Online Orientation: Kennedy - GOVT 2302 eClass Fall '09

COURSE SYLLABUS
for
eClass GOV 2302 - Kennedy
American Government: 
National, State and Local II
Fall 2009

Catalog Description of GOVT 2302

An examination of the institutional elements of the American political system: Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, and Bureaucracy. These elements are examined at the national, state and local levels with a special emphasis on their roles in the development of public policy.

Credit

3 Hours

Prerequisites

Must meet college level reading scores; ENGL 0305 or ENGL 0316 AND ENGL 0307 or 0326, OR higher level course (ENGL 1301), OR placement by testing.

ADA Statement

Lone Star College is dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all students.  The college district promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational programs and activities. Students with disabilities who believe that they need accommodations in this course are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office at 936-273-7239; located in Building E, Office 103H as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Purpose

Upon leaving the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia after signing the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was stopped by a woman who asked what it was they had just created. His response was, “A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it.” This course, one of two introductory courses in US, state, and local government, has two objectives. The first is to teach you the essential mechanics of our "Republic" at the federal, state & local level. Second, and equally important, during the semester you will develop analytical skills to help make sense of both how government works and the role of citizenship in the United States. We will look at key actors (the President, Speaker of the House, Governor...), institutions (Congress, the presidency, the Supreme Court...), and policy areas (civil rights, civil liberties, domestic and foreign policy) at the state and federal level. We will examine how these different components have evolved over time and how they interact in the constant struggle over politics - who gets what, when, and how. By the end of the semester you will have a better understanding of politics and citizenship, and be in a better position to tackle Ben Franklin's enduring challenge of keeping the republic.

Learning Outcomes 

In completing this course, you will
-Explore the institutional role of the legislative branch at both state and federal levels.
-Explain the instrumental role of the executive branch, including the bureaucracy, at both the state and federal levels.
-Discuss the institutional role of the judicial branch at both the state and federal levels.
-Analyze the development of civil rights and civil liberties.
-Acquire a basic understanding of domestic and foreign policy.

Required Materials

Understanding American Government & Politics, Texas Edition, 2009 , by John J. Coleman, Kenneth M. Goldstein, William G. Howell, L. Tucker Gibson, Jr., Clay Robison, and David A. Crockett. w/ free Study Guide andMyPoliscilab Web access. ISBN: 020575984X. Available through the Montgomery College bookstore.
Optional:
You can also purchase our class textbook by itself (i.e., without a study guide and MyPoliSciLab access key). None of the packaged supplements are mandatory/required for class, although some may find them useful). The ISBN for the stand alone text is:
Understanding American Government & Politics, Texas Edition, 2009, ISBN-10: 0205651860

Information on Textbook Purchase:
The class text can be purchased one of several ways: including through the Lone Star College-Montgomery Bookstore, online @ at http://www.efolet.com , or online through resources such as Amazon or the Pearson Publisher's website

Topics

Thinking About American Politics	The Federal Court System
Congress	Civil Liberties
The Texas Legislature	The Texas Judiciary
The Presidency	Economic & Social Policy
The Bureaucracy	Civil Rights
The Texas Executive & Bureaucracy	Foreign Policy

Office Hours, Contact Information & Class Schedule

Course Requirements

This course is designed to provide flexibility yet ensure regular interaction with other students and myself. It is important to realize that this is NOT an independent studies course. The semester is divided into four units, each covering roughly three chapters followed by a unit exam. For each assigned chapter in a given unit, you will be expected to complete 1. a chapter WDYK? (What Do You Know?) assessment; 2. a class discussion; 3. an class exercise/quiz; 4. a concluding WDYL? (What Did You Learn?) assessment. In addition, you will find specific study resources for each chapter, including: chapter learning objectives; class notes; and vocabulary flashcards.

WDYK?/WDYL? Assessments

This semester, we will be using a series of brief What Do You Know? (WDYK?) pre-tests and What Did You Learn? (WDYL?) post-tests. These These pre-test/post-tests are intended to help you (and me) identify weak areas as you tackle each chapter. The WDYK? Assessment should be taken prior to reading the assigned chapter, and will close after the second day a given chaper is assigned. The WDYL? Assessment should be taken after reading the assigned chapter and studying the corresponding chapter support material, and will be closed after the end date for the assigned chapter. Scores on these assessments will NOT count toward your semester grade. However, completion of ALL the WDYK? and WDYL? assessments BY THE ASSIGNED DUE DATES will result in 2pts points added to your final grade!

