American Government 2302 (2nd start)
Wilson Sylvan, M.P.A.
West Loop Center
Fall 2012
CRN # 25591
Class meeting days / times
Tuesday / Thursday
6:00pm to 8:00pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Government 2302 is the second of two courses designed to introduce students to the
politics of government in America at the national, state, and local levels. The goal of
the course is to familiarize students with the structures, functions, and processes of
American government and politics. This course is fully transferable to other colleges
and universities, and along with Government 2301 fulfils the core curriculum political
science requirement at state colleges and universities in the state of Texas. By the
end of the semester, students should have the skills, knowledge, and motivation
necessary to be engaged in the American polity.
Course Student Learning Outcomes
1. 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.
2. Compare and contrast the institutions of American national government with those
of the state of Texas.
3. Trace the development of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions from their drafting
through the present.
4. Identify and evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion,
including newspapers, websites, television, radio, and social media.
Required Text & additional resources listed below: One combined textbook is
required for this course:
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Karen O’CONNER, L. Tucker GIBSON, JR., Clay ROBINSON, Larry J.
SABATO, Alixandra B. YANUS, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: ROOTS
AND REFORM (2011Texas Edition) ISBN – 13:978-0-205-82584-4, ISBN10:0-205-82584-2
New text books at HCC west loop bookstore cost $128.00, used text books
$96.00, (please note that the used textbooks may NOT have an access code
that is normally provided in order to allow students to utilize the course
website that accompanies book). The course website may offer tools such as
weekly quizzes, current event news articles, flash cards, & video
demonstrations.
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http://southwest.hccs.edu/southwest/academics/government-criminal justice
www.mypoliscilab.com
Additional Resources: If you need help completing writing assignments or accessing
primary sources, you should be aware of the following resources that are also
available through My PoliSciLab.
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MySearchLab is an excellent starting point for research and writing resources.
It also includes full-text access to academic journals and news sources.
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MyPoliSciLibrary provides access to the most important primary sources in
the American politics and history.
TESTING
This semester we will have at least three to four major exams. Students will be tested
on materials presented in the classroom and covered in the textbooks. Each test will
include essay, multiple choice, & short answer type questions. Students should make
every possible effort to take the exams at their original scheduled times. Make-up
exams must be arranged with the instructor, and will not be the same questions as
those given to students who take the regularly scheduled exams. * No student will be
allowed to take more than one make – up exam without the permission of the
instructor.
GRADING
Your final course grade will be determined in the following manner:
First Exam (25%), Second Exam (25%), Third Exam (25%), Written Assignments,
(which will ALL be announced throughout the course of semester) / Class
Participation (25%)
*
NO EXAMS WILL BE DROPPED, AND NO EXAMS MAY BE RETAKEN TO
IMPROVE YOUR GRADE. THEREFORE IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
YOU DO YOUR BEST ON EVERY EXAM, WHICH IS GIVEN.
Grading Scale:
A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89
D = 60 – 69 F = 50 – 59
C = 70 – 79
FINAL GRADE OF FX: Students who stop attending class and do not withdraw
themselves prior to the withdrawal deadline may either be dropped by their professor
for excessive absences or be assigned the final grade of "FX" at the end of the
semester. Students who stop attending classes will receive a grade of "FX", compared
to an earned grade of "F" which is due to poor performance. Logging into a DE course
without active participation is seen as non-attending. Please note that HCC will not
disperse financial aid funding for students who have never attended class. Students
who receive financial aid but fail to attend class will be reported to the Department of
Education and may have to pay back their aid. A grade of "FX" is treated exactly the
same as a grade of "F" in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory
academic progress.
ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend class and are strongly encouraged to arrive on time,
because arriving habitually late to class is both disruptive and inconsiderate.
The college provides that student’s may be dropped after missing more than six (6)
hours of class time. I do not wish to drop anyone who is making a good faith effort to
succeed in the course. If you wish to withdraw from the class, please fill out the
appropriate form in the campus office. You are adults and the responsibility is yours.
