GOVT-2305 United States Government
Julz Decker
Credit Fall 2024
Section(s)
GOVT-2305-035 (90615)
LEC TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am RVS RVSG 9113
Course Requirements
Grading: Exams/Attendance/Homework/Extra Credit
Exams
There will be four objective exams (multiple choice and true/false) administered during the regular semester and a comprehensive optional final exam. Students who arrive more than 20 minutes late for any exam will not be able to take the exam. The final exam may be taken to replace the lowest test score or a missed exam. It is optional for students who have not missed an exam and are satisfied with their grade. Make-up exams will NOT be administered unless there are extreme and documented events that have led to the missing of more than one exam and the instructor approves. For students who are interested an alternative essay exam that must be taken in class or the testing center can be obtained with permission. Exams are worth 70% of the course grade.
Attendance
Attendance will be taken on most days and students are responsible for signing in on the provided document. Attendance is worth 10% of the course grade. Students who accumulate more than three unexcused absences will lose 5 out of 10 attendance points. Students with more than five unexcused absences will lose all 10 points. Students are responsible for any material missed during the semester.
Homework
There will be five homework assignments. The assignments will be announced in class and posted on Blackboard and will pertain to course material. The homework due date will be announced the same day as the homework and is usually due the day of the corresponding exam. The lowest of the five homework grades will be dropped and the remaining four homework assignments will be averaged at the end of the semester and will count for 20% of your course grade.
Service Learning
This semester the class will participate in a service-learning project that involves the ACC community. This will account for 5% of your course grade. The first step is to complete your Service-Learning Student Orientation which is mandatory. We will discuss service learning more in class and feel free to ask any questions you may have.
Extra credit
Extra credit can be gained by bringing in news articles that deal with current political events either on the national or state level that pertain to the United States or Texas. For each article discussed and handed in one extra credit point will be added to the upcoming test grade with a maximum of five points per test. Articles must be handed in before the exam and can only be handed in one at a time. The student must be able to discuss or summarize the article during the current events portion of class to earn the extra credit. Extra credit will be added to the relevant exam.
Your semester grade will be calculated as follows:
Exams 70%
Homework 15%
Service Learning 05%
Attendance 10%
Total 100%
Readings
Reading Materials and Resources
United States Government, by Hoag and Fonte. This is a free publication that can be accessed via our course blackboard site and will be inside the textbook folder.
The textbook is primarily for supplemental reading.
Announcements, lectures for students, homework, and exam reviews will be provided on blackboard.
Course Subjects
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Calendar |
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08/27 |
First Day of Class |
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08/29 |
Chapter 1 Democracy and American Politics |
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09/03 |
Chapter 2 The Constitution |
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09/05 |
Chapter 3 Federalism |
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09/10 |
Chapter 3 Federalism |
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09/12 |
Chapter 4 Public Opinion |
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09/17 |
Chapter 4 Public Opinion |
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09/19 |
Chapter 7 Voting, Campaigns, and Elections |
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09/24 |
Exam 1 (HW due) |
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09/26 |
Chapter 9 Congress |
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10/01 |
Chapter 9 Congress |
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10/03 |
Chapter 6 Political Parties |
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10/08 |
Chapter 5 Interest Groups |
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10/10 |
Chapter 8 The Media |
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10/15 |
Chapter 8 The Media |
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10/17 |
Exam 2 (HW due) |
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10/22 |
Chapter 10 The Presidency |
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10/24 |
Chapter 10 The Presidency |
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10/29 |
Chapter 11 The Executive Branch |
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10/31 |
Chapter 14 The Courts |
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11/05 |
Chapter 15 Civil Liberties |
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11/07 |
Chapter 15 Civil Liberties |
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11/12 |
Exam 3 (HW due) |
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11/14 |
Chapter 16 Civil Rights |
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11/19 |
Chapter 16 Civil Rights |
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11/21 |
Chapter 16 Civil Rights |
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11/26 |
Chapter 12 Domestic Policy |
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11/28 |
Thanksgiving No Class |
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12/03 |
Chapter 12 Domestic Policy |
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12/05 |
Chapter 13 Foreign Policy |
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12/10 |
Exam 4 (HW due) |
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12/12 |
Optional Final |
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Course Description
This course is an introduction to United States national government. The course includes an introduction to a framework for understanding United States government and politics, the constitutional basis for United States government and politics, the processes of United States government and politics, the institutions of United States government and politics, and the policies of United States government and politics.
Course Objectives
United States Government (2305) is designed to motivate students to learn the foundation, functions, and operations of the United States government for the purpose of attaining a greater understanding of the political process, participation, and institutions.
Office Hours
T Th 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM RVSA 2271
NOTE In personT Th 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM RVSA 2271
NOTE In PersonF 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Virtual
NOTE Virtual OnlyPublished: 08/26/2024 21:48:24