Summer Sessions 2023 Course Syllabus Course: GOVT-2305 (Section: 71, CRN: 61116) Federal Government

Instructor Information
Instructor	Nathaniel Crosby
Email	crosbyna@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6477
Office	Educational I - Room: 133
Office Hours	MTWR 9-10am
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. Kurtz, Glen. 2021. American Government 3e. Houston: OpenStax.
Additional Materials/Resources	None.
Corequisites/Prerequisites	None
Learning Outcomes	Successful students: 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	1. Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. 2. 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. 3. Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. 4. Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Lecture Topics Outline	Introduction Political Culture Constitution Federalism Civil Liberties Civil Rights Public Opinion Voting and Elections Juneteenth The Media Political Parties Interest Groups Congress Presidency The Courts Local Government The Bureaucracy Domestic Policy Foreign Policy Debate Day
Major Assignments Schedule	Summary of Work of Fiction June 11th Annotated Bibliography June 18th Research Paper July 2nd Final July 9th
Final Exam Date	July 7, 2023 - 12:0 AM   Through  July 9, 2023 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale	90 - 100 = A     80 - 89 = B     70 - 79 = C     60 - 69 = D     Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	• 5% Summary of Work of Fiction • 10% Annotated Bibliography • 30% Quizzes • 30% Research Paper • 25% Final Exam
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	During Class 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 all highly disruptive. Cell phones, ipods, and other similar devices must be turned off during class, unless previously approved by the instructor. Laptops may be used for note-taking only; use of laptops for purposes other than note-taking will result in the banning of laptops from the classroom. In addition, students are encouraged to discuss and express opinions on the many issues, some controversial, that are covered in class. Although differing opinions are encouraged, I will not tolerate any attacks of a personal nature or statements that single out students based on their race, gender, religion, age, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, appearance, or sexual orientation. Any student engaging in disruptive or disrespectful activities will be asked to leave the classroom, if it continues after the first warning and removal, you will no longer be welcome in attending this course. 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 course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Outside of Class Emailing the Instructor or Classmates When emailing or contacting anyone involved with this course, especially the instructor, allow for 48 hours before resubmitting an email or request. You should not expect an email over the weekend, even if an assignment is due. The instructor or your classmate may check their email over the weekend, but is not obliged to respond to your email at that time. If you have questions, it is best to get those emails in prior to the weekend. Online Decorum All members of this class are expected to provide the same level of respect to their classmates in person as well as online in the discussion forums. Failure to respect your classmates or instructor can be treated with any penalty similar to those outlined for in class behavior. Grading Timetable The instructor will, to the best of their abilities, have all graded assignments back to students within 2 weeks of the due date. If there are unforeseen circumstances, the instructor will inform the class of the delay in receiving their work back prior to the two week deadline. Please refrain from emailing the instructor about grades during that two week window. Once grades are posted, the instructor will inform the class either by email or by an announcement in class. Make-up Exams and Missed Assignments Missed exams will be excused and made-up after the fact in case of illness or personal emergency only with proper documentation. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if an emergency arises that prevents you from taking the exam. If you can not take the exam at the time it’s listed, contact the professor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to reschedule when you can take it. You must have an actual excuse not just a desire to take it at a different time. Exams missed due to university sponsored events or religious holidays may also be excused, provided that the student informs me of the absence at least two weeks in advance. Vacation (e.g. leaving early for fall, spring or semester break) and social engagements will not be excused. Absolutely no excuse will be accepted for late assignments or missed exams, unless they are formally approved by the university. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Additionally, the documentation must explicitly state that the student was unable to attend class on the date in question. Students must provide proper documentation and make-up the missed assignment (or exam) within two weeks of the originally scheduled date. Failure to do so will result in a zero. Make-up exams may differ significantly in both structure and content from the original exam. Missed Quizzes and Discussions will not be accepted a late unless there is severe illness or personal emergency that takes the whole week that the assignment is open. The student’s two lowest quiz grades will be drop at the end of the semester, therefore do not request for quizzes to be reopened because of personal failures in submitting it on time.
Attendance Policy	Lamar State College - Port Arthur’s absentee policy allows instructors deciding attendance policies as it fits with the overall view of the department and college. Therefore, you are expected to follow the attendance policy as provide Here. If a student leaves and returns during class or leaves the class before the class is over, they may be considered absent. Faculty members are not obligated to provide opportunities for students to make-up missed assignments and tests as a result of a student’s absence from class. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the class every day. A roll sheet will be passed out to all students to sign. Unless, COVID precautions require the instructor to take attendance verbally. If a student is caught signing for another student, they will be treated as if they did not attend the lecture meeting as well as the student they attempted to sign for. If a student is late or missed class, it is their responsibility to notify me. A student is allowed a maximum of 4 absences (which constitutes 2 classes per week). Any more than 4 absences could result in the student’s final grade being lowered a letter grade for every additional unexcused absence. A student should not stop attending a class without formally withdrawing from the course by the institution’s published Last Day for Students to Drop. If a student stops attending after the published Last Day for Students to Drop, the student may receive a grade of "F" in the class. The professor will submit the last date of attendance for students receiving a grade of "F" or "W". Withdrawal from a course(s) may affect a student’s current or future financial aid eligibility. Students should consult the Financial Aid Office to learn both short and long term consequences of a withdrawal.
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: Christina Wilbur Email: wilburca@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6394