Please contact me if you are having problems that are affecting your attendance and I
will do my best to work with you. All students should recognize that there is a strong
correlation between attendance and test grades in my classes. While classroom
attendance does not guarantee good grades, excessive absences almost certainly will
result in failure.
A student may drop the course for any reason up to Monday, November 12, 2012 at
4:30 pm. After Monday, November 12, 2012, a student will receive the grade he / she
has earned. College Policy prohibits faculty from submitting a grade of W after the
official drop date.
INSTRUCTOR AVAILABLITY / PROBLEMS WITH THE COURSE
I will be available for students after class or by appointment if this is not convenient.
my email address is wilson.sylvan@hccs.edu. For emergencies only, you may
leave a message on my cell phone (832)372-9061.
ADA STATEMENT
Students making unsatisfactory grades on examinations, experiencing problems, or
having other difficulties with class should contact the instructor. Any student with a
disability which affects their test performance, attendance or successful completion
of other requirements of the course should advise the instructor. Federal law
mandates that this college comply with the ADA, and this instructor, like the
college, is committed to “providing equal educational opportunities without regard
to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or handicap.
THREE – PEATER STATEMENT
NOTICE: Students who take a course for the third time or more may soon face
significant tuition / fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and
universities. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning
passing grades, please 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.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
In accordance with College policy, any student caught during a test or on any written
assignment will receive a grade of zero (0) for that work. A second infraction will
result in a grade of “F” for that semester. Academic dishonesty includes but is not
limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
CLASSROOM DEMEANOR AND CONDUCT
Students should not engage in private conversations with fellow students during
lectures, video presentations, classroom discussions, or when other students are
speaking. This is extremely rude behavior, and I have an obligation to compel you to
respect one another’s rights.
USE OF CAMERA AND/OR RECORDING DEVICES
As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to
be respectful of the learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your
fellow students and instructor, you will turn off your phone and other electronic devices,
and will not use these devices in the classroom unless you receive permission from the
instructor.
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in
classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring,
or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a
reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for
information regarding reasonable accommodations.
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THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE MIX OF
ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINIATIONS.
EGLS3
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 term.
COURSE READINGS / TOPICS / CALENDAR
Government 2302
I.
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II.
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III.
Foundations of American Government: An Overview
Learning Objectives:
1.1: Trace the origins of American Government
1.3: Describe American culture, and identify the basic tenets of American
democracy
1.4: Explain the functions of American government
1.5: Who are Liberals and Conservatives? What are the differences?
2.4: Analyze the underlying principles of the U.S. Constitutions, p 44.
3.1: Trace the roots of the federal system and the Constitutions allocation of
governmental powers, p.93.
American Government - Chapter 7- Congress
Learning Objectives:
7.1: Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution
,p. 228
Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify
factors that affect their chances for reelection, p.231
7.3: Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and
congressional leadership in organizing Congress, p. 236.
7.4: Identify at least (3) of the most significant powers of Congress, p. 236
7.5: Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make
decisions,p.252.
7.6: Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, and
the courts, p. 259,
Texas Government - Chapter 23 - The Texas Legislative Branch
Learning Objectives:
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23.1: Trace the historical development of Texas’s legislative branch, p. 731.
23.2: Characterize the membership of the (2) houses of the Texas state
legislative branch, p.732.
23.3: Outline the structure of the Texas Legislature, p. 744.
23.4: Summarize the process through which the Texas Legislature enacts laws
and establishes the state budget, p. 752.
23.5: Describe the factors that influence how legislators make decisions, p.
759.
23.6: Assess the governors role in the legislative process, p. 762.
23.8: Evaluate proposals to reform the legislature, p. 763.
Test 1 (Over the above topics) Thursday, October 18th, 2012
IV.
American Government - Chapter 8 - The Presidency
Learning Objectives:
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8.1: Trace the development of the presidency and the provisions for choosing
and replacing presidents, p. 266.
8.2: Identify and describe the constitutional powers of the president.
8.3: Evaluate the development and expansion of presidential power, p. 279.
8.4: Outline the structure of the presidential establishment and the functions of
each of its components, p. 284.
