GOVT-2305 United States Government
Shellee O'Brien
Credit Fall 2025
Section(s)
GOVT-2305-060 (21534)
LEC DIL ONL DIL
Course Requirements
What we'll study:
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.
This Great Questions course is focused on reading and discussing core-texts. Core texts are important primary documents, such as the writings of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court cases, notable essays, speeches and political music and art.
This course is discussion based. There are no exams or timed quizzes. You are evaluated on your writing, active engagement in the course discussions, two class presentations, and the portfolio you assemble. You will have extensive but fascinating readings to do during the week so there will always be something to talk about more as you prepare to write about your ideas and share what you have learned.
All course materials are available on Blackboard, free of charge.
What we'll do:
Read selected primary core-texts and relevant chapters in the assigned textbook.
In this course, you will explore works by influential authors like Plato, John Locke, The Federalists and Anti-Federalists, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as the texts of many Supreme Court Cases, political works of art and music. Assigned chapters in the textbook and other media provided on Blackboard will guide you with important background information as you read these (sometimes) challenging primary sources.
Students should expect to spend 60-90 minutes preparing for class each week, this includes completing the reading and writing a new entry for your Reading Journal. Having an effective strategy to manage this essential course requirement will support student success in class discussions and on the assignments listed below.
A complete syllabus will be provided through the course page on blackboard.
To earn credit in the course, students will complete the following assignments:
- Weekly Reading Journal and Class Discussions (20% of final grade)— Each week, students will reflect on the assigned reading and write one 150-250 word journal entry; This will prepare students to participate in regular class discussions applying the assigned materials to course themes
- Response Paper Essays (30% of final grade)—Each student will complete four Response Paper Essays where they will utilize assigned readings and class discussions to write a 500-600 word response to the assigned question
- Making Connections Presentations (20% of final grade)— Each student will prepare two Making Connections Presentations that will include researching a specific topic, creating a simple slide, and listing sources used. Students will present their selected topic addressing why it was important for the development of democracy in the United States, explaining its historical context, and imagining how the U.S. might be different today without this development.
- Mid-Term and Final Course Portfolio (30% of final grade)— Students will review their work on relevant course themes, select evidence that demonstrates what they have learned, and reflect on what their work reveals about changes in their understanding of American democracy; Students will follow guidelines provided to compile a curated collection of their work in the course, arrange those artifacts in a meaningful way, and write a reflective essay.
Course Subjects
This course introduces the student to the basics of US national government including a focus on the Constitution, governmental operations, institutions, policies and politics. Each unit of the course will focus on the purpose, function, structure, and processes of various government branches, departments, agencies, etc.
Week One: Course introduction and how questions help us know what we know
Week Two: The Political Philosophy of the United States— Why there is no Declaration of the U.S. without John Locke
Week Three: The logic of the American founding— How the Declaration understands self-government
Week Four: For a “more perfect union”— How failure shaped today’s Constitution
Week Five and Week Six: The Ratification Debate
Week Seven: Protecting Fundamental Rights— Why James Madison did not want a Bill of Rights (but ultimately wrote that part of the Constitution too)
Week Eight: Reflecting on Founding Questions and the U.S. Constitution ***Mid-Term Portfolios Due***
Week Nine: The Midnight of Slavery— Why Thomas Jefferson referred to slavery as a “cruel war against human nature itself”
Week Ten: Arguing for Freedom— What does it mean to say “All men are created equal?”
Week Eleven: Dawn of Freedom— Reconstruction vs. Restoration and deciding what freedom will look like in the United States
Week Twelve: Constitutional protection for fundamental rights— How the 14th Amendment “applies an update” to the U.S. Constitution
Week Thirteen: Federalism and Civil Rights— How our courts decide what the constitution protects
Week Fourteen: Social movements for civil rights
Week Fifteen: On the Basis of Sex— How substantive due process changes the way the Supreme Court thinks about women's rights
Week Sixteen: Reflecting on U.S. democracy— Freedom and equal citizenship today ***Final Portfolios Due***
Readings
Required reading assignments will be listed in the course syllabus distributed on the first day of class; PDFs or URLs will be posted on Blackboard so students can work at their own pace and find the relevant sources online.
