Houston Community College Government 2305-CRN 0002-44147
Instructor: Joyce Roberta Miller-Alper Ed.S.
Alief Campus B 110
Spring 2015
Phone 713-251-1573(at SBISD)
Email joyce.milleralper@hccs.edu; joyceroberta.miller-alper@springbranchisd.com
Monday and Wednesday 5:30-7:00pm
Office Hours arranged on an individual basis
American National Government: Federal Constitution and Topics. Government 2305
is one of two courses designed to introduce student to the study of the 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. The course goals are to develop
an understanding of the institutions and political processes of the American
political system; encourage critical thinking about political events; and
introduce students to the discipline of Political Science and how political
scientists study politics scientifically. This course is fully transferable to all
Texas State colleges and universities.
OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. To develop critical thinking skills which includes knowledge, comprehension,
analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the events and ideology that contributed to
the creation of the United States. This will assist in recognizing and assuming the
responsibilities of citizenship.
2. To develop the student’s ability to identify the primary components of political
diversity and to understand how this diversity has contributed to the perpetuation
and evolution of the American political process
3. To foster in the student an understanding of the importance of political
participation including a sense of the importance of their contribution as
residents/citizens of both the United States and Texas. Students should leave the
course with a commitment to civic responsibility, ethics and appreciation of
political efficacy and have an improved understanding of the importance of
participating in the political process at all levels of government.
4. To equip the student with a solid base of fundamental knowledge of the American
political process and identify, describe and evaluate institutions of national, state
and local government for the furtherance of the student’s studies in other areas
and academic disciplines enabling the student to apply the credits to his/her
pursuits at senior colleges and universities.
5. To understand the nature of political conflict, competing agendas and the need to
build consensus and compromise as politics impacts all facets of life. To build
personal and social responsibility as part of that understanding.
6. To ensure students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be
successful in college, in a career, in their communities and in life. And to prepare
students with a foundation of knowledge of human culture and develop principles
of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and intellectual
and piratical skills that are essential for all learning.
7. To enhance effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through
written, oral and visual communications.
8. To link the news media and current events to academic studies.
Textbook:
Blanco, William T. and Canon, David T. American Politics Today: W.W. Norton and
Company, New York and London, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-393-92106-9
ADA: “Any student with a DOCUMENTED disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations
must contact the Disability Service Office (7137185422) at the beginning of each
semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the accommodations
requested by the Disability Support Services Office.”
Discipline: Misconduct for which discipline may be administered at HCC includes, but
is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the
college (plagiarism and cheating refer to the use of unauthorized books, notes, or
otherwise securing help in a test, copying tests, assignments, reports, or term papers).
Adult behavior is expected. Disruptive activities that interfere with teaching and/or
learning will not be tolerated and may result in an administrative withdrawal without
refund.
Attendance: Class is an integral part of the learning process. Those with good
attendance usually do well in the course. Attendance will directly impact the grade.
Please keep me informed if you are having problems that may affect your attendance. As
discussion and participation are important elements of any government course it will
work to your benefit to attend regularly. HCC policy provides that students may be
dropped after missing more than six hours of class time. With that in mind the teacher
will drop students who are not attending regularly.
Important Dates:
Wednesday, January 21-Class begins; introductions; syllabus review, sign for receipt;
post-it notes for current events; select SIG, recognition activity, voter registration,
Assignment State of Union online
Monday, February 2-Official Date of Record
Thursday, February 5-70% Refund
Monday, February 9-Speaker at HCC Southwest, Stafford
Wednesday, February 11-25% Refund
Wednesday, February 11-Unit One Test (bring a pencil)
Monday, February 16-School Holiday
Wednesday, February 18- Interest group assignment due
Monday, March 2- SIG bus activity in groups in class
Monday, March 9-Unit Two Test (bring a pencil)
Saturday, March 14-Sunday, March 22-Spring Break
Tuesday, March 24-Last Day to Withdraw
Wednesday, March 25-Websites due
Wednesday, April 15-Unit Three Test (bring a pencil)
Monday, April 20-Civil Rights Activity and Affirmative Action Debate
Monday, May 4-Reports Due on Chapter 14 and 15-Outline for classmates
Monday, May 11- Final Exam
Post M Notes on current events for first two weeks for extra points
Instructor has the right to change the schedule as the class progresses
Units of Study and Weekly Plan:
Test One:
1. Understanding American Politics: Chapter One-January 26 (and party
continuum)
2. The Constitution and the Founding: Chapter Two – January 28 and February
2
3. Federalism: Chapter Three and Federalism Game-February 4
Test Two:
1.
