United States Government Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information
Instructor
Aaron Faver (Curriculum Vitae)Office Location
Dutton Hall, # 202J
Office Hours
T-TR 9-10am and by appointment
Please email me to suggest a time outside of these office hours.
Course Information
Recording Policy
Disability Statement
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc
Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:
Administrative Drop Policy
N/A
Student Withdrawal Procedures
N/A
Privacy Statement
The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students. If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .
Course
GOVT-2305-019 United States Government
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills
Course Description
Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties and civil rights.
Student Resources Student Resources Website
Department Expectations
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Hours
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Class Type
Dual Credit Course
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
George C. Edwards III, et. Al., Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, Addison- Wesley Educational Publishers Inc., NY: Pearson, 2002.
Peter Woll, et. Al., American Government: Readings and Cases, 18th ed. New York, NY: Pearson, 2009.
John F. Kennedy. Profiles in Courage, New York, NY: Harper Perennial, 2003.
Supplies
Daily Discussions about relevance of articles from the Wall Street Journal as they are appropriate,
Student Performance
Student performance will be graded based on participation in discussions, productivity on reading quizzes, a comprehensive final at the end of the semester, and daily assignments.
Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog in using the AC Connect Portal
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
Expected Student Behavior
Students are to treat each other and myself with respect first and foremost. Assignments are expected to be turned in on time. Distractions from classroom activities will be eliminated.
Grading Criteria
Daily Grades will comprise 16.7% of the Current Course Average
(Each Daily grade will be counted one time in the gradebook.)
Reading Quizzes will comprise 33.3% of the Current Course Average
(Each Reading Quiz grade will be counted 2 times in the gradebook.)
Tests will comprise 50% of the Current Course Average
(Each Test grade will be counted 3 times in the gradebook.)
Extra Credit opportunities will be prevalent in and out of class throughout the semester.
Grading Schema:
- A=89.5%-100%
- B=79.5%-89.4%
- C=69.5%-79.4%
- D=59.5%-69.4%
- F=less than 59.5%
Attendance
It is critical that you are here at every opportunity. If you are going to be gone, you need to get with me BEFORE your absence if possible. However, I understand that sometimes life takes an unforeseen turn, and that is not possible. I'm a reasonable man.
Calendar
UNIT I- Campaigns, Elections, and the Media—10 days
Textbook Ch. 7-9 w/ Guided Readings due on day of unit exam
Woll, Berelson, “Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory”
Woll, Nelson, “The Case for the Current Nominating Process”
Woll, Linsky, “The Press-Government Relationship”
Woll, Magleby, “The Money Chase”
Enduring Debate, Ornstein, “Five-Point Reform Proposal Would Fix Campaign
System”
Enduring Debate, Ellis, “Ten Big Lies About Campaign Finance Reform”
Preparing for AP United States Government and Politics Examination - Answer multiple choice (10 questions/chapter) and short answer questions
Chapter 10, “Mass Media”
Chapter 7, “Elections and Campaigns”
Chapter 3, “Theories of Democratic Government”
UNIT II- Introducing Government in America—5 days
Textbook w/ Guided Reading
Read the U.S. Constitution Articles I-VI
Handout- “Cracking the Constitutional Code”
Handout- “Theories on Political Elitism”
UNIT III- Constitutional Foundations—15 days
Textbook w/ Guided Readings
Woll, pg. 173-177, “Federalist 10”
Woll, pg. 41-44, “Federalist 47, 48 & 51”
Woll, pg. 66-71, “Federalist 39”
Enduring Debate, pg.70-76, Beard, “An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution”
Enduring Debate, Brown, “Charles Beard and The Constitution: A Critical Analysis of An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution”
Reading the Declaration of Independence and discussion of context: both historical and contemporary
Woll, Grodzins, “The Federal System”
Wasserman, Chapter 2, “Federalism in Education: No Child Left Behind”
Preparing for AP United States Government and Politics Examination - Answer multiple choice (10 questions/chapter) and short answer questions
Chapter 1, “The Constitution”
Chapter 2, “Federalism”
Chapter 3, “Theories of Democratic Government”
UNIT IV- Interest Groups and Political Participation—10 days
Textbook w/ Guided Readings
Woll, Truman, “The Governmental Process”
Woll, Lowi, “The End of Liberalism”
Handout- “Has the Two Party System Outlived its Usefulness?”
Wasserman, Chapter 7, “Parties and Technology: From Voter Targeting to Internet Blogs”
Woll, V.O. Key, “Critical Elections”
Woll, Brady & Steward, “When Elections Really Matter”
Preparing for AP United States Government and Politics Examination - Answer multiple choice (10 questions/chapter) and short answer questions
Chapter 4, “American Political Culture”
Chapter 5, “Public Opinion and Political Beliefs”
Chapter 6, “Political Participation”
Chapter 8, “Political Parties”
Chapter 9, “Interest Groups”
UNIT V- Congress, Public Policy, & Public Policy Areas—10 days
Textbook w/ Guided Readings
Woll, “Federalist 53,56,58,62 & 63”
Woll, Polsby, “Congress-Bashing for Beginners”
Woll, Hackett, “The Power of the Incumbency”
Woll, Barnes, “Congressional Despots, Then & Now”
Preparing for AP United States Government and Politics Examination - Answer multiple choice (10 questions/chapter) and short answer questions
Chapter 11, “Congress”
Chapter 15, “Policy-Making in the Federal System”
Chapter 16, “Economic Policy and the Budget”
UNIT VI- The President, the Budget & the Bureaucracy—15 days
Textbook w/ Guided Readings
Woll, “Federalist 70
Enduring Debate, Neustadt, “The Power to Persuade”
Woll, Cronin, “The Swelling of the Presidency”
Woll, Wilson, “The Rise of the Bureaucratic State”
Lasser- Thurber, “The Impact of Budget Reform on Presidential and
Congressional Governance”
“Preparing for AP Exam” - Answer multiple choice (10 questions/chapter) and short answer questions
Chapter 12, “The Presidency”
Chapter 13, “The Bureaucracy”
Chapter 17, “Domestic Policy: Social Welfare and the Environment”
Chapter 18, “Foreign and Military Policy”
UNIT VII- The Judiciary, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights—15 days
Textbook w/ Guided Readings
Woll, “Federalist 78”
Woll, Brennan, “How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions”
Woll, Roche, “Judicial Restraint”
Handout- “Implementations & Impact of Judicial Policies”
Handout- “Decision Making in Appellate Courts”
The Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment
Preparing for AP United States Government and Politics Examination - Answer multiple choice (10 questions/chapter) and short answer questions
Chapter 19, “Civil Rights”
Chapter 20, “Civil Liberties”
Additional Information
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Syllabus Created on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
Last Edited on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM