Government 2302
American Government: National, State, and Local
Spring Semester 2012
Class # 35322 – Missouri City Campus
M & W 10:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m., Room 208
Instructor: Charlotte Craik
E-Mail: charlotte.craik@hccs.edu
This course is designed as a study of theories of the executive,
legislative, and judicial branches of government at both the national and
state levels; economic policy; civil liberties policy; and foreign policy. It is
fully transferable.
Because this is an introductory course, the subject matter includes
basic information about the structures and functions of government and
politics. The more important goal of the course centers on equipping
students with the language and the skills for effectively analyzing,
discussing, and participating in the political arena.
The role of the instructor is to coordinate and encourage this learning
process and to evaluate the performance of students.
Textbook: Karen O'Connor, et. al., American Government: Roots and
Reform (2011 Texas Edition, Pearson).
A prerequisite to taking this course is having taken English 1301.
Additional Readings
Supplemental readings will be distributed throughout the semester.
Recommended
Study guides are available on-line at
http://pearsonamericangovernment.com, and at college bookstores to
accompany the required text. Students are also encouraged to follow
current political events by reading newspapers and following media news
reports.
Testing and Grading
Grades will be based on the following:
3 Exams @ 25%
(including part essay and part multiple choice
components)
1 Term Paper
Class Participation
= 75%
= 25%
=--5
105%
Test essay questions are based on the text, lectures and material distributed
to you before the test. The multiple choice portion of the test is closed book
and based on assigned textbook chapters and lecture information. The
grading of Class Participation will include your active volunteering to
answer questions in class, to discuss in front of the class your position or
thoughts on the issue we are currently addressing, your active participation
in class debates, and your willingness to ask pertinent questions at all times
throughout the semester. You are not only learning facts and theories; you
are also learning critical thinking and the ability to express that thinking in
your essays and in your class discussion.
TEST SCHEDULE
TEXAS LEGISLATURE, TEXAS EXECUTIVE, BUREAUACRACY
AND REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
Approximate date: March 18
Chapters 23, 24 and 4 (141 - 144) and additional readings
Term Paper Due: March 27. All written assignments will be delivered in
class on or before the day assigned. No e-mailed or late copies will be
accepted.
U.S. CONGRESS, PRESIDENCY, NATIONAL FOREIGN &
DEFENCE POLICY MAKING & BUREAUCRACY
Approximate date: April 10
Chapters 7, 8, 19 and additional reading distributed
TEXAS & FEDERAL JUDICIARY AND CIVIL LIBERTIES IN
AMERICA
Approximate date: May 6
Chapters 25, 10, 5 and additional reading distributed
All papers and assignments will be brought to class on or before the date
due. No emailed papers will be accepted. No papers or assignments will be
accepted after the due date. All tests will be taken, in the class, on the
designated date. No test may be taken after the designated date.
February 18 – President’s Day, Campus Closed
March 11 – 15 Spring Break, Campus Closed
Student Notification Statements:
1. Course Student Learning Outcomes
Describe and evaluate the impact of government on the lives of
individuals and society as a whole, focusing on public finance, the
provision of public services, regulatory policy, civil rights, civil liberties,
criminal justice, foreign policy, and defense policy. Compare and
contrast the institutions of American national government with those of
the state of Texas. Trace the development of the U.S. and Texas
Constitutions from their drafting through the present. Identify and
evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion,
including newspapers, websites, television, radio, and social media.
2. Advising and Counseling Services
Advising can be accomplished by contacting the Student Associate at 713718-6879, selection 2, and on-site advising at other HCC locations upon
request. Confidential sessions with education counselors will help students
understand admissions, registration, entrance testing requirements, degree
planning, transfer issues, and career counseling. Houston Community
College counselors also maintain a local referral base in order to provide
appropriate referrals to students with personal or family issues that may
require long-term solutions.
3. Disability (ADA) Notification
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the Ability Services Office at the respective
college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide
only the accommodations requested by the Ability Services Office. At
Southwest College, students should contact Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-7187909.
4. Scholastic Dishonesty
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity
in fulfilling course requirements includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a
test or a written assignment, plagiarism, and collusion. Please refer to your
student handbook for definitions of these terms. The maximum penalty for
scholastic dishonesty is failure of the course.
5. Attendance, Tardiness and Drops
A record of attendance is carefully maintained. Habitual tardiness or
talkativeness are disrupt and unacceptable. A students who misses
frequently, rarely performs as well as those who attend regularly. There is
no need to call the instructor to notify her of an absence. A student who
misses 6 semester hours of class (4 days) may be dropped by the Instructor.
Three (3) tardy appearances will equal one day of absence. Any student
entering the class after the role is taken is considered tardy for that class. The
Instructor may, at the Instructor’s discretion, not allow tardy students to
attend that class. If a student wishes to drop the course, it is his or her
responsibility to fill out the appropriate form in the college office on
campus. A student may drop the course for any reason up to Tuesday,
April 9, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. After the deadline, a student will receive the
grade that he/she has earned as of that date. College policy now prohibits
faculty from submitting a grade of W after the official drop date. A zero
will be given for any missed work.
6. Policy on Make-up Tests:
There are no make-up tests after a test is given. Notify me in advance if you
know in advance that you must miss an exam day in order to take it before
the rest of the students.
7. EGLS3 - Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey Systems
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 the term, you will be asked to answer a short
online survey of research-based 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. Look for
the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System
online near the end of the semester.