Public opinion and the Media: Chapter Five –February 18
2.
Political Parties: Chapter Six –February 23
3.
Elections: Chapter Seven – February 25
4.
Interest Groups: Chapter Eight- March 2 and March 4
Test Three:
1.
Congress (and redistricting activity): Chapter Nine-March 11 and March 23
2.
The Presidency: Chapter Ten-March 25 and March 30
3.
The Bureaucracy: Chapter Eleven-April 1
4.
The Courts: Chapter Twelve-April 6 and April 8
Final Exam is not accumulative but will cover:
1. Civil Rights: Chapter Thirteen and Dinner Activity and Affirmative Action Debate-April
13 and April 20
2. Civil Liberties: Chapter Four-April 22 and April 27
3. Economic and Social Policy and Foreign Policy: Chapter Fourteen and Fifteen- April 29
and May 4
4. Review-May 6-Review of recent Supreme Court decisisons
Note: Each test may include true/false, multiple choice, matching, fill in the blanks,
graph and charts and essay/narrative type questions on material covered in the
classroom, the textbook, the homework, and current events. Forty percent of the
course will be writing which might be in assignments or on tests.
INSTRUCTOR’S GRADING SYSTEM.
 Three tests-100 points each-Total 300 points max.
 Interest Group Paper-100 points-max.
 Websites-100 points max.
 State of the Union-100 Points max.
 Speaker on First Amendment-100 Points max.
 “Bus trip”, In class debates/oral presentations-20 Points maximum .each
 Exam -100 points max.
 Participation and Attendance-100 points-max.
a. 0-1 absences100;
b. 2 absences 90;
c. 3 absences 80;
d. 4 absences 70;
e. 5 absences 60;
f. 6 absences 50;
Absences for religious holidays will NOT impact a student’s grade

Participation in a campaign and/or attendance at a relevant lecture or
governmental meeting may be used for extra points-50 points each or 25 points
each for television shows deemed relevant by the instructor. Bring back notes and
be prepared for a short class explanation. Each class for the first two weeks will
begin with current event issues relevant to the course and will generate extra
points above the 100. Voting or accompanying a person to an election will be an
additional 25 points above the 100. Bring a note with a phone number from the
precinct judge or your election card/slip.
The grand total can be up to 200 points maximum, plus voting, plus current
events.
Grading:
Above 700 A
640-699 B
580-639 C
510-579 D (Usually not transferable)
509 or below F
Teaching Techniques:
The instructor will use a variety of methods including the lecture methods of instruction
to import information and to identify for the students the variety of political perspectives
reflected in the American political systems. This solid foundation of core knowledge,
which the student may use to complete a variety of assignments, can foster class
discussion. Class interaction/discussion is encouraged to make the course interactive and
to foster a higher quality of learning and application. Therefore, it is expected that each
student come to class prepared by having read the assigned chapters and be able to
integrate the news. It is recommended that students read a quality local newspaper or a
quality national one. Additionally, watching the nightly news or listening to news radio
will enhance the caliber of student discussion. Students will be required to complete
assignments both in and out of the class to enhance a better understanding of the concepts
and processes covered by the instructor. In this manner, the student is also challenged to
do further reading and to sharpen his/her critical thinking skills and inquiry methods of
learning.
General Policies
1. CELL PHONE AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES NOT
SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE INSTRUCTOR ARE NOT
PERMITTED TO BE TURNED ON IN THE CLASSROOM. Off does not
mean vibrate or mute. They are not to appear on the desk/table.
2. Make-Up tests will only be given after individual discussion with the instructor. If
you know you will have an imperative absence on a test day please inform the
instructor in advance so individual accommodations can be made prior to the
meeting of the next class. If a makeup test is authorized it should be taken in the
testing center.
