Honors American Government/Political Science 1003
Mr. Jacob Holle
2015-16
Room: C-06
Planning Period: 7th Hour
Phone Number: 794-4100 ext. 32306
Email Address: jholle@goddardusd.com
*My website: http://ghs.goddardusd.com/index.php?pageID=50585_3 –I will put important documents on this.
*Remind101 Phone Number: Send a text to 81010 with the message @ghshonors
Goddard High Web Address: http://ghs.goddardusd.com/
Course Title: Honors American Government/Political Science 1003 (Newman)
Credits: 3 hours available for college credit and also meets the high school and state requirement of American
Government for graduation.
Course Objectives: Students should be able to:
-Understand American political history, including the U.S. Constitution, and the evolution of the party
system.
-Explain the roles of Congress, the President, the Courts, the bureaucracy, and interest groups in the
policymaking process.
-Describe the formation and impact of public opinion and of political participation in the American political
system.
Required Textbook: The Challenge of Democracy by Janda, Berry, & Goldman.
Cengage Learning. 13th Edition
(It is a black and white colored book with partial American flag)
Grading:
The grading scale is set by GHS and can be found in your student handbook/agenda. Since this is a college
class, your grade will be more impacted by exams since there is less daily work.
*Come to class, pay attention, complete all reading and written assignments, study, and you should do fine in class.
Tardies:
I will follow the GHS tardy policy. Please be in your seat ready to start when the bell rings.
Late Work:
All assignments must be turned in when they are due. Full credit for late work will not be given. Since this
is a college level course, I have little tolerance for late work. Tests and quizzes must be made up in an appropriate
amount of time (in most cases within a couple of days). Essays will not be given full credit if late.
Course Requirements and Evaluation:
1. You can still take the class even if it is not for college credit, but you are still responsible for the purchase of
the book and you must still pass the class to get the necessary credit for high school graduation.
2. Payment for the college part of the class will be announced toward the beginning of the semester.
3. You are responsible for obtaining your textbook. You can get it online and possibly from a former student.
Feel free to rent the book if it saves you money.
4. Attendance is taken and expected just like any other GHS class.
5. You will be expected to have read the assigned materials and also have done any related work assigned by
the instructor.
6. Portfolio – You will need to bring a three ring binder to class each day. This notebook will be used to
compile a portfolio of class information for each unit we cover. These will be for a grade at the end of each
unit of study.
7. Exams will consist of a combination of questions based on what has been discussed in class and also the
reading assigned in the chapter. Make sure you read the assigned chapter to prepare for each exam.
Course Essay Questions: Newman requires you to write different essay questions during the course. It is very
important to prepare for these and take them seriously. Listed below are the topics and questions:
Topic Area
Question
US Constitution
What was the goal of the US Constitution? Why did it replace the
Articles of Confederation?
Civil Liberties
What is the Bill of Rights? Why are they important to guarantee
and civil rights
the basic rights of US citizens? Explain which Amendment you find
most important AND least important.
Federalism
Discuss three advantages of Federalism, and three disadvantages
of Federalism. Explain each.
Public Opinion
From the time we are born, many things shape our political
attitudes and beliefs. Discuss how our opinions are formed. What
aspect of political socialization do you believe has the biggest
impact on opinions? Why?
Political
What are several factors political scientists believe are responsible
Participation
for low voter turnout on election day in America? What tangible
factors make voting in America challenging at best? Discuss four
of those factors that are real barriers to voting.
Explain the main functions of American parties. Also indicate those
Political Parties
instances where significant changes have occurred in the American
party system.
Interest Groups
What are the different types of interest groups? Explain the
differences between the so called economic, equal opportunity,
and public interest groups.
What is the "free rider" problem and how do interest groups try to
solve it?
Presidency
Explain the main powers of the President of the United States.
Congress
Judiciary
Identify the powers that Congress is granted to specifically check
the executive branch from becoming too powerful. OR
Explain the separation of three branches of government and how
each can check the powers of the other branch with specific
examples.
Explain the role of the courts in the policymaking process. How do
they influence the policymaking process?
About Your Instructor:
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I grew up in Bremen, KS and graduated from Marysville High School in 1996.
I taught 3 years at Emporia Middle School and am in my 12th year at GHS.
I am the Social Studies Department head, Senior Class Sponsor, SkillsUSA sponsor, and Driver Education teacher.
I help coordinate high school foreign exchange students to come study for a school year in a U.S. high school. Let me know
if your family would be interested in hosting a student.
I earned my Master’s Degree in Teaching Social Studies in 2009.
I have a 4 year old son and a 2 old daughter with my wife.
We have a 9 pound Havanese dog that is somewhat unusual.
My favorite sports teams are: Wichita State, K.C. Chiefs, and K.C. Royals. I am a fantasy football nerd.
While we talk about politics quite often in my classes, I will never share how I vote and rarely do I express my views and
opinions. I am most concerned with trying to educate you so that you can decide what you believe!
Let’s Have a Great Year:
I look forward to working with you this year. Anytime you’re worried about your grade or anything else, don’t hesitate to
ask for help. I am excited to get the semester started and to get to know you. Please come and talk to me if you are unsure of any of
my expectations, or if you just want to chat. Good luck and let's have a great year!
KEEP THIS SHEET IN YOUR NOTEBOOK AS A REFERENCE.