8.5: Explain the concept of presidential leadership, and analyze the
importance of public opinion, p. 286.
8.6: Assess the president’s role as policy maker, p. 290.
American Government – Chapter 19 - The Foreign and Defense Policymaking
V.
Learning Objectives:
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VI.
19.1: Trace the evolution of U.S. foreign and defense policy, p. 604
19.2: Explain developments that led to the rise of the United States as a world
power, p. 616.
19.3: Outline the actors that shape foreign and defense policy challenges
confronting the United States, p. 623.
19.4: Identify (4) contemporary foreign and defense policy challenges
confronting the United States, p. 623.
19.5: Evaluate the shift in thinking that has occurred in recent decades, p. 634.
American Government - Chapter 9 - The Executive Branch & Federal
Bureaucracy
Learning Objectives:
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9.1: Trace the growth and development of the federal bureaucracy, p. 298.
9.2: Describe modern bureaucrats, and outline the structure of the modern
bureaucracy, p. 302.
9.3: Determine how the bureaucracy makes policy, p. 312.
9.4: Evaluate controls designed to make agencies more accountable, p. 314.
VII.
Texas Government – Chapter 24 - The Governor and Bureaucracy in Texas
Learning Objectives:
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24.1: Trace the historical development of the structure of the executive branch
in Texas, and state the reasons for the creation of the plural executive, p. 770
24.2: List the constitutional roles of the governor, p. 773.
24.3: Identify the major powers assigned to the governor, and analyze how
governors have interpreted and developed these powers, p. 774.
24.4: Evacuate the effectiveness of Texas governors as policy makers and
political leaders, p. 781.
24.5: Outline the functions of the other elected administrative agencies within
the plural executive, and evaluate their policy and administrative
effectiveness, p. 788.
24.6: Determine the role of modern Texas bureaucracy in the formulation,
implementation, and evaluation of public policy, p. 795.
24.7: Explain how the legislature holds state agencies and public employees
accountable, and evaluate proposals to reform the Texas executive branch, p.
800.
Test 2 (Over the above topics) Thursday, November
15th, 2012
VIII.
American Government - Chapter 5 - Civil Liberties
Learning Objectives:
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5.1: Trace the constitutional roots of civil liberties, p. 151.
5.2: Describe the 1st Amendment guarantees of freedom of religion, p. 134.
5.3: Outline the 1st Amendment guarantees of limitations on freedom of
speech, press, assembly, and petition, p. 157.
5.4: Summarize changes in the interpretation of the 2nd Amendment right to
keep and bear arms, p. 163.
5.5: Analyze the rights of criminal defendants found in the Bill of Rights, p.
164.
5.6: Explain the origin and significance of the right to privacy, p. 172.
5.7: Evaluate how reforms to combat terrorism have affected civil liberties, p.
178.
XI.
American Government - Chapter 6 - Civil Rights Policymaking
Learning Objectives:
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6.1: Trace the efforts from 1800 to 1890 of African Americans and women to
win the vote, p. 188.
6.2: Outline developments in African Americans’ and women’s push for
equality from 1890 to 1954, p. 193.
6.3: Analyze the civil rights Act of 1964, p. 199.
6.4: Assess statutory and constitutional remedies for discrimination pursued
and achieved by the women’s rights movement, p. 204.
6.5: Describe how other groups have mobilized in pursuit of their own civil
rights and affirmative action, p. 221.
American Government – Chapter 10 - The Judiciary
X.
Learning Objectives:
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10.1: Trace the development of the federal judiciary and the origins of judicial
review, p. 235.
10.2: Describe the structure and main components of the American legal
system, p. 331.
10.3: Explain the organization of the federal court system, p. 333.
10.4: Outline the criteria and process used to select federal court judges,
p.336.
10.5: Evaluate the Supreme Court’s process for accepting hearing, and
deciding cases, p. 344.
10.6: Analyze the factors that influence judicial decision making, p. 353.
10.7: Assess the role of the Supreme Court in the policy- making process, p.
356.
* Final Exam will be given Thursday, December 13th, 2012
at 630pm.