United States Government Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Phone

Office Location

Office Hours

Fridays 9:00a.m.-10:00am (or by appointment and to will be virtual)

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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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-2305-004 United States Government

Prerequisites

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Your textbook for this class is an Open Educational Resource Book and can be accessed at : American Government

 

Supplies

Access to a phone/computer and reliable internet for reading.

Notebook and pen OR something else to take notes with.

Student Performance

Ways to be successful in my class

  1. Checking in on attendance every week will count towards your participation grade.
  2. Do not miss tests. It may be tempting to miss the first exam, but don’t.
  3. Read the assigned material prior to each class session.
  4. Study the materials; prepare for and take each exam as scheduled.
  5. Complete and turn in all assignments as assigned and on time.
  6. No late assignments will be accepted for any reason at all. Remember assignments disappear from blackboard at midnight (12:00a.m.)
  7. Contact the instructor if, at any time, you feel your performance is not up to your standards.
  8. You must complete the assignments for this course or you will not successfully pass the class or receive the credit you need to graduate (applicable to high school only).
  9. Please make sure to check your AC email and Blackboard regularly.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Some collaboration with other students on reviews or assignments might be 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. Cheating could cause you to lose dual credit and possibly reported on your college transcript. 

Grading Criteria

60% - ** Exams:  are worth (3 x 20% each)

15%---You will be required to electronically submit 4 BLOGs on a topic from the provided list. You will have to answer a set of questions and CITE your sources. Additional details and specific rubric will be posted to blackboard.

10 % - Syllabus Quiz: THis is going to be uploaded to blackboard on the left hand side and will say "syllabus quiz."

15% -  Analysing Supreme Court Opinions (more details on blackboard regarding this assignment.)

Attendance

Attendance Check in is mandatory per the Amarillo ISD code of conduct.

Makeup Exams: Makeup exams are to be prearranged with the instructor. If the student misses an exam, your makeup will be 2 essay questions worth 50 points each. You can only make up Test 1 and 2, test 3 is on the last day of the semester and cannot be made up. If you miss it a grade of zero will be applied.

Calendar

Week 1 Introductions/Syllabi review.  
Week 2

American Government and Civic Engagement

The Constitution and its Origins

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Week 3

American Federalism

Political Parties

Chapter 3

Chapters 9

Week 4

Voting and Elections

Chapters 7
Week 5 Test 1 Chapters 1, 2, 3, 9, 7
Week 6 Civil Liberties Chapter 4
Week 7 Civil Liberties Chapter 4
Week 8 Civil Rights Chapter 5
Week 9 Civil Rights Chapter 5
Week 10 Test 2 Chapters 4 and 5
Week 11 Electoral College  
Week 12 Presidency Chapter 12
Week 13 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY  
Week 14

Congress

Judiciary

Chapter 11

Chapter 13

Week 15

Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Week 16 Test 3  
  *****There is a more detailed syllabus on blackboard with a syllabus quiz. Please make sure you review the online version and take the quiz.*******  

Additional Information

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed to accomodate students in their individual and collective needs.

Any and all political opinions are personal and not representative of a political position or posture of Amarillo College.

Political participation is also personal, and not representative of any political position or posture of Amarillo College.

Syllabus Created on:

08/26/23 4:01 PM

Last Edited on:

09/01/23 9:49 AM