GOVERNMENT 2305
Introduction to American Government
Fall 2014
Houston Community College System
Instructor: Ahmed Shagroni
Email: ahmed.shagroni@hccs.edu
GOVERNMENT 2305 SYLLABUS (29301)
Course Title: Introduction to American Government
Course Description: Government 2305 is designed to introduce students to the politics of
government at the national level. This course is fully transferable to other colleges and
universities with a “C” course grade. Government 2305 is a study of the theories of American
democracy and other ideologies, United States constitution, federalism, Congress, the
presidency, the courts, the federal bureaucracy, public policy, political economy, political
socialization and public opinion, the media, interest groups, political parties, and elections.
Instructional Materials: William T. Bianco and David T. Canon American Politics Today:
Third Essentials Edition (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013)
Grading and Examinations: There will be four exams (including the Final) consisting of
multiple choice and essay questions. Your exam grades will comprise 75% of your final grade.
The remaining 25% of your grade will come from your group discussion projects. Your lowest
exam grade will be dropped. All of your assignments will be graded on the following scale:
A = 90‐100%
B = 80‐89%
C = 70‐79%
D = 60‐69%
F = Below 60
Scholastic Dishonesty: HCCS students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor
and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be
initiated by HCC 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 but is not limited to: Copying from another student's test paper; using
unauthorized materials during a test, unauthorized collaboration with another student during a
test; knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of a test; and bribing another person to obtain a copy of a test. Plagiarism includes the
appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one's own
written work. Collusion includes the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work.
THE POSSESSION OF ELECTRONIC
DEVICES DURING EXAMS WILL BE
CONSIDERED PROOF OF CHEATING.
Such devices must be left in purses/backpacks at the
front of the room during exams. Possible punishments
for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F on
the particular assignment, failure in the course,
and/or recommendation for probation or
dismissal from the HCC System.
Services to Students with Disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical,
learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations
must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each
semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability
Support Services Office.
For questions, please contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your
college.
HCC-Northwest ADA Counselor: Northwest ADA Counselor - Mahnaz Kolaini - 713.718.5422
HCC Course Withdrawal 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 (10/31/2014). If you do
not withdraw by this date and you have stopped coming to class, you will receive an FX. A note
of caution: Students who take a course 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 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.
EGLS3 (Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System): 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. Go to www.hccs.edu/egls3 for more information.
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
Student assessment of proficiencies mandated by THECB may include testing, projects, or assignments.
Government Program Student Learning Outcomes
1. Identify and describe the institutions of American national government. GOVT
2302/2305
2. Identify and describe the institutions of the State of Texas government. GOVT
2302/2306
3. Identify and evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion. GOVT
2306
4. Analyze the effects of the historical, social, political, economic, and cultural forces on
politics and government. GOVT 2306
5. Recognize and assume the responsibilities of citizenship by developing one’s critical
thinking skills, engaging in public discourse, and by obtaining information through the
news media. GOVT 2305
Course Outline and Tentative Schedule
The following is an outline of our course activities and a tentative schedule of those activities.
9/20/2014: Introduction
Reading Assignment: Chapter 1
9/27/2014: Roots of American Constitutionalism
Assigned Reading: Chapters 2 and 3
10/4/2014: Examination I
10/11/2014: Congress, the Presidency, and the Federal Bureaucracy
Assigned Reading: Chapters 9, 10, and 11
10/18/2014: The Federal Court System
Assigned Reading: Chapter 12
10/25/2014: Examination II
11/1/2014: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Assigned Reading: Chapters 4 and 13
11/8/2014: The Media and Interest Groups
Assigned Reading: Chapters 5 and 8
11/15/2014: Political Parties and Elections
Assigned Reading: Chapters 6 and 7
11/22/2014: Examination III
11/29/2014: Public Policy
Assigned Reading: Chapters 14 and 15
12/6/2014: Final Exam Review
12/12/2014: Final Examination