Class Discussions

While you won’t be physcially attending class, you ARE required to keep up with assigned readings and participate in regular class discussions via the class discussion postings through ANGEL (16% of final grade). New discussion questions will correspond with chapter assignments, and all discussion posting due dates are listed in the syllabus and on your ANGEL course calendar. After reading the posted discussion topic for the week, you will need to post at least two responses to each topic by the assigned deadlines in order to recieve credit. No late postings will be accepted! Your first posting should directly address the discussion question, while your second posting can be a followup to your original comments, or a response to other student postings. Each posting should be approximately one to two paragraphs in length. I think you will enjoy (as well as learn from) these class discussions!

Class Exercises

During the semester there will be eight internet-based exercises with corresponding quizzes. These will be accessed from within the Lessons tab under the corresponding Unit & Chapter. Just click on the exercise link to begin each exercise/quiz. You must complete the corresponding quiz in order to receive credit for the exercise. Assigned dates for the exercises and corresponding quizzes are posted in the syllabus and within the your ANGEL course calendar. Exercise/Quizzes will be be available ONLY during these assigned times, and are worth a total of 8% of your semester grade.

Class Exams

During the semester there will be four scheduled unit exams, each worth 18% of your semester grade. All exams will be administered online through the "Assessments" tool within our ANGEL course environment and will run from 12:30am through midnight during the assigned exam dates listed in the syllabus. Each exam will be 50 minutes long, and will consist of 50 multiple choice questions. Students must take each exam on the assigned exam dates. Any student unable to take a scheduled exam due to extraordinary circumstances must contact me with a valid excuse within 24 hours (or as soon as physically able) following the scheduled exam time. Those with valid excuses and instructor approval will be allowed to take a one-time, makeup exam administered the week of Nov. 30. The makeup exam will consist of the same material and format as the missed exam. The grade assigned to the makeup exam will be weighted the same amount as the exam missed in computing your semester grade. Students who fail to follow these procedures will receive an F for the exam missed. There is no makeup for the final exam.

**The last day to drop this class and receive a “W” is Friday, November 6th. No drops will be accepted after November 6th . If you decide to drop the course, you must complete a drop form and submit it through one of the campus Admissions Offices. It will be the student’s responsibility to drop the course if you so choose. Having said this, I would encourage you to consult with me in advance if you are considering dropping the course. If a student stops attending the course and does not officially withdraw, she/he will receive a course grade of “F.”

Optional Extra Credit

You may to do an optional semester extra credit project woth up to 4pts added to your final semester grade. Anyone interested in this option must contact me by email and receive instructor approval for your extra credit topic by Thursday, Sept. 10. Details on the community service and book review options can be found in our ANGEL classroom under the "Course Resources" window, or my clicking HERE.

For those concerned with their progress in class, doing the extra credit can have a considerable impact on your final grade! If you are considering completing the extra credit, then email me your request and get approval prior to the due date. Signing up does not mean you have to complete the extra credit. However, only those who have signed up for extra credit and been approved by Thursday, Sept. 10th will be allowed to turn in papers. I also strongly encourage contacting me prior to the due date if you choose to participate. I will be happy to discuss possible volunteer options as well as the structure of the final paper, go over preliminary outlines/drafts, etc. The community service project papers are due Tuesday Nov. 24. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Academic Dishonesty & Plagiarism: I have ZERO tolerance for academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism. According to New Heritage Dictionary plagiarizing is “to use and pass off as one's own the ideas or writings of another.” A simple rule of thumb is, when in doubt, cite. Any student found engaging in plagiarism in any assignment WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE GIVEN A SEMESTER GRADE OF “F”. THIS APPLIES TO THE INTERNET AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL TEXTS. Internet assignments will require full citations of all addresses used (failure to provide full internet citations will result in an automatic 40pts deducted from the assignment grade). Incorrect/false cites will result in an automatic F for that particular assignment. Please ask if there are any questions on this important topic.

Semester Grade Formula

Exam 1	19%	Grading Scale:
Exam 2	19%	A = 90-100
Exam 3	19%	B = 80-89
Exam 4	19%	C = 70-79
Online Discussions	16%	D = 60-69
Internet Exercise Quizzes	8%	F = Below 60
Final Grade:	100%

 

Course Schedule & Exam Dates

It is important that you complete your assigned readings in accordance with the class schedule as we progress during the semester. Keeping on track with the readings will allow you to meaningfully participate in class discussion, and will be essential for understanding of the course material and successfully completing each exam.

