinformation includingmajor, field ofstudy, degrees, awardsreceived, and participation in officiallyrecognized activities/sports.
OtherCoursePolicies:
When enteringthe classroom, all cellphones and electronicdevices should beturned off . You mayuse
a computeror tapemachine with the professors permission.
Students havingproblems seeingtheboard mayrequest a seat closer to theboard.