COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: GOVT 2302 - 20CE/ 2030 -Government II
COURSE (CATALOG) DESCRIPTION: This course is a study of the theory and practice of the
American government, including political participation, civil rights and liberties, public economics, and
foreign policy.
INSTRUCTOR:
Arturo Serrata III
TIME:
Thursdays from 5:30 to 8:30 P M (01-10-13 to 4-25-13)
PLACE:
W 135 B (Irma Rangel Science and Technology Building)
TELEPHONE:
(956) 364-4638 (Social and Behavioral Sciences Office)
MAJOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS: This course has been divided into four units; each unit will be
presented in a lecture/discussion format. Students must be prepared for class and actively
participate. After each unit, there will be an exam based on the information discussed during the class
lectures and readings.
Exams: There will be four knowledge / performance exams and a final exam. These exams will be
based on the information discussed during the lectures pertaining to the reading assignments.
Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
(1) Assess the importance of major historical events for contemporary politics in the United
States.
(2) Demonstrate the distinctions between political institutions and political behavior and their
importance in understanding the American political process.
(3) Explain how political processes in the United States compare with those of other advanced
industrial democracies.
(4) Describe the political socialization process using political vocabulary, terminology, and
related concepts.
(5) Communicate how citizens form and articulate opinions about government.
(6) Identify and describe how citizens participate in the political processes through voting and
other means.
(7) Engage in critical thinking to analyze and evaluate relationships evident in American
political / governmental events and circumstances.
MAJOR COURSE LECTURE, TOPICS DESCRIPTION / READINGS
Tentative Schedule (Subject to change by instructor)
Week
1
Date
1-10-13
Topic / Lecture / Event
Unit 1: Chapters 1, 2 , and 3
Foundations of American Government
1.1 Trace the origins of Am. govt.
1.2 Show how European political thought
provided theoretical foundations of Am. govt.
1.3 Describe Am. political culture.
1.4 Explain the functions of Am. govt.
1.5 Analyze the changing characteristics of
the Am. public.
1.6 Assess the role of political ideology.
1.7 Characterize the changes in Americans’
attitudes toward govt.
2
1-17-13
2.1 Trace the historical developments that
led to the colonists’ break with Great Britain
and the emergence of the Am. nation.
2.2 Identify the key components of the
Articles of Confederation and the reasons
why it failed.
2.3 Outline the issues and compromises that
Central to writing the U.S. Constitution.
2.4 Analyze the underlying principles of the
U.S. Constitution.
2.5 Explain the conflicts that characterized
2.6 Distinguish between the methods used
for proposing and ratifying amendments to
the U.S. Constitution.
3
1-24-13
3.1 Trace the roots of the federal system
and the Constitution’s allocation of
governmental powers.
3.2 Determine the impact of the Marshall
Court on federalism.
3.3 Describe the emergence and decline of
dual federalism.
3.4 Explain how cooperative federalism led
to the growth of the national government.
3.5 Explain new trends in federalism.
3.6 Assess then challenges in balancing
national and state powers and the
consequences for policy making.
-----------------------------------------------------Review Chapters 1---3
UNIT EXAM # 1: Chapters 1-3
4
1-31-13
Unit 2: Chapters 5, 6, and 11
Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and
Public Opinion
5.1 Trace the constitutional roots of civil
liberties.
5.2 Describe the First Amendment
guarantee of freedom of religion.
5.3 Outline the First Amendment guarantees
of and limitations on freedom of speech,
press, assembly, and petition.
5.4 Summarize changes in the interpretation
of the Second Amendment right to keep and
bear arms.
5.5 Analyze the rights of criminal defendants
found in the Bill of Rights.
5.6 Explain the origins and significance of
the right to privacy.
5.7 Evaluate how reforms to combat
terrorism have affected civil liberties.
5
2-07-13
6.1 Trace the efforts from 1800 to 1890 of
African Americans and women to win the
right to vote.
6.2 Outline developments in African
Americans’ and women’s push for equality
from 1890 to 1954.
6.3 Analyze the civil rights movement and
the effects of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
6.4 Assess statutory and constitutional
remedies for discrimination pursued and
achieved by the women’s rights movement.
6.5 Describe how other groups have
mobilized in pursuit of their own civil rights.
6.6 Evaluate the ongoing debate concerning
civil rights and affirmative action.
6
2-14-13
11.1 Trace the development of modern
public opinion research.
11.2 Describe the methods for conducting
and analyzing different types of public
opinion polls.
11.3 Assess the potential shortcomings of
polling.
11.4 Analyze the process by which people
form political opinions.
-----------------------------------------------------Review Chapters 5, 6, & 7
UNIT EXAM # 2: Chapters 5, 6, & 11
-----------------------------------------------
7
2-21-13
Unit 3: Chapters 12, 13, and 14
Political Parties, Campaigns, and
Elections
12.1 Trace the evolution of the two-party
system in the United States.
12.2 Outline the structure of American
political parties at the national, state, and
local levels.
12.3 Identify the functions performed by
American political parties.
12.4 Analyze how political socialization and
group affiliations shape party identification.
12.5 Evaluate the role of minor parties in the
American two-party system.
12.6 Explain why the two major American
political continue to endure.
8
2-28-13
13.1 Trace the roots of American elections
and distinguish among the four different
types of elections.
13.2 Outline the electoral procedures for
presidential and general elections.
13.3 Compare and contrast congressional
and presidential elections and explain the
incumbency advantage.