Unit I
Aug. 24-31	Thinking About American Politics	Chapter 1 WDYK? Assessment Due Aug. 26 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 1 Discussion #1: Postings Due Aug. 31 Exercise/Quiz 1: Due Aug. 31 Chapter 1 WDYL? Assessment Due Aug. 31
Sept. 1-8	Congress	Chapter 13 WDYK? Assessment Due Sept. 2 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 13 Discussion #2: Postings Due Sept. 8 Exercise/Quiz 2: Due Sept. 8 Chapter 13 WDYL? AssessmentDue Sept. 8
Sept. 7	Labor Day - Campus Closed
Sept. 9-16	The Texas Legislature	No WDYK? Assessment in preparation for Exam 1 Coleman, Chapter 23 Discussion #3: Postings Due Sept. 16 (No Exercise/Quiz Due In Prep for Exam 1) No WDYL? Assessment in preparation for Exam 1
Sept. 17 & 18	Exam 1	Accessed through ANGEL Classroom "Assessments" Tool (All Exams Must Be Completed Before Midnight, Sept. 18)
Unit II
Sept. 19-27	The Presidency	Chapter 14 WDYK? Assessment Due Sept. 20 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chaper 14 Discussion #4: Postings Due Sept. 27 Exercise/Quiz 3: Due Sept. 27 Chapter 14 WDYL? Assessment Due Sept. 27
Sept. 28-Oct. 5	The Bureaucracy	Chapter 16 WDYK? Assessment Due Sept. 29 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 16 Discussion #5: Postings Due Oct. 5 Exercise/Quiz 4: Due Oct. 5 Chapter 16 WDYL? Assessment Due Oct. 5
Oct. 6-12	The Texas Executive & Bureaucracy	No WDYK? Assessment in preparation for Exam 2 Coleman, Chapter 24 Discussion #6: Postings Due Oct. 12 (No Exercise/Quiz Due in Prep for Exam 2) No WDYL? Assessment in preparation for Exam 2
Oct. 13-14	Exam 2	Accessed through ANGEL Classroom "Assessments" Tool (All Exams Must Be Completed Before Midnight, Oct. 14)
Unit III
Oct. 15-22	The Federal Court System	Chapter 15 WDYK? Assessment Due Oct 16 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 15 Discussion #7: Postings Due Oct. 22 Exercise/Quiz 5: Due Oct. 22 Chapter 15 WDYL? Assessment Due Oct. 22
Oct. 15-17	Professor Kennedy Out of Town on Business
Oct. 23-31	Civil Liberties	Chapter 5 WDYK? Assessment Due Oct 24 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 5 Discussion #8: Postings Due Oct. 31 Exercise/Quiz 6: Due Oct. 31 Chapter 5 WDYL? Assessment Due Oct. 31
Nov. 1-8	The Texas Judiciary	No WDYK? Assessment in preparation for Exam 3 Coleman, Chapter 25 Discussion #9: Postings Due Nov. 8 (No Exercise/Quiz Due in Prep for Exam 3) No WDYL? Assessment in preparation for Exam 3
Nov. 9-10	Exam 3	Accessed through ANGEL Classroom "Assessments" Tool (All Exams Must Be Completed Before Midnight, Nov. 10)
Unit IV
Nov. 11-18	Economic & Social Policy	Chapter 17 WDYK? Assessment Due Nov. 12 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 17 Discussion #10: Postings Due Nov. 18 Exercise/Quiz 7: Due Nov. 18 Chapter 17 WDYL? Assessment Due Nov. 18
Nov. 19-29	Civil Rights	Chapter 6 WDYK? Assessment Due Nov. 20 (Please Take BEFORE Reading the Chapter) Coleman, Chapter 6 Discussion #11: Postings Due Nov. 29 Exercise/Quiz 8: Due Nov. 29 Chapter 6 WDYL? Assessment Due Nov. 29
Nov. 26-29	Thanksgiving (Campus Closed)
Nov. 30-Dec. 6	Foreign Policy	No WDYK? Assessment in preparation for Exam 4 (Final) Coleman, Chapter 18 Optional Makeup Discussion: (Postings Due Dec. 6) Optional Makeup Exercise/Quiz: Due Dec. 6 No WDYL? Assessment in preparation for Exam 4 (Final)
Dec. 7 & 8	Exam 4 (Final Exam)	Accessed through ANGEL Classroom "Assessments" Tool (All Exams Must Be Completed Before Midnight, Dec. 8)