
Bryan · Social Sciences · Government - GOVT
American Government
GOVT-2305
- Spring 2019
- Section 346 CRN-24885
- 3 Credits
- 01/14/2019 to 05/09/2019
- Modified 01/11/2019
Meeting Times
Lecture
- Monday, Wednesday, 4:15 PM to 5:30 PM, A106
Contact Information
Professor: Mrs. Lena Noel Denman
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: A262
- Phone: 979-224-6738
Office Hours
- Monday, Wednesday, 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM, A262
Description
Government 2305 is a study of the organization, functions, and administration of the several branches and agencies of the national government, including a study of the federal constitution. The primary factors considered relate to the three branches of government -- judicial, executive, legislative -- major historical documents, the events that shaped the nation, and current events. Emphasis will be placed on the interaction of these subsystems. 48 contact hours. Credit: Three semester hours.
Student must be college reading ready according to Texas Success Initiatives Standards (TSI). Please see the Catalog section under Texas Success Initiative.
Core Curriculum Statement
Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge in human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning. For details relating to this core course, please see:
Outcomes
Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
Analyze the election process.
Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics.
Materials
Course Requirements
Exams
You will have four exams and a comprehensive final over the course of this semester. The first four exams will be all multiple choice. You need the AcuScan 28980 Scantron for all exams in my class. Each exam will be weighted as 100 points of the 1,000 points available to earn of the course grade. The final will be 100 questions. The final is cumulative and will consist of 25 questions from each of the preceding examinations for a total of one hundred questions you have already seen and attempted. The final will be weighted as 200 points out of 1,000 points possible in the class.
Research Case Studies
You will be assigned a role in a case study simulation. Your performance in this role and written memo turned in pertaining to this role will determine your grade on this section of the course.
Quizzes
Online quizzes are assigned for each chapter. Quizzes will consist of 10 questions over the assigned readings, documentaries or lecture. Quizzes cannot be made up or taken afterwards, unless a school approved trip or religious activity interferes that you have proper documentation for to present to me prior to that activity occurring. Grades will be made available immediately after submission through the "Progress" tab on ecampus, underneath "grades."
Extra Credit
Students will be given an opportunity to earn five extra points for each unit by successfully completing the game assigned for that unit from the www.icivics.org (http://www.icivics.org/) website. Students will obtain credit by submitting a saved copy of the completion certificate to the ecampus email by the end of each unit.
Evaluation
Criteria
Exams | 600 Points |
There will be four exams worth a maximum of one hundred points each. There will also be a cumulative final examination worth 200 points. |
|
Research Case Studies | 200 Points |
Rough Draft of Memo: 50 points Final Draft of Memo: 75 points Presentation: 50 points Participation: 25 points
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Quizzes | 200 points |
There will be ten quizzes worth a maximum of twenty points per quiz. |
|
Extra Credit | 20 points |
There will be four extra credit assignments worth a maximum of five points per assignment. |
Breakdown
A | 900-1,000 points | |
B | 800-899 points | |
C | 700-799 points | |
D | 600-699 points | |
F | 0-599 points |
Blinn College Policies
All policies, guidelines, and procedures in the Blinn College Catalog, Blinn College Board Policies, and the Blinn College Administrative Regulations are applicable to this course.
Notice of any action taken under these protocol and procedures, by Blinn College or its employees, may be delivered by hand, through the U.S. Postal Service, or electronically to the student’s Blinn Buc e-mail account. Notice shall be deemed received upon actual receipt, on deposit in the U.S. Mail, or upon entering the information processing system used by Blinn College for Blinn Buc e-mail accounts, whichever first occurs.
Course Policies
Q Drop Date
The last date to drop this course with a "Q," is Friday, April 26, 2019.
Make Up Examinations
Make up exams will be given for school organization trips, religious activity with documentation and family emergencies with the proper documentation. They will not be in the same format as the original exam. Those needing to take a make up exam will have one week from the original exam date to arrange the make up exam. School trips and religious activities documentation must be provided to me at least one day prior to the activity.
Schedule
Week One |
Meeting Details |
Lecture Minutes |
Weekly Hours |
Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 |
Review of Syllabus |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 |
American Political Culture |
75 |
|
Week Two |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Jan. 21, 2019 |
Martin Luther King - Holiday |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday , Jan. 23, 2019 |
American Political Culture |
75 |
|
Week Three |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Jan. 28, 2019 |
The Founding and the Constitution |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019 |
The Founding and the Constitution |
75 |
|
Week Four |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Feb. 4, 2019 |
Federalism |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 |
Federalism Group Project; Rough Draft of Memo Due |
75 |
|
Week Five |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Feb. 11, 2019 |
Public Opinion |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 |
The Media |
75 |
|
Week Six |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 |
Exam One |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019 |
Participation and Voting |
75 |
|
Week Seven |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Feb. 25, 2019 |
Political Parties |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019 |
Campaigns and Elections |
75 |
|
Week Eight |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Mar. 4, 2019 |
Groups and Interests |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2019 |
Exam Two |
75 |
|
Week Nine |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Mar. 11, 2019 |
Spring Break |
|
|
Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2019 |
Spring Break |
|
|
Week Ten |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Mar. 18, 2019 |
Civil Liberties |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2019 |
Civil Liberties |
75 |
|
Week Eleven |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Mar. 25, 2019 |
Civil Rights |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Mar. 27, 2019 |
Civil Rights; Final Draft of Memo Due |
75 |
|
Week Twelve |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Apr. 1, 2019 |
Congress |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2019 |
Congress |
75 |
|
Week Thirteen |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Apr. 8, 2019 |
Judiciary |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2019 |
Exam Three |
75 |
|
Week Fourteen |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Apr. 15, 2019 |
The Presidency |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2019 |
Russia And Ukraine: A Case Study |
75 |
|
Week Fifteen |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Apr. 22, 2019 |
Frontline: Putin’s Way Film |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2019 |
Exam Four |
75 |
|
Week Sixteen |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, Apr. 29, 2019 |
Class Presentations of Case Study |
75 |
3 |
Wednesday, May 01, 2019 |
Review Day |
75 |
|
Week Seventeen – Finals Week |
|
LEC |
Weekly |
Monday, May 06, 2019 |
|
|
3 |
Tuesday, May 07, 2019 |
|
|
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Wednesday, May 08, 2019 |
Final Exam (5:45PM-8:00PM) |
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Thursday, May 09, 2019 |
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Total Contact Hours |
48 hr. |