3. Due dates are due dates. Late work is not acceptable. If you are absent the day an
assignment is to be turned in, you must have the assignment itself delivered to the
class physically or by email. Assignments are due at the by the beginning of the
class period.
4. “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism,
and collusion. Cheating on a test includes copying from another student’s test
paper, using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
collaborating with another student during the test without authority; knowingly
using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of an unadministered test; or bribing another person to obtain a test that is
administered. ‘Plagiarism” means the appropriations of another’s work and the
unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work for credit.
‘Collusion’ means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work offered for credit.” In simplified terms, cheating is 1. Taking
unchanged passages (or slightly edited) from another person’s writing and
portraying them as one’s own; 2. Submitting a paper that includes paraphrases of
another person’s writing without giving credit; 3. Having someone else write your
paper for you; 4. Copying or using another person’s work during in-class writing or
testing; 5. The unauthorized use of electronic devises during in-class writing or
testing; 6. Violating testing rules. Keep in mind also that whether you are cheating
or not, not following testing or writing rules properly, such as communicating with
your neighbor or using a cell phone during a test will be construed as cheating. This
is not an exhaustive list of the forms of cheating on written work. If you are in
doubt, consult the teacher.
5. All outside classroom work should be completed on the computer. Proper spelling
and grammar will be necessary on all assignments and will impact the grade. See
specific assignment for the specific amount of points deducted for errors. Double
space on computer papers. It is also expected that a student will use a proper
bibliography and footnotes where necessary when referencing material.
6. In Class Writing must be done in pen. Multiple-choice must be done on scantrons with a pencil but you will need a pen for essay questions.
7. During a test or in class writing you may not leave the room.
8. Being tardy or early exits that accumulate (three) may count as an absence. It is the
student’s responsibility to make sure they are marked tardy and not absent.
9. Students need to understand the teacher may not withdraw students after the
withdrawal day except with excessive absences. This result could be FX if the
student stops attending.
10. Students who take a class for the third time or more must now pay significant
tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. At
HCC it is an additional $50 per credit hour. If you are considering course
withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with the teacher as
early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, testtaking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other
assistance that might be available. Also, the state of Texas has passed a new law
limiting new students as of Fall 2007 to no more than six withdrawals throughout
their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree,
11. Remember the goal of your writing is to cover topics in Depth. There is an HCC
Writing Center that may assist in this process.
12. HCC Core Curriculum: For information regarding HCC’s Core Curriculum see
page 46 of the HCC Catalog. For information about HCC’s Social Sciences
Exemplary Educational Objectives see Pages 59-60 of the HCC Catalog.
EGLS3: At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student
feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time near
the end of term, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-bases
questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made
available to your professors and department chairs for continual improvement of
instruction. Go to www.hccs.edu/eglas3 for more information.
Interest Group: Wednesday, February 18 -100 Points max.
You are researching an Interest Group suggested by the instructor or of your own choice and writing a two page
summary and analysis/current application. The knowledge that would be necessary for the paper would be:
date formed, purpose, revenue, expenses, leadership, number of members, history, current event, existence of a
PAC, which candidate for president did they support if they do have a PAC, legislation they support. Label
these topics in the margin!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
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25.
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27.
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49.
National Rifle Association
National Education Association
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Mexican American Legal, Defense, and Education Fund
National Organization of Women
AARP
AFL-CIO
Association of Trial Lawyers
American Civil Liberties Union
National Right to Life Committee
Cato Institute
Christian Coalition
American Medical Association
Public Citizen Inc
Anti Defamation League
NARAL
League of Latin American Citizens
Common Cause
Sierra Club
Eagle Forum
Planned Parenthood
Club for Growth
National Women’s Political Caucus
American Conservative Union
Americans for Tax Reform
John Birch Society
Focus on the Family
Greenpeace
Emily’s List
National Council of La Raza
League of Women Voters
Moveon.org
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers
National Audubon Society
People for the American Way
Children’s Defense Fund
PETA
Heritage Foundation
Third Way
National Association of Realtors
J-Street
Democracy 21
Freedom Works
Opensecrets.org
Center for American Progress
American Enterprise Institute
Americans for Prosperity
Every town for Gun Safety
Checking websites Wednesday, March 25
This is about choice and self-learning. Investigate five of the government/politics
websites below- on the format and on the content. For each write on a word document
a paragraph about the format and a paragraph on the content.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
s.