13.4 Identify seven factors that influence
voter choice.
13.5 Identify six factors that affect voter
turnout.
13.6 Explain why voter turnout is low and
evaluate methods for improving voter
turnout.
9
3-07-13
14.1 Trace the evolution of political
campaigns in the United States.
14.2 Assess the role of candidates and their
staff in the campaign process.
14.3 Evaluate the ways campaigns raise
money.
14.4 Identify the ways campaigns raise
money.
14.5 Analyze the 2008 presidential
campaign.
Review Chapters 12, 13, & 14
UNIT EXAM # 3: Chapters 12, 13, & 14
10
3-14-13
SPRING BREAK
------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
11
Unit 4: Chapters 15, 16, and 17
3-21-13
The Media, Interest Groups, and
Domestic Policy
15.1 Trace the historical development of the
news media in the United States.
15.2 Characterize four major trends in the
news media today.
15.3 Summarize the ethical standards and
federal regulations that govern the news
media.
15.4 Assess how the news media cover
politics.
15.5 Evaluate the influence of the news
media on public policy and the impact of
media bias.
12
3-28-13
Interest Groups
16.1 Trace the roots of the American interest
group system.
16.2 Describe the historical development of
American interest groups.
16.3 Identify several strategies and tactics
-------------------------------------------------
used by organized interests.
16.4 Analyze the factors that make an
interest group successful.
16.5 Explain reform efforts geared toward
regulating interest groups and lobbyists.
13
4-04-13
Domestic Policy
17.1 Trace the stages of the policy making
process.
17.2 Describe the evolution of health policy
in the United States.
17.3 Outline the evolution of education
policy in the United States.
17.4 Explain the evolution of energy and
environmental policy in the United States.
Review Chapters 15, 16, and 17
Test on Chapters 15, 16, and 17
14
4-11-13
Economic Policy
18.1 Trace the evolution of economic policy
in the united States.
18.2 Assess the impact of the budget
process on fiscal policy.
18.3 Analyze the effect of the federal
Reserve System on monetary policy.
18.4 Describe the evolution of income
security policy in the united States.
------------------15
----------------------------------------------------------Foreign and Defense Policy
4-18-13
19.1 Trace the evolution of U.S. foreign and
defense policy.
19.2 Explain the developments that led to
the rise of the United States as a world
power.
19.3 Outline the actors that shape foreign
and defense policy challenges confronting
--------------------------------------------------
the United States.
19.4 Identify four contemporary foreign and
defense policy challenges confronting the
United States.
16
4-25-13
RevIew for FInal Exam
Final Exam
REQUIRED TEXT: American Government: Roots and Reform, 2011 Texas Edition by O’Connor,
Sabato, Yanus, Gibson, and Robinson [ISBN-10: 0205825842 or ISBN-13: 9780205825844].
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Scantrons (the long green ones) [for the tests]..
A pen with blue or black ink , writing paper, and a sharpened pencil.
Access to TSTC Moodle (https://mycourses.tstc.edu/)
GRADING CRITERIA:
GRADING SCALE:
66%
Unit exams
100 pts.
A
90%---100%
34%
Final Exam
100 pts.
B
80%---89%
C
70%---79%.
D
60---69%
F
< 60%
ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT:
If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out classwork as
outlined and/or if you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact (956) 3644520 or visit the Consolidated Student Services Center as soon as possible to make appropriate
arrangements.
CLASS POLICIES: 1) Your being on time shall be appreciated.
2) Attendance will be taken.
3) No visitors allowed.
4) Cell phones M U S T be turned off during class time!
5) Computer laptops, Kindles, electronic notebooks and tablets
MUST be turned off during class time!
6) Plagiarism is forbidden as per the TSTC handbook and its policies.
7) No Trash Talking. Students need to respect other students.
8) A test missed because of illness may be made up; proof is required.
9) Leaving class early equals half an absence.
10) Students should not be talking to each other while the instructor is
lecturing or discussing a point with a few students.
11) Serious and/or repeated discipline problems will be cause for removal
from the class.
Last Day to
Withdraw:
03-28-2013
Copyright Statement
The materials used in the course [textbooks, handouts, media files (podcast, MP3, Videos, RSS
(Feeds), and all instructional resources on the colleges Learning Management System (Moodle)] are
intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course and are only to be used for
instructional use, activities associated with, and for the duration of the course. All materials generated
for this course, which includes but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class
materials, review sheets, and any additional materials.
These materials may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in
compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act. These materials may not be reproduced, displayed,
modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder or TSTC.
For further information contact your instructor.
Communicating with your instructor (MyMail E-mail System)
All official college E-mail to students is sent through MyMail, the official student e-mail system at
TSTC Harlingen. When communicating with instructors and/or employees of the college, you are
required to use your TSTC MyMail student e-mail address. If you choose to fo rward your e-mail to
another account, please be advised that you must respond from the MyMail account.
TSTC Harlingen faculty, staff, and students are asked to report all threats, perceived or real,
immediately to College Police located in the Auxiliary Building. If the threat is imminent, the College
Police emergency phone line at 364-4234 or 9-911 should be called. College Police will then
coordinate the proper response in accordance with State and federal laws and TSTC System/College
rules and regulations.
My E-mail address: arturo.serrata@harlingen.tstc.edu
NOTE: Any changes to this syllabus will be provided in writing to the student and updated on all
posted locations (course Moodle sites).