United States Government Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Course

GOVT-2305-009 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.

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Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Farmer, Brian, Robert Bresler, Robert J. Friedrich, Joseph J. Karlesky, D. Grier Stephenson, Jr., and Charles C. Turner. American Government. Eighth Edition. Redding, CA: 2015.  ISBN 978-1-62751-802-4

Farmer, Brian R.  Radical Islam in the West: Ideology and Challenge. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Press, 2010  978-0-7864-5953-7 

Supplies

Device for internet access.

Student Performance

 After Studying the Material Presented in this Course of Study, the Student will be able to:

1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system.

3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal

government.

5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political

system.

6. Analyze the election process.

7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens

8. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log 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 expected to observe common courtesy in dealing with the professor and with other students.

Academic dishonesty:

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Some collaboration with other students on projects is acceptable; however, students must do their own work.  Papers which bear a striking resemblance to the work of other students will not be accepted.  If the instructor determines that a student is not responsible for his/her work, no credit will be given for the assignment.

Grading Criteria

Exams.  There will be three major examinations during the semester plus a final exam on Thursday, March 10, accessed online in Blackboard.. Exams will be multiple choice and cover both the readings and the lectures.  Each exam has 50 questions worth two points each for a total of 100. Students may not drop an exam. Exams are accessed by going into the class in Blackboard, clicking on Content, then on the exams folder, then on the exam that one desires to complete.

Makeup Exams.  There are no makeup exams without prearrangement with the instructor.  If a student misses an exam, the student can replace the exam with an extra credit book review assignment. 

Ethical Dilemma Paper: Students will read a historical ethical dilemma assigned by individually by the insturctor. Individual due dates are determined by the instructor. In a one page typed paper, students will briefly identify and accurately describe the ethical dilemma. Students will use appropriate insights from two or more areas of study at AC to make connections and clarify the ethical dilemma. Students will recognize connections to their own personal values and rules, articulate the sources of their insights, and incorporate personal values in a reasoned response.  Do not include information from Wikipedia or any other web sites, articles, or books. Keep the length of your response to one page. Dilemmas and due dates will be assigned individually by the professo. rEmail the ethical dilemma paper as an attachment to the professor at brfarmer@actx.edu. The Historical Ethical Dilemma Paper is worth 50 points of the total of 600 points possible in the class. 

Weekly Online Quizzes in bvtlab. Students will answer the online quizzes on each chapter in bvtlab on a weekly basis for a total of 100 points. There are ten quizzes and each quiz has ten questions and all are drawn from the Understanding American Government book. Students must use the access codes inside the back cover of the Understanding American Government textbook that they purchased for this class to complete the quizzes in BVT Lab at www.bvtlab.com. Students will need to use the section code listed in the instructions on how to use bvtlab found in the bvtlab folder accessed through the content button. 

Class participation grade.  Class participation is worth 50 points of the possible 600 points in the class. All this amounts to is that students need to send me an email at brfarmer@actx.edu no later than February 3 to inform me that they are indeed taking the class. Students that send this informative email receive 50 points. Students that do not send this email by February 3 receive zero for class participation.

Synopsis of Grading                                                   Total

Four Exam scores      (100 points each)                       400

Ethical Dilemma Papers      (50 points)                        50

Online Quizzes on BVT Lab   (100 points)           100

Class Participation Grade   (50 points)                   50 

Total                                                 600

Grading Scale

540-600 = A

480-539= B

420-479= C

360-419= D

Below360 = F  

Attendance

Students must send an email to the professor no later than Wednesday, February 3, stating that they are indeed attending the class. This is worth 50 points of the possible 600 in the class.

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Additional Information

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