t.
u.
v.
w.
x.
y.
z.
aa.
www.drudgereport.com
www.campaign.com
www.centerforpolitics.org
www.vote-smart.org
www.meetup.com
www.pollingreport.com
www.moveon.org
www.factcheck.org
www.dailykos.com
www.ncsl.org
www.civiced.org
http://www.thedailybeast.com/
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/
www.redstate.com
http://politifact.com/
www.huffingtonpost.com
www.people-press.org
http://www.politico.com/2010/maps
http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com
littlegreenfootballs.com
Snopes.com
OpenSecrets.org
TruthorFiction.com
HoaxSlayer.com
CSpan
http://learning.blogs.nytimees.com/category/civics
http://www.americanselect.org/
Civil Rights Dinner; Come to Dinner
You are having a dinner party. You want it to be lively, interesting and informative. The
food is planned, the setting is formal, but you can only afford to invite five others to sit
around your table for six.
Your invitees can be anyone alive or dead; famous, infamous or neither. However,
invitations to President Lincoln, Civil Rights activist Rev Martin Luther King Jr. and
leader of the bus boycott, Rosa Parks, have been returned. So do not send a second
invitation to them.
The discussion is going to be about Civil Rights (what does that mean?)...not the Civil
War. The guests, however, will focus on contemporary concerns (1950’s to current
times).
So you have ten minutes to make your list. You can NOT use the computer or the book
because we want these invitations to come from your heart.
After the invitations are sent we are going to plan the seating arrangement. Who should
sit by whom and why?
Lastly, each student will be asked to come forward and share why you invited each guest
as well as the seating arrangement you chose. There is no politically correct or incorrect
invitee.
The dining room design will be placed on the screen for all to visualize.
Enjoy your dinner. But keep in mind the goals of:
 depth in your selection
 logic of choice
 uniqueness
 analysis
 application to the unit
Let’s Go For a Ride
Check out the Tea Party Express Buses of 2009. You researched other Special Interest
Groups (SIGs) and their agenda.
Your Group will now develop your own virtual bus tour. If your last name begins
with A-G you are in group one; H-M you are in group two; N-Z you are in group
three. Each group selects one of the SIG they researched.
Here are the decisions that are necessary to answer to make your trip productive:
 Decide what cities you will visit (have a logic).
 Draw a banner with a slogan for your bus.
 Develop a simple message to attract members.
 Write a platform, ideology or focus for your organization. Develop your own
based on the information you have acquired.
 What will you do to attract nonmembers to your cause and your bus trip?
 What colors do you want your bus riders to wear to look in solidarity for your
cause?
 Select a song to unite you.
 Have you developed a script in case your bus riders get interviewed by the media?
 Name your blog.
Note: The Tea Party Group is your prototype so these sources might assist you.
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=1
23399679&m=123399660
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/feb/07/tea-party-meeting-looking-forge-fullfledged-movem/?breakingnews
Gubernatorial Debate-September 12/September 15 Due
1.
Make three comments on the media coverage and format itself including what
channel you viewed.
2. List the candidates participating, their party affiliation, and one statement of their
political background and one statement of their personal background.
3. State the background of the moderator/moderators. Why do you believe that
person/persons was/were chosen?
4. List three topics of which the candidates spoke. Explain what each said. Give
your opinion/explanation about each topic using factual support.
5. List two things of interest in reference to the reaction of the audience. Where was
the event held?
6. What was the statement or process that impressed you the most? Explain.
7. What was the statement or process that impressed you the least? Explain.
8. How long was the debate? Who sponsored the debate?
9. Which candidate did you support before the debate? Why? Which after the
debate? Why?
10. If you had had a chance to ask a question of depth of both candidates, what would
you have asked that was not asked during the debate?