Houston Community College
Division of Social Sciences
Syllabus
Course: Government 2305-037
Course Reference Number-76833
Class Location: Stafford Campus: Rm 114
Class Time: Mo-We: 6:00PM-8:00PM
Course Credit: 3 hours
Instruction Type: In Person
Contact Hours: 48
Course Length : 12 weeks
Instructor: Jon Ellison, M.A.
Office Location: Rm 114
Office Hours: any time before or after class
E-Mail=jon.ellison@hccs.edu
REQUIRED TEXT:
THE ENDURING DEMOCRACY, 4th Edition, by Kenneth Dautrich, David A.
Yalof.
► ISBN # 0-205-88399-0 ►
COURSE 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.
CORE OBJECTIVES:
The Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) mandates that the core curriculum
must ensure that students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be
successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life. Through the Texas Core
Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the
physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for
living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for
all learning.
Students enrolled in GOVT 2305/2306 core curriculum courses will complete assessments
designed to measure the following core objectives:
o Critical Thinking Skills—to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation and synthesis of information
o Communication Skills—to include effective development, interpretation and expression of
ideas through written, oral and visual communication
o Personal Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions and
consequences to ethical decision-making
o Social Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences
to ethical decision-making
PREREQUISITES/CO-REQUISITES :
Must have passed ENGL 1301 (Composition I) or co-enrolled in ENGL 1301 as
a co-requisite (Exception: Dual credit students only need to be placed into
college level reading and writing).
TOPICAL OUTLINE:
The following areas will be covered by this course:
- Constitutional Foundations/Political Structure:
* Define the concept of democracy and apply it as a standard for evaluating American
government and politics.
* Identify the key components of the U.S. Constitution and analyze its strengths and
weaknesses.
* Define federalism and trace the evolution of federalism in the United States.
* Identify the strengths and weaknesses of federalism and examine the conflict over the
meaning of federalism.
* Explain how federalism differs from other systems of government and how federalism
supports/enhances democracy.
* Identify and explain the concepts of political ideology and political culture. Analyze the
factors that impact ideology and culture.
– Political Linkages (Public Opinion, Media, Interest Groups, Party Voting
and Elections):
* Define public opinion, identify the problems in measuring public opinion and assess the
degree to which American policy makers are responsive to public opinion.
* Identify and analyze the role of the media in democracy, how “news” is gathered and
disseminated, and how the media impacts public opinion and public policy.
* Identify and evaluate the limits of the media and the concept of media bias.
* Identify and evaluate the reasons for interest group proliferation and interest group bias.
* Identify the tactics employed by interest groups to influence the political process. Evaluate
the success of each tactic.
* Explain the structure of American political parties. Describe the functions of a party
within the political system including the role of third parties.
* Identify and explain the types of elections in the American political system. Analyze
electoral participation.
– Three Branches of Government
* Identify and evaluate how members of Congress represent their constituents.
* Identify and evaluate the functions of Congress.
* Describe and analyze the role of leaders, committees, political parties and interest groups
within the legislative branch.
* Identify the basic structure/model of U.S. bureaucracy and identify the types of
bureaucratic agencies.
* Identify and evaluate how the federal court system is organized and how it operates.
* Describe the operational procedures and behavioral characteristics of the U.S. Supreme
Court
* Define and analyze the concept of judicial review, judicial interpretation, and the role of
the Supreme Court in a democratic society.
* Identify and evaluate the evolution of presidential powers. Analyze the relationship
between the Executive and Congress. Assess the ability of either institution to set policy
independently of the other.
* Distinguish between judicial activism and restraint. Discuss how they relate to the proper
role of the court.
– Governmental Functions
* Explain the difference between civil rights and liberties. Explain the concept of
incorporation and how the Supreme Court’s interpretation of liberties has changed.
*Analyze the importance of civil rights in a democratic system, trace the expansion of civil
rights protection and examine the present status of civil rights protections in today’s
society.
* Identify and explain the role of government in the economy, evaluate the tools government
uses to manage the economy.
* Describe how foreign and defense policies are made. Evaluate the importance of national
security and identify new problems/issues for foreign and defense policy.
* Examine social welfare as a partisan issue. Differentiate between social insurance and
public assistance programs.
* Discuss/explain how the rights of the accused have been protected through Supreme
Court rulings.
* Discuss the significance of the establishment and free exercise clauses in relation to
freedom of religion.
* Distinguish between procedural and substantive due process. Examine the federal
judiciary’s application of due process protections.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES & OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
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 CURRICULUM COMPETENCIES:
Students in a core curriculum course are assessed on their ability to demonstrate all or most
of the following core objective proficiencies as mandated by the Higher Education
Coordinating Board, which are as follows:
Critical thinking skills – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and
analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
Communication skills – to include effective written, oral, and visual communication.
Empirical and quantitative skills – to include the manipulation and analysis of
numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.
Teamwork – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work
effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.
Social responsibility – to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic
responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global
communities.
Personal responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and
consequences to ethical decision-making.
METHODS OF ASSESSMENT:
The format for this course will be lectures, power point presentations, films, class handouts,
group activities & writing assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to get copies of
handouts from fellow classmates if a class is missed. Class attendance and participation are
strongly encouraged. The student is responsible for all material presented in class and
assigned outside of class. All class activities will assist the student to monitor their learning
and success in meeting the course objectives.
There are five examinations scheduled for this semester. Each exam is worth 100 points. All
examinations are to be taken at the scheduled time. Each student will be able to exclude
his/her lowest exam grade; however, the final may not be dropped or excluded. Should a
student miss an exam other than the final, that is the grade he/she will drop; there will be no
make-up exams. Examinations in this class will consist of material taken from the class
lectures and assigned text readings. Tests will be primarily objective, but essays are
possible. The final examination in this course is comprehensive!
