IMPORTANT NOTICE: The class textbook for the semester is a free online e-text provided by OpenStax.
The textbook for the class is offered as an Open Education Resource and is free to students. Follow the information below. From the website listed. Choose "American Government" once you log into the website. openstax.org  
OpenStax Textbook information for Students
Good news: your textbook for this class is available for free online! If you prefer, you can also get a print version at a very low cost.
Your book is available in web view and PDF for free. You can also choose to purchase on iBooks or get a print version via the campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com.
You can use whichever format you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)
The online text offers many study materials for students that accompany the chapter readings. 
American Government from OpenStax:
Hardcover:
ISBN-13: 978-1-711493-96-1
Paperback:
ISBN-13: 978-1-711493-95-4
Digital:
ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-38-1
 
openstax.org 
The information is also provided on the course menu with instructions to access the e-text.

Basic Skills: competency in reading and writing

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.

• 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.

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the coursework or dates pertaining to the course if necessary. See coursework information in the course menu.

Lectures and topics covered in the course:

American Government and Civic Engagement
The Constitution and Its Origins
American Federalism
Politics and Public Opinion
Voting and Elections
The Media
Political Parties
Interest Groups
Congress
The Presidency
The Bureaucracy
The Judiciary

The chapters are organized pertaining to the lectures and exams. Students are advised to pay attention to the chapter titles as applied with the readings for each exam period. Students are responsible for all material covered in the course.
Course content and readings


Week 1: American Government and Civic Engagement
Week 2: The Constitution and Its Origins- Declaration of Independence (Appendix A in Textbook) and the Constitution (Appendix B in the Textbook)
Week 3: American Federalism
Week 4: The Politics of Public Opinion- 
Week 5: Exam 1
Week 6: Constitution 
Week 7: Exam 2- Begin Voting and Elections
Week 8: The Media
Week 9: Political Parties
Week 10: Interest Groups and Lobbying
Week 11: Exam 3
Week 12: The Congress
Week 13: The Presidency
Week 14: The Courts
Week 15: The Bureaucracy
Week 16: Final Exam

Refer to the course menu for exams, assignments, and discussion assignments. I do not use the Blackboard calendar for the course.
Exam weeks above reflect the readings to be included for the course. Exams will be administered during class time or online. Make-up exams are at the discretion of the instructor. There are no make-up exams available for the final exam.
Written assignments are required to reflect, analyze, and understand the relevance of the Constitution, the economy, political theory, and freedoms in the social environment as the topics of concern during the course.
Discussion post assignments addressing the economy, energy industry, law and civil society, US border issues, and American culture and citizenry. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the coursework and exams including dates if necessary. Students will be notified in advance.

Total Points- 1000   900-1000- A    800-899- B   700-799- C   600-699- D   Below 600-F

Exams (4)- 0-100 points each
Discussion Assignments (5) - 0-60 points each
Written Assignment - 0-300 points
Completion of grading will be posted for assignments, discussions, and exams between the due dates of each occurrence

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the coursework and exams including dates if necessary. Students will be notified in advance.
I do not accept late work. I do not reopen assignments or discussion posts. Students have ample time to complete.
Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instructor. All make-up exams will be administered in my office by appointment within 5 days of the exam date.

Students are responsible for all material covered in the course, lectures, videos, any additional material, chapter readings, exams, discussion assignments, and written assignments. I do not use the Blackboard calendar for the course.

Exams: 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. Excused reasons are hospitalization,
sickness, or death. Students need proper documentation from a doctor or hospital for the sickness properly signed by the doctor. Proper documentation is required in the death of a family member. A grade of 0 will apply for an exam missed without proper documentation. All exams will be administered on campus or online. There will not be any make-up exams available for the final exam. The Exam information for dates and times are listed on the course menu. Work schedules and doctor appointments are not considered acceptable for missing class or exams.  After five unexcused absences for the semester, a student may be dropped from the course or penalties apply to the final grade. Exam dates are announced on the course menu.

Written 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 dates. Students should take into consideration any problems that could arise with technology, and/or other issues that may arise, therefore, it is recommended that students submit assignments accordingly. See the Written Assignment dates in the course menu.

Discussion Post Assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted. Do not email a discussion post, 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/or other issues that may arise, therefore, it is recommended that students submit assignments accordingly. See the Discussion Assignment dates 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, other written assignments, or any other assignments and discussion posts. This also includes students 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 assignments. Read all directives for the Assignments and Discussion Posts on the course menu. Only the material provided is to be used for the assignments, discussion posts, or any other coursework. Any violation 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 or any outside source, 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. A grade of 0 will be issued. If plagiarism is found in any one assignment the instructor has the right to regrade any and all previous assignments.
 
Any suspicion of academic dishonesty will result in an additional review of the assignment or assignments in question as well as the discussion posts or any other course work. The instructor also retains the right to review any prior work during the course of the semester.

Students enrolled in both federal government 2305 and Texas 2306, or who have previously taken any government courses, it is required that you write separate assignment papers 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 Posts. Any duplicated work will result in a 0 for the grade. My class policy is that if any academic dishonesty is discovered, the student will receive a 0 for the assignment in question and a possible F for the class. You will not just receive a 0 on the individual assignment - whether it be the written assignment 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 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.

Students enrolled in campus classes are required to attend the class. Consistency is important for success and students are required to maintain the coursework, readings, lectures, participation, and other material presented This is not a self-paced course whether on-campus or online. Keeping pace is important. Students must maintain the readings, lectures, and all other material presented in class during class periods. In case of emergency, the instructor must be notified at least one day in advance by email as to the reason for missing class. Excused reasons are hospitalization, sickness, or death. Students need proper documentation as to the absence from a doctor or hospital. Also, in the case of a family death documentation is required.
A grade of 0 will apply for an exam missed without proper documentation, and the absence will be counted. Make-up exams are given at the discretion of the instruction. All make-up exams will be administered in my office by appointment within 5 days of the exam date. There are no make-up exams for the final exam.

Assignments and discussion posts are required by the due dates. There is ample time to complete. It is the student's responsibility to take factors into consideration for the completion of assignments. Routine doctor appointments or work schedules are not considered acceptable for missing class, or exams. After (5) unexcused absences the instructor reserves the right to drop the student from the class or may apply a penalty for the final grade. This notice applies to on-campus and online classes.

Attendance is important. After 5 unexcused absences the student risks being dropped from the course or a letter grade deduction for the final grade will apply.

Student Conduct:

Student incivility will not be tolerated.
This notice applies to on-campus and online classes.
Student incivility includes behavior such as rudeness, whether verbal or physical attacks of a personal nature or inappropriate language displaying aggression or harassment.
Any student engaging in disruptive or disrespectful activities on campus and/or online classes will be required to cease such behavior or leave the classroom. 
If the behavior continues after the first warning, the instructor will notify the Department Chair.
Further behavior deemed as a violation will result in a review of disciplinary action (refer to the Student Handbook).

I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, you must come to my office, in person.