United States Government Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Course

GOVT-2305-005 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

GOVT 2305 – Patterson, We the People 15th edition

  • Connect Access Card Only: ISBN# 9781264875283
  • Must have Access Code

Supplies

Regular access to a computer with Internet is necessary.  Students also have access to significant Virtual help from the Textbook publisher’s web site and often may use an E-Book instead of the more traditional printed version.  See AC Distance Education web site for computer hardware and software guidelines.

You may want to consider alternative plans if your computer malfunctions or you loose internet connections to ensure assignment completion.

Student Performance

Student Performance

  1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States
  2. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system
  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 and analyze the election process
  6. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens
  7. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics

Grading Criteria

 

A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 0 – 59

 

Quiz Average – 40%

 

Assignments Avg. – 30%

Discussion Questions  - 20%

Course Paper – 10%
 

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

Students must log into this course on a regular basis, preferably daily, to keep up with all assignments and quizzes.

Grading Criteria

A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 0 – 59

 

Quiz Average – 40%

 

Assignments Avg. – 30%

Discussion Questions Avg  - 20%

 

Course Paper – 10%
      

There are no makeup exams and assignments in my class and no extra credit or "do-over" assignments.  Should you know you are going to be absent for an emergency, please contact me in advance.

Students will be allowed two work ahead two weeks after week 1 in order to have plenty of time to complete assignments.  This allows for the student flexibilty to deal with unexpected events.

  • There are multiple assignments and a main quiz for each chapter.

There are 17 chapters in the book, but note we skip the 3 chapters listed below allowing for 14 chapters with all their all associated assignments.  In addition, there are 4 discussion questions and a common assessment writing assignment in this course. There are also two graded assignments in week 1 listed under the   Assignments Dates and Start Here tab that many students overlook.

  • Note that we skip chapters 8, 9, and 10. The rest are in order throughout the semester.
     
  • There are 14 chapters with 14 main quizzes. I will drop the lowest two quiz grades and the average of the other 12 will count as the overall main quiz average. 40%
     
  • All of the assignments for all chapters will average into one overall homework average. 30% 
  •  
  • There are four (4) discussion questions in the course. 20%
  •  
  • There will be a common assessment paper assigned about halfway through the course.  10%
     
  • Those will be all of the grades for the course. There will not be any unit exams or final exam

Late Work Policy

There are no make-up exams and assignments and no extra credit or "do-over" assignments in this class, nor do I accept late work assignments.  To offset this, Beginning with week 3, you can work two weeks ahead in McGraw-Hill.  Also, you will have two weeks to complete the Common Assessment writing assignment.  Should you know you are going to be absent for an emergency, please contact me in advance.

Attendance

Regular attendance and logging into this class is a necessity for success.  This is a fast paced 8 week course.  Time management is the key to success.

 

Calendar

Course Schedule

 

All administrative information for this class will be posted on the Announcements page accessible from the Home Page.

Assignments and Due Dates

10/23                 Week One - First Day of Class

                        Chapter 1 Assignments

10/29               Connect Orientation videos - Smartbook overview Due

10/29              Chapter 1 Assignments and Quiz Due

10/29               Discussion Question 1 Due

10/30               Week Two

10/30              Chapter 2 & 3 Assignments and Discussion Question 2

11/5               Chapter 2 & 3 Assignments and Quizzes Due

11/5              Discussion Question 2 Due

11/6               Week Three

11/6                Chapter 4 & 5 Assignments

11/12              Chapter 4 & 5 Assignments and Quiz Due

11/13              Week  Four

11/13               Begin Common Assessment Writing Assignment

11/13            Chapter 6 & 7 Assignments and Discussion Question 3

11/19              Chapter 6 & 7 Assignments and Quiz Due

11/19             Discussion Question 3 Due

11/20               Week five

11/20               Chapter 11 & 12 Assignments and Common Assessment

11/26                Chapter 11 & 12 Assignments and Quiz Due

11/26                Common Assessment Writing Assignment Due

11/27                Week Six

11/27            Chapter 13 & 14 Assignments

12/3                 Chapter 13 &14 Assignments and Quiz Due

12/4              Week Seven

12/4               Chapter 15 & 16 Assignments and Discussion Question 4

12/10                Chapter 15 & 16 Assignments and Quiz Due

12/10                Discussion Question 4 Due

12/11            Week Eight

12/11             Chapter 17 Assignments

12/13               Chapter 17 Assignments and Quiz Due

12/14            GRADES DUE

Additional Information

Syllabus Created on:

10/10/23 4:52 PM

Last Edited on:

01/17/24 2:34 PM