WRITING REQUIREMENTS:
Throughout the semester, students will be required to submit two writing assignments.
Information regarding the specific assignments themselves will be provided as the semester
progresses. Topics will be drawn from the national politics realm. I will expect your work
to be original-complete with researched information, personal analysis, and commentary of
the information. Type the final version of your paper. Please double space and allow
proper margins. Make sure that you give your final product a final proofreading for
errors—misspellings, punctuation errors, etc. Careless mistakes will count against the
success of your paper. Late papers will be docked 10 percent each class day that they are
late. Your written assignments must be in the APA format.
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
GRADING SYSTEM:
Exam 1=100 points
Exam 2=100 points
Exam 3=100 points
Exam 4(final)=120 points
Writing Assignment 1 =40 points
Writing Assignment 2=40 points
Grade Total: =500 points
GRADING SCALE:
500-440=A 90%
439-380=B 80%
379-320=C 70%
319-260=D 60%
259 & below 60%=F
COURSE SCHEDULE: FALL 2015 (2nd start)
Week 1:
Introduction to Government, What is government and why do we have it?
Changing political landscape and disagreement over the role of government. Issues confronting the
country: Divided government and the importance of citizen activism. Chapters 1 & 2
Week 2: Federalism : Chapter 3
Week 3: Philosophical Foundations of American Government
EXAMINATION I
Week 4:
Civil Liberties - Chapter 4/Civil Rights-Chapter 5
Religious Tolerance, Free Speech & Right to Assemble, Right to Bear Firearms /Gun Control,
Right to Privacy/abortion, search and seizure, right to die. Civil Rights have largely been defined
by the Supreme Court: Jim Crow / Black / Hispanics/ Women’s Issues/ GLBT Rights /Persons
with Disabilities
Week 5: Congress - Chapter 6 & 14
Divided government, Congressional oversight and public safety; decline of “earmarks’.
Redistricting and single member districts. Military, foreign affairs, and war/defense policy.
Congressional oversight and investigation.
EXAMINATION II
Institutions of American Government:
Week 7: The President Chapters 7 & 8, Cabinet, Sequester, & Bureaucracy
Presidential powers, popularity; the Cabinet, State of the Union speech, and budgeting.
Week 8:Supreme Court, US Judiciary, and Federal Courts - Chapter 9
Supreme Court / recent cases and appointments, including the first Hispanic woman, Sonia
Sotomayor in 2009, and Elena Kagan in 2010. Current land mark cases and ensuing controversy.
EXAMINATION III
Week 9:Political Socialization, Public Opinion, and the Media - Chapter 10
Polling, Demographic stratification & segmentation: age, gender, ethnicity, religious, Frank Luntz,
Push Polls. Newspapers, online newspapers, electronic media, social media.
Week 10:
Political Socialization, Public Opinion, and the Media - Chapter 10
Polling, Demographic stratification & segmentation: age, gender, ethnicity, religious, Push Polls.
Newspapers, online newspapers, electronic media, social media. The Media & American Politics,
Right to Vote
EXAMINATION IV
Week 11: Campaign and Elections, Political Parties, Interest Groups, & Conventions
Chapters13 & 14
Week 12: Domestic & Foreign Policy – Chapters 15 & 16
EXAMINATION V=Final Test
The above Course Schedule is subject to change. The instructor will give students advance
notice of any changes!
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the best way to succeed.
Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including
the first week, you are responsible for all material missed.
CLASS DEMEANOR and CONDUCT:
Students should not engage in private conversations with fellow students during lectures,
video presentations, classroom discussions, or when other students are speaking. This is
extremely rude behavior, and I have an obligation to compel you to respect on another’s
rights. Please silence all cell phones!
HCC Policy Statement- ADA:
Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to contact
the Central College disabilities counselor at 713-718-6164 to make necessary arrangements.
Faculty members are authorized to provide accommodations only by the Disability Support
Service Office.
HCC Policy Statement-ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling
course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College
System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another students’ test paper;
 Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or
part the contents of a test that has not been administered; and
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged
incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written
work offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade
of 0 or F in the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for
probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)
HCC COURSE WITHDRAWL POLICY:
If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course
prior to the final date of withdrawal. The last day to withdraw this semester is October 30,
2015 at 4:30 p.m. If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade
that you are making in the class as your final grade. State law limits students to no more
than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a
certificate and/or degree.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an
Early Alert process by which I may alert you and HCC counselors that you might fail a
class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your
responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC
interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job
placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
College policy allows instructors to drop students who miss more than 12.5 percent of total
class time, which is six hours for this course. If you find that you are unable to complete the
course, you should officially withdraw yourself rather than assume that I will drop you.
If you are an international student on an F-1 student visa, you must maintain a full load of
12 semester hours in a long semester. Withdrawing from or being dropped from this course
because of a failure to attend may result in your losing your visa. Please contact the
International Student Office at 713 718-8520 if you have questions about your visa status
and other transfer issues.
Repeat Course Fee
The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed
classes. To increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than once,
are required to pay extra tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage
students to pass their courses and to graduate. HCC charges a higher tuition rate to
students registering the third or subsequent time for a course. If you are considering course
withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your
instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing
homework, test taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for
tutoring or other assistance that might be available. ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE
RESPONSIBILTY OF READING THE HCC STUDENT HANDBOOK:
http://central.hccs.edu/students/student-handbook/
DEPARTMENT CHAIR CONTACT:
Evelyn Ballard
Chair - Government Department
evelyn.ballard@hccs.edu
713-718-2490