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Fall 2019 Course Syllabus
Course: GOVT-2305- Section: 71 Federal Government (Federal constitution and topics) |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||||
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| Instructor | Dr. Tina Capeles | ||||||||||
| capelestl@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||||
| Phone | (409) 984-6378 | ||||||||||
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| Department |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Textbooks |
Required Textbook: Editions may change according to the Lamar PA Bookstore Politics in America- Keith Gaddie and Thomas Dye-11th edition- Revel Combo - ISBN:9780135582060 in Campus Bookstore OR students may look online for any of the editions below: 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 older print editions 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
Course content and readings Week 1: Chapter 1: Politics, Who Gets What, When, and How Week 2: Chapter 2: Political Culture, Ideas in Conflict Week 3: Chapter 3: US Constitution Week 4: Chapter 4: Federalism: Dividing Government Power Week 5: Chapter 5: Opinion and Participation Week 6: Exam-Begin Chapter 6 Week 7: Chapter 6: Mass Media: Setting the Political Agenda Week 8: Chapter 7: Political Parties: Organizing Politics Week 9: Chapter 8: Campaign and Elections: Deciding Who Governs Week 10: Chapter 9: Interest Groups 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 Exam See all dates in the course menu for exams, research assignment, and discussion assignments. Exam weeks above reflect the readings to be included. |
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| Final Exam Date | December 5, 2019 - 8:00 AM Through December 8, 2019 - 11:00 PM | ||||||||||
| Grading Scale | 90-100=A 80-89=B 70-79=C 60-69=D Below 59=F | ||||||||||
| Determination of Final Grade |
Exams (3)-60% of the final grade Research Assignment- 25% of the final grade Discussion Assignments 15% |
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| Course Policies | |||||||||||
| Instructor Policies |
Students are responsible for all material covered in the course, chapter readings, discussion assignments, exams, and the research assignment. Research Assignment and Discussion Assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted. Do not email an assignment, it will not be accepted. Students have ample time to complete by the due date. Students should take into consideration any problems that could arise with technology, and therefore, it is recommended that students submit assignments and exams accordingly. 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 hospitalization, legal matters, or certain family matters at the discretion of the instructor. A grade of 0 will apply for an exam missed without proper documentation. Routine doctor appointments, common sickness, or work schedules are not considered acceptable for missing exams. Exam dates are listed in the course menu. Academic Ethics: Applicable to all coursework. It is expected that all students will engage in ethical conduct and will not engage in copying work or the production of other research papers or assignments. This also includes student's previous coursework or current assignments of other courses. Such violation of ethical standards will result in an automatic grade of "0" on the work in question with no opportunity to make up the work. This expectation also extends to proper citations and credit for works used in the research paper. All quotes, paraphrases, or facts taken from another source must be cited. Caution about Quotes and Paraphrases: There should be no more than two to three in the paper and short in length. Students enrolled in both federal government 2305-71 and Texas 2306-71, or who have previously taken any government courses, it is required that you write a separate research paper for each course. You may not use the same information. Students may not use assignments from other government courses or any other coursework. Different topics and sources are required. If you have any questions, contact me. Also, the same applies to Discussion Board/Assignments. Any duplicated work will result in a 0 for the grade. Academic integrity is essential, whether in class or online learning, and I take it very seriously. Academic dishonesty will not be accepted in this class. Students are to submit their work, not the work of others, including as stated above, a students' work from past or present courses. If you submit other's work as your own or use resources not allowed, you will receive a 0 for the grade and possible F for the course based upon the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, all student submissions are checked for plagiarism, and the use of any materials not authorized for use is prohibited. It is also expected that students are not accessing other material questionable to the assignment. My class policy is that if any academic dishonesty is discovered, the student will receive an 0 for the assignment in question and a possible F in the class. You will not just receive a 0 on the individual assignment - whether it be the research assignment, discussion board post, or other assignments - you risk receiving an F for the course. See the Lamar State College-Port Arthur guidelines for academic dishonesty below. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Academic Dishonesty Policy: Lamar State College-Port Arthur considers academic dishonesty, including collusion, cheating, and plagiarism as defined in the Student Handbook, to be a serious academic offense. Students guilty of such behavior will be subject to the following penalties: First offense: Students will receive a failing grade on the exam or assignment with no possibility for a make-up. If the offense is flagrant, the student may receive an F in the course. The student's name and the documented offense will be forwarded to the proper college officials. Second offense: Students will receive an F in the course with no possibility for make-up. The student's name and the documented offense will be forwarded to the proper university officials. All accused students will be given written notice of the offense, the penalty assessed, and the right of appeal to the department chair/advisory committee. |
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| Attendance Policy |
Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. A student with five absences may be dropped from the class. Absences are considered as incomplete exams, assignments, and research paper. If students are not performing the work, it is considered an absence. This is not a self-paced course. Timelines are necessary. Acceptable Absences: In case of emergency, the instructor must be notified by email at least one day in advance as to the reason for the absence prior to class meeting. Students will need documentation for any absences, otherwise, it will be counted as unexcused. Excused absences are hospitalization, legal matters, or certain family matters at the discretion of the instructor. An unexcused absence will apply without proper documentation. Routine doctor appointments or work schedules are not considered acceptable for missing class. |
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| 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 |
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| 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. | ||||||||||
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| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||||