GOVT-2305 United States Government

Wajma Nasher

Credit Fall 2025

Section(s)

GOVT-2305-057 (21531)
LEC DIL ONL DIL

GOVT-2305-058 (21532)
LEC DIL ONL DIL

GOVT-2305-062 (21536)
LEC DIL ONL DIL

Course Requirements

For complete syllabus please visit the class blackboard page.

All exams will be taken online through blackboard at home.

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 modality: Online Class Asynchronous 

Instruction for this course is delivered entirely online.  Students may complete the coursework at any location where they have access to all necessary technology.  There is no required travel to campus and no required online video meeting times.  Students will be completing assessments and assignments in the online setting using the Blackboard learning management system.

Course Requirements

1. Examinations: Four examinations will be issued during the course. The examinations will consist of 50 multiple choice & true/false questions worth 2 points each for a total of 100 points per exam. Altogether, the four examinations are worth up to 400 points of a student’s final course grade.

2. Quizzes: There will be three quizzes you will have to take covering videos.  Altogether, the three quizzes are worth up to 150 points of a student’s final course grade.

3.  Discussion Board: There will be some discussion board postings that you will have to write. Each posting is worth 50 points.

There will be due dates but students may work ahead and complete the required work early.

Readings

Your textbook for this class is available for free online! 

  • The book is called: American Government 3nd edition by OpenStax.
  • The book is online and it’s free with a PDF download, web version, or ordering a print copy.
  • The website link is: https://www.oercommons.org/courses/american-government-2/view
  • Citation: Krutz, G., & Waskiewicz, S. (2021). American Government 3e. OpenStax.
  • Copyright Rice University, OpenStax, under CC BY 4.0 license.

Course Subjects

Unit One:  The Constitution, Federalism, and Civil Liberties

Unit Two:  Civil Rights, Voting & Elections, Media, and Campaigns

Unit Three: Interest Groups, The Legislative Branch, and The Executive Branch

Unit Four:  The Judicial Branch, Public Policy, and Foreign Policy

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Common Course Objectives

This course will emphasize teaching students the following general learning outcomes that the Government Department of Austin Community College has adopted for all of its GOVT 2305 courses:

Constitutional Foundations: 

The student will understand the foundations, development, and features on the U.S. Constitution.

Linkage Institutions: 

The student will understand how media, interest groups, and political parties serve as institutions to connect people to government.

Political Learning: 

The student will understand how political values, attitudes, and behaviors are learned, organized, and expressed.

Campaigns and Elections: 

The student will understand the operation of a political campaign, types of elections, and the factors that affect election outcomes.

Institutions of Government: 

The student will understand the structure, functions, and operations of the institutions of U.S. government.

Civil Liberties and Civil Rights:

The student will understand how civil liberties and civil rights  protect both the individual and categories of people.

Public Policy:

The student will understand the development and implementation of both foreign  and domestic policies. 

Office Hours

Office Hours

Published: 06/02/2025 13:58:48