Examples of the primary sources used in this course include:
- "The Apology of Socrates” by Plato
- Selections from “Second Treatise on Government” by John Locke
- The Declaration of the U.S. and the U.S. Constitution of 1787
- Selected Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist Essays
- Letters from James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Select court cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Griswold v. Connecticut, and Moritz v. Commissioner of IRS
- Selected chapters from "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” "Up from Slavery" by Booker T. Washington, and "The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois
These required readings will be assigned in advance and are available on Blackboard.
Additional reading from the OER (FREE) Open Education Resource Textbook will be indicated to assist students in developing the necessary background information for understanding the assigned core-texts each week. Students can preview the OER text for this course at this link (also available on Blackboard).
Students will read assigned selections from the text in advance of each class meeting. See calendar in the printed syllabus or on Blackboard to keep up with the reading as assigned throughout the course.
No other supplemental material (bundle, package, or online access) is required with the textbook. The instructor will use primary sources and provide access to those texts via Blackboard.
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
1. Constitutional Foundations—Analyzing the purposes,functions, and roles of government and policies; Evaluating the foundations, features, and development of the Constitution of the United States as it applies to the political system today.
2. Linkage Institutions—Analyzing the political and policy making impact of media, interest groups, and political parties today; Analyzing the conduct of elections and campaigns.
3. Political Learning—Evaluating the elements and impact of political culture on politics and policy making today; Assessing the formation and impact of public opinion on politics and policy making.
4. Institutions of Government—Analyzing the functions and operations of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and their roles in policy making today.
5. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights—Evaluating the origin, development, and impact of civil liberties and civil rights on individuals and groups.
6. Public Policy—Examining the domestic policy making process and the interrelationship between policy and politics; Analyzing the development and implementation of U.S. foreign policy both domestically and internationally.
Course policies
Academic Freedom
Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, particularly about political ideas, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is the instructor’s hope that these differences will enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn from each other. Therefore, be assured that the students’ grades will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
Class Conduct
Meaningful and constructive dialogue is encouraged in this class and requires a degree of mutual respect, willingness to listen, and tolerance of opposing points of view. Respect for individual differences and alternative viewpoints will be maintained at all times in this class. One’s words and use of language should be temperate and within acceptable bounds of civility and decency.
Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption, all students are expected to come to class prepared and on time, and remain for the full class period. All pagers, wireless phones, games, players or other electronic devices that generate sound and/or pictures must be turned off during class.Disruptive behaviors, including excessive talking, arriving late to class, sleeping, reading newspapers, using unauthorized electronic devices during class is not permitted.
Repetitive and seriously disruptive behavior, e.g. , fighting, using profanity, personal or physical threats or insults, damaging property, may result in your removal from class in accordance with the policies and procedures outlined in Austin Community College Standards of Student Conduct.
Scholastic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered includes scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarism (using another author’s words or arguments without attribution), and collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of any course requirement).Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression.
Academic work is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes (whether taken electronically or on paper), projects (either individual or group), classroom presentations, papers, and homework. If a student commits any of the above actions, the instructor will seek disciplinary action in the form of an academic penalty (which will include a zero on the academic work in question and may include a course grade of “F”). Such disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the instructor following College procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.
Attendance Policy
Attending classes and participating in classroom discussions is the only way to succeed in this course. A portion of the final grade is based on participation and completing weekly assignments such as discussion board posts and student question essays. Reading the assigned core-texts or the textbook alone will not be sufficient to pass this course. Students must attend classes and complete assignments according to the published course outline.
Arrangements for make-up assignments or incomplete final grades will only be allowed with documented medical reasons or family emergency. Students requesting these arrangements must contact the instructor as quickly as possible with a proposed plan for completing the missed assignments. No make up assignments will be accepted without instructor permission.
Office Hours
T 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM SAC
NOTE This is an "open door" to bring your questions to discuss one-to-one; no appointment necessary.Th 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM HYS
NOTE This is an "open door" to bring your questions to discuss one-to-one; no appointment necessary.Published: 06/27/2025 12:37:49