Spring 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: GOVT-2305 (Section: 8E, CRN: 10956)
Federal Government 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Shannon Tanner
Email tannerst@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6330
Office Educational I - Room: 113
Office Hours Education I- Room 113

Office Hours:
M&W 9:30am-1:30pm; T& TH 11:00am-12pm
Additional Contact Information
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.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

American Government 3rd Edition
Krutz, Waskiewicz; Free Web Version
 ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-38-1
https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-3e
Additional Materials/Resources None.
Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
 
1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.
 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
 6. Analyze the election process.
7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens. 8. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics.
Core Objectives
Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or 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.
* Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
* 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.

Lecture Topics Outline
Course Introduction – Syllabus, instructor, etiquette, and course navigation
American Government and Civic Engagement
Founding of the Nation and Constitutional Democracy
American Federalism
American Civil Rights
 
American Civil Liberties
The Politics of Public Opinion;
Voting and Elections
Congress
The Presidency
 
The Bureaucracy
The Federal Courts
American Public Policy:
Economic and Education Policy
Income and Welfare Policy;
Foreign Policy

Major Assignments Schedule
 
 
 
 
 
 

DATE 
 
 
 
 
 

TOPIC 
 
 
 
 
 

READINGS 

(Due on this Date) 
 
 
 
 
 

ASSIGNMENTS 

(Due on this Date) 
 
 
 
 
 

1/16-21 
 
 
 
 

Course Introduction – Syllabus, instructor, etiquette, and course navigation  

Critical Thinking and Political Culture 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 1 Textbook; Fact v Opinion 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on 2/11 
 
 
 
 
 

1/22-28 
 
 
 
 

Constitutional Democracy; 

Federalism 
 
 
 
 

Chapters 2&3 in Textbook 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on 2/11 
 
 
 
 
 

1/29-2/4 
 
 
 
 

Civil Liberties 

Equal Rights 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 4 & 5; Letter from Birmingham Jail 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

2/5-2/11 
 
 
 
 

Exam #1 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Unit Assignment #1 Due by 11:59pm on 2/11 
 
 
 
 
 

2/12-18 
 
 
 
 

Public Opinion and Political Socialization 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 6 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on March 10th 
 
 
 
 
 

2/19-25 
 
 
 
 

Political Participation 

Political Parties, Candidates and Campaigns 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 7; The Right to Vote 

Chapter 9 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on March 10th 
 
 
 
 
 

2/26-3/3 
 
 
 
 

The Electoral College; Interest Groups 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 10 
 
 
 
 

Unit Assignment #2 Due by 11:59pm on March 10th. 
 
 
 
 
 

¾-3/10 
 
 
 
 

Exam #2 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

3/11-17 
 
 
 
 

Spring Break 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

No Assignments 
 
 
 
 
 

3/18-24 
 
 
 
 

Congress and The Presidency 
 
 
 
 

Chapters 11&12 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on 4/7 
 
 
 
 
 

3/25-31 
 
 
 
 

The Federal Bureaucracy 

The Federal Judiciary 
 
 
 
 

Chapters 15&13; Marbury v Madison 
 
 
 
 

Unit Assignment #3 Due by 11:59pm on 4/7 
 
 
 
 
 

4/1-7 
 
 
 
 

Exam #3 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

4/8-14 
 
 
 
 

The News Media and the Internet 
 
 
 
 

Chapter #8 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on May 5th 
 
 
 
 
 

4/15-21 
 
 
 
 

Economic and Environmental Policy 
 
 
 
 

Economic Policy Reading 
 
 
 
 

Unit Assignment #4 Due by 11:59pm on May 5th 
 
 
 
 
 

4/22-28 
 
 
 
 

Welfare and Education Policy 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 16 
 
 
 
 

Response Topic Paper Due no later than 11:59pm on April 28th 
 
 
 
 
 

4/29-5/5 
 
 
 
 

Foreign Policy 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 17 
 
 
 
 

Discussion Board Due by 11:59pm on May 5th 
 
 
 
 
 

5/6-8 
 
 
 
 

Exam #4 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
Final Exam Date May 5, 2024 - 8:10 AM   Through  May 5, 2024 - 9:25 PM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Exams.........................................40%
Unit Assignments.......................20%
Semester Project/Paper.............20%
Quizzes.......................................20%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies Make-up work and exams are given at the discretion of the instructor. In cases of personal illness or emergency, with proper documentation, the instructor will allow make-up work, provided the student requests one immediately upon return to class.
 
Students must be on time and in their seat at the start of class to be counted present. Students arriving after the roll is called or the sign-in sheet passed around will be counted absent for that class period. Students who arrive tardy on exam days may not take the exam with the rest of the class and must contact the instructor for a make-up exam.
 
Late work is not accepted in this course, unless due to verifiable personal illness or emergency and always at the discretion of the instructor.
 
Activities that are disruptive to class will not be tolerated. Arriving late for class, reading newspapers, speaking while others are speaking, packing prior to the end of class and cell phones are highly disruptive. Cell phones, I-pods and other similar devices must be turned off during class, unless previously approved by the instructor. Any student engaging in disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the classroom.
 
Eating and smoking are not allowed in class. This includes the use of e-cigarettes or other forms of vaping.
 
Only students enrolled in the class are allowed inside the classroom.
 
Laptops may be used for notetaking only. Use of laptops for purposes other than notetaking will result in the banning of all laptops from the classroom.
 
In this course we will frequently discuss current events, and at times, some students may find these topics controversial. It is important to keep in mind that different students may come from a different background and therefore may have different experiences and points of view. Students may disagree on these points of view. Disagreements lead to critical thinking, scholarly debates and learning but only when students disagree respectfully. Disrespect towards any person or group of people, whether inside this classroom or out, will not be tolerated. Students may not denigrate or attack any person or single out any person based on race, gender, religion, age, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, appearance, or sexual orientation. Any student behaving disrespectfully will be asked to leave the classroom and will be forced to apologize to the class before they can return.
 
The instructor will grade and return all submitted work ASAP, but never longer than 7 days after the assignment is submitted, without notice.
 
Attendance Policy Students should attend every class and attendance will be taken by sign-in sheet at the beginning of every class. As there are valid reasons that students might need to miss class, each student will be allowed three automatically excused absences for the semester. Students who need to miss more than three class days during the semester will have additional absences excused on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the instructor. Any absence not excused by the instructor, after the first 3, will each result in 5 points taken from the student’s final grade for the course. If a student leaves class and returns or leaves class before class is dismissed, the student MAY be counted absent for that class.
Additional Information
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
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.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
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.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431