Syllabus Sections
Publish Date
05/22/2012 19:37:10
United States Government
GOVT-2305
Summer 2012
05/29/2012 - 07/06/2012
Course Information
Section 019
Lecture
MTWTh 12:15PM - 2:05PM
PIN1 403
Ronald Fletcher
rfletche@austincc.edu
(512) 223.6039
Office Hours
-
M T W Th
11:50AM - 12:15PM
PIN 404
Phone: 223-8127
Course Requirements
Instructional Method:
The class will use a lecture-discussion format. Class sessions are designed to be a forum for informed student political discussions. Each class will begin with a short discussion of a current issue in national politics selected from that day’s/week’s print or electronic media. Several times during the semester, we will also have in-class games and simulations to help illustrate the theoretical material in the text. The duration of the class period will consist of lecture and discussion of assigned readings from the text. When appropriate, videos will also be used to supplement the lectures.
Class Assignments:
You should read the assigned material and print a copy of each day’s lecture from Blackboard before coming to class. When handouts are distributed, they should be read by the next class period. If you do not understand an assignment, ask me about it before it is too late. I reserve the right to give "pop" quizzes if it becomes apparent that students are not preparing for class. These quizzes – if any – will be incorporated into your class participation grades.
Tests:
There will be two non-cumulative examinations and a comprehensive final examination. The scheduled examinations will cover only material introduced since the last examination, while the final examination will include new material covered since the last examination as well as key concepts from the first two examinations. All of these tests will consist of multiple choice (don’t forget to bring SCANTRONs) and short answer questions. Each test will also include current events questions discussed in class.
Short Papers:
Most chapters in your text have a "You Are the Policymaker" feature, which presents both sides of a specific current issue, then asks you to make a policy decision. Students must submit two short papers based on these "You Are the Policymaker" features. Students will prepare one paper on the chapters assigned for each scheduled exam which will be due on the last class day prior to each exam. All students must write on the same "You Are the Policymaker" each time, but the selection will be determined by a democratic vote of the class.
Length of the Policy Papers will vary depending on the specific "You Are the Policymaker" selected by the students, but should be at least 500 words long and less than 1000 words long. They must be typed, doubled spaced, and should briefly summarize the arguments on both sides of the issue. You grade will be determined primarily on how you present arguments in favor of your position on the issue.
Extra Credit:
From time to time, activities outside the classroom but directly related to classroom content become available. Students may attend these optional activities and submit a Trip Report detailing their experience and describing lessons learned for extra credit. Credit for these opportunities, if any appear, will be negotiated on a case by case basis with the class as a whole.
Readings
Required Textbook:
Edwards, Wattenberg & Lineberry, Government in America, Brief 11th Study Edition, Pearson Longman, 2010.
From time to time you will be provided with additional information and articles. Such information will be an integral part of the course material. You will also be expected to keep up with current events. You should read a daily newspaper such as the Austin American-Statesman, The Dallas Morning News, or the Houston Chronicle. Other good sources of political information include the Internet, weekly news magazines and radio and television news.
Course Subjects
(This may be in concrete, but the concrete’s still wet)
Unit I: Introduction
May 29, 30
Course Overview, Analytical Models
Readings: Chapter One plus Handouts
Unit II: Constitutional Foundations
May 31, June 4, 5
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
Readings: Chapter Two plus Appendix [Bring textbook to class]
June 6
Federalism
Readings: Chapter Three
June 7
Civil Liberties
Readings: Chapter Four
June 11
Civil Rights (Short Paper One Due)
Readings: Chapter Five
June 12
Examination One
Readings: May 29 to June 11
Unit III: Political Linkage
June 13, 14
Public Opinion and Media
Readings: Chapters Six and Seven
June 18
Political Parties
Readings: Chapter Eight
June 19
Interest Groups
Readings: Chapter Ten
June 20
Campaigns & Elections (Last chance to make-up Exam One) (Short Paper Two Due)
Readings: Chapter Nine
June 21
Examination Two
Readings: June 13 to June 20
Unit IV: Policy Makers
June 25, 26
Congress
Readings: Chapter Eleven
June 27
Presidency
Readings: Chapter Twelve
Reminder: June 28th is the deadline to drop the course.
June 28
Bureaucracy
Readings: Chapter Thirteen
July 2
Courts
Readings: Chapter Fourteen
Unit V: What Government Does
July 3
Budget (Last chance to make-up Exam Two)
Readings: Chapter Fifteen
July 5
Final Examination
Readings: All
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Objective:
Our objective this summer is to satisfy the spirit and intent of the state legislative requirement that all undergraduate students in taxpayer subsidized colleges and universities devote some of their time and energy to studying their own government. You are expected to emerge from this course as better informed, and more involved citizens of the great state of Texas. (For you out-of-state students, this is part of the price you must pay for our low tuition. More seriously, what you learn about our national government will obviously apply in the unlikely event that you ever decide to go back home.)