***NOTE: This is only a sample of the syllabus for the course.  In order to retrieve the full syllabus with complete information please go to blackboard.***

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 U.S. government and politics, the processes of U.S. government and politics, the institutions of U.S. government and politics, and the politics of U.S. government and politics.

***NOTE: This is only a sample of the syllabus for the course.  In order to retrieve the full syllabus with complete information please go to blackboard.***

Course Goals -

1.         To understand the nature of the American political systems as it relates to its citizens, interest groups, and political institutions.

2.         To understand the principles in which the American political system is based upon, how these principles are expressed in the Constitution, and how they guide the functioning of our institutions.

3.         To understand the political process as it relates to governmental institutions with a basic understanding of the role of these institutions in the political process and how these institutions influence the process.  It is important that students have an appreciation for political parties, interest groups, as well as, the importance of political participation in the political process.

***NOTE: This is only a sample of the syllabus for the course.  In order to retrieve the full syllabus with complete information please go to blackboard.***

Course Elements -Students are required to buy one textbook. The required book is:

Losco, Baker.  Am Gov 2010. First Edition, McGraw-Hill 2010.
ISBN#: 9780073379111 0073379115

Textbooks can be purchased on-line at amazon.com, ebay.com, half.com, or allbookstores.com.  You may also go to an ACC Bookstore or a Bevo Bookstore.  Textbooks may be reserved online at http://wwwaustincc.bkstore.com and you can have them held at any ACC Bookstore location.  Make sure that you are ordering or buying the correct textbook.  The best way to do this is to use the ISBN.  If you buy an older textbook it would not have the same information or the information could be old.  It is best to buy the textbook that I require.  DO NOT ask if you need to buy the textbook, as the answer will always be the same…YES.  How would you be able to read the material & study without a textbook, especially in an independent course like this?

***NOTE: This is only a sample of the syllabus for the course.  In order to retrieve the full syllabus with complete information please go to blackboard.***

                                                        Assignment                                         Percentage of Grade

                                                        4 Exams                                                            45%

                        4 Assignments                                                 40%

                        4 Discussion Boards                                      15%

                        Orientation                                                       (2 pts towards a test if you turn it in by deadline,

 if  turned in after -1 point per day that it is late will be deducted from a test) ORIENTATION Deadline 07/6/11

                                                        Total                                                                100%