United States Government
Course Syllabus, Fall 2015
Ahmad Zaidan (ahmad.zaidan@gcisd.net)
Room: K105, B304
Conference: 2nd Period
Tutorials: By appt only
A Day
1- 9th Athletics
2- conference (k102)
3- Govt K105
4- Var Athletics
B Day
5- 9th Athletics
6- Govt B320
7- Eco K105
8- Var Athletics
What is this course all about? Course Description:
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This course provides students with both a factual background and a conceptual understanding of
the American political system. Units included are the origins of government, beginning
governments in the early United States, development of our national government with emphasis
on each branch, civil rights, and what modern citizenship consists of today. Attention will also be
given to voting, political parties, and government at the state and local level.
Why Study U.S. Government?
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For Knowledge. We study government to understand:
o Our way of life and its development
o How our government works to resolve current issues
For Skills. Government class helps us sharpen our ability to:
o Comprehend books, newspapers, and television
o Separate facts from opinions
o Analyze problems, gather and evaluate evidence and arrive at conclusions
o Discuss vital current issues
For Understanding. As we study government we learn:
o Our debt to other generations for their contribution to our nation
o Our responsibility as American citizens to protect and preserve democracy
o How our involvement is critical to our country’s continued success
Expectations, Policies, and Requirements
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Engagement is required to be successful not only in this class, but in life. Don’t let your education
(life) pass you by! Be a willing and engaged participant. I expect daily engagement in class.
You are expected to have opinions, thoughts and beliefs. Be prepared to articulate those beliefs
to others verbally and in writing. Most individuals don’t know exactly what they believe until they
are forced to explain their position and ideas.
We have a participatory democracy in this country. You must pay attention to events and issues
going on in the world around you. One of the main reasons for this class is to help you become a
good citizen. An uninformed citizen is nearly useless and can even be detrimental to our country.
You are the future of our nation and your voice needs to be heard.
Integrity is expected and required. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. There is a section on it in
your student handbook. If you are unsure if what you have written is plagiarized, err on the side
of caution!
Thomas Jefferson believed that “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing.” I agree with him.
Feel free to disagree with others or me in the class but do so in a respectful and reasoned way.
Be respectful of others and this classroom. Throw your trash away in the wastebasket, not under
the desk for the next period’s occupant to find.
“Those who do not read are no better off than those who can’t.” Respect reading and learn what
it can do for you. The written word is very powerful.
Be on time for class. Upon a 4th tardy, a referral will be turned in to your Assistant Principal and
you will be INELLIGIBLE for exam exemption.
Be proactive about seeking help. Teachers have conference periods and tutorials for a reason.
We are here for you! Your success is our number one priority. Your success means we are
successful as teachers.
What materials will you need for class?
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Textbook United States Government by McGraw-Hill. Your textbook will be checked out to you in
an electronic format. There will be a class set of textbooks
A three-ring binder or a section in a big binder to keep all your work together and organized
Pencil, pen, highlighters, paper… basic school supplies
How will grades be determined?
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Tests and Major Projects – 60% of final grade.
Thought Provokers, homework, forum posts, class work, and quizzes will make up the remaining
40% of the grade.
You may turn in ONE late assignment per nine weeks. You will receive up to 70% of the possible
score. No additional late work will be accepted.
We will be using Cornell Notes for each assigned chapter of reading. They will be due prior to
covering the topic in class. Check class calendar and syllabus for due dates. These will be
averaged together for a test grade each six weeks.
Re-takes on summative assessments may be requested for grades below a 70. You will need to
schedule a time to re-take the assessment with me either before or after school.
What if you are absent from this class?
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Any assignments given before your absence that are due while you were out, are due upon your
return. You will have one week to submit make-up work.
Check the class website. The syllabus and calendar are kept up to date with what we are doing
each day.
Make friends in class so that you can borrow the notes that you missed.
If you are absent one day before a scheduled, previously announced test or quiz, you are
required to take it the day you return.
School Trips: Get your assignments before you are absent. They are due upon your return to
school.
NEVER ask if we did anything important in class when you were absent. Contrary to popular
belief, the class continues even if a student is absent.
Communication:
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Email is the best way to get in touch with me. I check it multiple times during the day.
I use the app Remind to send text messages to my classes. This app is one-way only.
Grades are regularly posted on Skyward. Students may request a print out of their grades before
or after school.
Units in this Course will be as follows:
1. Principles of Government
a. Different forms of government in history and the world
b. Purpose of government
2. The U.S. Constitution
a. Origins of American Government
b. Articles and Amendments of the Constitution
c. Division of Power
3. Political Participation
a. Political Parties
b. Voters and Voter behavior
c. Mass Media and Public Opinion
d. Special Interest Groups
4. The Legislative Branch
a. Congress
b. Congressional Powers
5. The Executive Branch
a. The Presidency
b. Government at Work: The Bureaucracy
6. The Judicial Branch
a. The Federal Court System
b. Civil Liberties & Civil Rights: Equal Justice Under the Law
7. Modern Citizenship
a. Changes in our government over time
b. Civic responsibility
c. Bureaucracy
d. Financing the government
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. Everyone needs a little more
direction or explanation every now then. Just because something makes sense to me, does not mean it
will make sense to everyone. Our classroom will be filled with a myriad of personalities, beliefs, and
abilities and each one is to be respected and valued. Together, our brain power increases exponentially.
I look forward to working with you this semester!
Ahmad Zaidan
Colleyville Heritage High School
U.S. Government