GOVT-2305 United States Government
Zachary Denton
Credit Fall 2025
Section(s)
GOVT-2305-106 (21569)
LEC RRC ONL DIL
LEC W 3:30pm - 4:50pm RRC RRC1 1218.00
Course Requirements
Expectations
You are a college student. I expect you to act accordingly. Though this may be an introductory course that is required, I fully expect each student to: (1) login to Blackboard and check your ACC email regularly, (2) attend in-person class meetings AND watch/listen to recorded lectures and take notes, (3) read assigned material from the textbook and any other supplemental materials posted to Blackboard in advance, (4) keep an open mind & be respectful of your classmates as you learn, discuss, and participate via the online discussion boards.
*You are responsible for the material covered, to include being aware of and adhering to deadlines!*
Attendance Policy
This is Hybrid Classroom course with both a weekly class meeting and an Online component completed via Blackboard. With that said, it will be vital to your overall success to regularly attend each week and log in to Blackboard, check your student ACC email, view recorded video lectures, read the assigned material from the textbook, and any other supplemental items that are assigned.
Communication is paramount, so… you MUST communicate with me from your student ACC email account. I will not respond to any email communication sent from a personal yahoo, gmail, etc., account.
There will be NO make-up exams or late work permitted without a legitimate reason and supported by documentation/information attesting to the particular situation/circumstances.
No Incompletes will be given without legitimate and documented reason(s), and it is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact regarding a potential Incomplete from the instructor. Extra credit opportunities may be assigned at the Instructor’s discretion.
Remember: Blackboard tracks when you login and I can see your date of last access within the BB Grade Center!
Students who do not regularly access Blackboard, fail to submit assignments and/or complete exams may be withdrawn from the course at the instructor's discretion, but this will not occur without a conversation via Zoom/WebEx/Google Meet or email exchange via ACCmail.
If the student chooses to withdraw for any reason, then it is the student's responsibility to withdraw via their Online Services account.
*The Final Withdrawal Deadline for the Fall 2025 16wk Session is Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Course Requirements
Your overall course/final grade will be based on:
-Four (4) noncumulative Exams worth a total of 400pts that will consist of some combination of multiple choice, matching, true/false, and an essay question (multiple prompts will be given). *there will be in-class exam review and a study guide provided prior to each official exam date!
- Exam 1 will cover: Citizenship & Government, the Founding & U.S. Constitution, Federalism - Exam 2 will cover: Public Opinion, Media, Parties, Participation, Elections, Interest Groups - Exam 3 will cover: Congress, Presidency, Federal Courts, Bureaucracy - Exam 4 will cover: Domestic & Foreign Policy, Civil Liberties/Civil Rights, Tax System
-A weekly Current Event Writing Assignment submitted via Blackboard that will begin with Week 2 and end with Week 16 of the semester, for a total of 15 individual submissions. The Current Event Writing Assignment is cumulative and worth a total of 100pts. Please refer to the separate handout/rubric that will be presented to students during the first week of class for specific instructions/directions and due dates. *Instructor reserves the right to substitute or change the assignment in advance
-10 Reading Quizzes over the course of the 16wk Session covering assigned reading material that are collectively worth 50pts. Quizzes will be completed via the Reading Quizzes link in Blackboard.
-A series of eight (8) separate, bi-weekly Discussion Board forums via Blackboard where I will either post an article, important historical text, and/or topic and ask you to respond in your own words to my beginning post and the direction/question(s) contained, as well as respond to at least two (3) of your classmates. Discussion Board responses should be your own opinion/analysis, be substantive, ask any questions you might have or seek clarification on something you read or another student asked, etc. There will be a total of 8 Discussion Board posts over the 16wk Session worth a total of 80pts (8 Discussion Board posts worth 10pts each).
The instructor will determine each student's final grade in the course using this scale:
90-100 percent of the 600 possible points (567-630 points) = A
80-89 percent of the 600 possible points (504-566 points) = B
70-79 percent of the 600 possible points (441-503 points) = C
60-69 percent of the 600 possible points (378-440 points) = D
0-59 percent of the 600 possible points (0-377 points) = F
Readings
Your textbook for this class is available for free online and comes in web-view or PDF format.
American Government, 4th Edition… from OpenStax; ISBN-13: 979-8-385190-66-9 https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-4e?Book%20details
*Audiobook version:*
https://audileo.com/openstax-american-government-4e-audio-textbook/
Unit 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, and State of Nature (lecture)
Unit 2: Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Unit 3: Chapters 11, 12, 13, and 15
Unit 4: Chapters 4, 5, 16, 17, and Taxes (lecture)
*Additional/supplemental material will be handed out both in class and distributed electronically via ACCmail & Blackboard
Course Subjects
Course Description:
This is an introductory course to United States national government. The course includes 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 the United States government and politics.
Course Objectives/Subjects:
Students will understand the foundations, development, and features of the United States Constitution. Students will understand how mass media, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting, campaigns, and elections function with respect to American government. Students will understand the structure, functions, and operations of the various institutions/branches of United States government. Students will understand how civil liberties and civil rights protect both individuals and categories/groups of people.
Over the course of the semester, I hope to engage and motivate you into taking an interest in the structure, functions, and issues of our national government, as well as becoming an informed American who acknowledges your civic responsibilities.
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
***Course Calendar/Schedule***
|
Date |
Topic |
Reading |
|
Unit #1 August 25 – |
Hobbes, Locke, and the “State of Nature” |
Supplement |
|
Government & Civic Engagement |
Ch. 1 |
|
|
The Founding and the U.S. Constitution |
Ch. 2 |
|
|
Federalism |
Ch. 3 |
|
|
*EXAM #1 to be completed by 11:59pm on 9/21 via Blackboard* |
||
|
Unit #2 September 22 - |
Public Opinion – Political Ideology |
Ch. 6 |
|
Media |
Ch. 8 |
|
|
Interest Groups |
Ch. 10 |
|
|
Political Parties, Participation, and Elections |
Ch. 7 & Ch. 9 |
|
|
*EXAM #2 to be completed by 11:59pm on 10/19 via Blackboard* |
||
|
Unit #3 October 20 - |
Congress |
Ch. 11 |
|
Presidency |
Ch. 12 |
|
|
Bureaucracy |
Ch. 15 |
|
|
Federal Courts |
Ch. 13 |
|
|
*EXAM #3 to be completed by 11:59pm on 11/16 via Blackboard* |
||
|
Unit #4 November 17 - |
Taxes |
Supplement |
|
Domestic Policy |
Ch. 16 |
|
|
Foreign Policy |
Ch. 17 |
|
|
Civil Liberties & Civil Rights |
Ch. 4 & Ch. 5 |
|
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*EXAM #4 to be completed by 11:59pm on 12/14 via Blackboard* |
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*Lecture/Reading schedule is subject to change at the Instructor’s discretion
Office Hours
W 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM RRC
NOTE Office Hours will be immediately following each in-person class meeting on Wednesday's at RRC. I will also be available virtually if you need or would like to meet via Zoom or Google Meet. I can be flexible with accommodating your schedule!Published: 07/29/2025 13:58:27