Fall 2018 Course Syllabus Course: GOVT-2305- Section: 71 Federal Government (Federal constitution and topics)

Instructor Information
Instructor	Dr. Tina Capeles
E-mail	capelestl@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6378
Office	Location: Student Center - Room: 408 Hours: M-W-F 9:00-12:00 T/R 1:30-2:00
Department	General Education and Developmental Studies Chair: Dr. Michelle Davis E-mail: davisml1@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6341
Course Information
Description	Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties and civil rights.
Prerequisites	Basic Skills: competency in reading and writing
Learning Outcomes	Upon successful completion of this course, students will: Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system. Analyze the election process. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics. Evaluate and respond to the political environment applying researched data.
Core Objectives	* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. * Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. * Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. * Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Program Student Learning Outcomes	Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material. Identifies all main ideas, supporting details, and vocabulary in reading material; demonstrates a full understanding of the reading.
Textbooks	Required Textbook: Politics in America -2016 Presidential Election Edition Publisher: Pearson Publishing: ISBN 13: 9780135175606 Combo Authors: Keith Gaddie and Thomas Dye 10th Edition update -2018 Update to a REVEL E-book with an option to buy a loose-leaf copy for an additional charge (Combo)     OR any of the editions below maybe found online: Politics in America, Thomas Dye and Ronald Gaddie, Pearson Publishing, edition 2014, ISBN# 9780134018928 Or Politics in America, Thomas Dye and Ronald Gaddie, Pearson Publishing, edition 2015 ISBN: 9781269808613 Or Thomas Dye and Ronald Gaddie, 2012 Election Edition, Pearson Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-0-205-88403-2. Or Thomas Dye, Politics in America, 9th edition, Pearson Publishing ISBN: 13:978-0-205-82625-4
Lecture Topics Outline	Politics, Who Gets What, When, and How Political Culture, Ideas in Conflict US Constitution and the Bill of Rights Dividing Government Power Between the States and the Federal Government Opinion and Participation in the Political Process Mass Media and Setting the Political Agenda Political Parties: Organizing Politics and Elections Campaign and Elections: Deciding Who Governs Interest Groups Congress and Politics on Capitol Hill The President in the White House and Executive Power The Federal Bureaucracy Various Departments and Power The Federal Court System
Major Assignments Schedule	Course content and assigned readings Week 1: Chapter 1:Politics, Who Gets What, When, and How Week 2: Chapter 2:Political Culture, Ideas in Conflict; Discussion 1 and 2 Week 3: Chapter 3:US Constitution; Discussion 3 Week 4: Chapter 4:Federalism: Dividing Government Power; Discussion 4 Week 5: Chapter 5:Opinion and Participation; Discussion 5 Week 6: Exam-Begin Chapter 6; Discussion 6 Week 7: Chapter 6:Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda; Discussion 7 Week 8: Chapter 7:Political Parties: Organizing Politics; Discussion 8-Research Paper Due Week 9: Chapter 8:Campaign and Elections: Deciding Who Governs; Discussion 9 Week 10: Chapter 9:Interest Groups; Discussion 10 Week 11:Exam- Begin Chapter 10 Week 12: Chapter 10:Congress: Politics on Capitol Hill Week 13: Chapter 11:The President in the White House Week 14: Chapter 12:The Federal Bureaucracy Week 15: Chapter 13:The Federal Courts Week 16: Final
Final Exam Date	December 6, 2018 - 8:00 AM   Through  December 9, 2018 - 11:00 PM
Grading Scale	90-100=A 80-89=B 70-79=C 60-69=D Below 59=F
Determination of Final Grade	Test-75% of the final grade Research Assignment- 25% of the final grade
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	Students are responsible for all material covered in the course, chapter readings, exams, and the research assignment. Discussion Board: Late discussion posts will not be accepted. See Discussion Board Requirements in the course menu for details and dates. Research Assignment: Late assignments will not be accepted. Students have ample time to complete by the due date. See the assignment date in the course menu. Tests: There will only be makeup exams in cases of emergencies and with proper approval by the instructor. In case of emergency, the instructor must be notified at least one day in advance by email as to the reason for missing the exam. Students need proper documentation as to why the exam was missed. Excused reasons are sickness, legal matters, or family matters. A grade of 0 will apply for exam missed without proper documentation. Routine doctor appointments or work schedule are nor considered acceptable for missing exams. Exam dates are listed in the course menu.
Attendance Policy	Students must maintain the readings and all other material on a weekly basis. Students need to log into the course daily to stay on track; consistency is important for success. This is not a self-paced course. Keeping pace is important. Student's failure to complete the assigned material, maybe dropped from the course.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
MyLamarPA	Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLamarPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLamarPA.
Other
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.