GOVERNMENT 2305 SYLLABUS (44149)
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 five exams (including the Final) consisting of multiple choice and essay questions. Each exam will be worth 25% of your final grade. Your lowest 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.
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 (3/30/2015). 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.
EGLS
3
(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.
Course Outline and Tentative Schedule
The following is an outline of our course activities and a tentative schedule of those activities.
1/20/2014: Introduction
1/22/2014: Roots of American Constitutionalism
Assigned Reading: Chapter 1
1/27/2014: Principles of American Constitutionalism
Assigned Reading: Chapter 1
1/29/2014: Theories of American Federalism
Assigned Reading: Chapters 2 and 3
2/3/2014: Political Ideologies
Assigned Reading: Chapters 1
2/5/2014: Examination I (Review)
2/10/2014: Exam I
2/12/2014: Congress
Assigned Reading: Chapter 9

2/17/2014: The Presidency and the Federal Bureaucracy
Assigned Reading : Chapter 10 and 11
2/19/2014: The Federal Courts I
Assigned Reading: Chapter 12
2/24/2014: The Federal Courts II
Assigned Reading: Chapter 12
2/26/2014: Examination II Review
3/3/2014: Examination II
3/5/2014: Civil Liberties I
Assigned Reading : Chapter 4
3/7/2014: Civil Liberties II
Assigned Reading : Chapter 4
3/13/2014: Civil Rights I
Assigned Reading : Chapter 13
3/15/2014: Civil Rights II
Assigned Reading : Chapter 13
3/24/2014: Civil Rights III
Assigned Reading : Chapter 13
3/26/2014: Examination III Review
3/31/2014: Examination III
4/2/2014: The Media
Assigned Reading : Chapter 5
4/7/2014: Interest Groups
Assigned Reading : Chapter 8
4/9/2014: Political Parties

Assigned Reading: Chapters 6
4/14/2014: Elections
Assigned Reading: Chapter 7
4/16/2014: Examination IV Review
4/21/2014: Examination IV
4/23/2014: Social and Economic Policy
Assigned Reading : Chapter 14
4/28/2014: Foreign Policy
Assigned Reading : Chapter 15
4/30/2014: Final Examination Review
Final Exam Date: TBD