United States Government Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

Since I am a part time instructor I do not have an office. We can meet on the phone or on Zoom if needed. Email me or call me at 806-421-6171 for a conference.

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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Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

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.

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-2305-020 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

We The People, by Thomas E. Patterson, McGraw Hill Publishing and Excuse Me, Professor, by Lawrence W. Reed, Regnery Publishing  

These books are available at the Amarillo College Bookstore and online direct.

Supplies

This course will be taught online. You will need a computer with high speed internet, a microphone and speakers so you can take part in the Zoom class meetings and take the quizzes and tests online on Blackboard.

Student Performance

See grading criteria below

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

Act like an adult. Please log in for the Zoom Class meetings at least 5 minutes before class starts. Please have your computer in a quiet place with no children, family, or other persons present and no TV or radio playing in the background.

Grading Criteria

There will be 17 Chapter tests for the We The People textbook, 4 quizzes from the Excuse Me Professor essays textbook and a final test taken from the 8 PowerPoint lectures on the U.S. Constitution.

Grades will be awarded on each set of  tests and quizzes and the final test as follows:

We The People chapter tests              17 X 4 points each =  68 points

Excuse Me Professor essay quizzes     4 X 5 points each =  20 points

Constitution PowerPoint lectures test                                    12 points         

                                                                                               100 points

Attendance

You must attend the first class Zoom meeting or you will be reported on the Census Report as "NON ATTENDING" to the Registrar and will be DROPPED FROM THE CLASS.

If you have perfect attendance, (log in on time and stay in attendance for each Zoom Class meeting) you can earn 3 additional point on your Final Grade. 

Calendar

  1. Wednesday, January 17, 2024  Zoom Class meeting at 7 PM. Con Law lecture over PPs #1 & #2;
  2. Monday, January 22, 2024  *TEST over We The People chapters 1, 2, & 3. – open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;
  3. Wednesday, January 24, 2024  Zoom Class meeting at 7 PM. Excuse Me PP lecture over Essays 1 & 2, Con Law lecture over PP #3 and #4;
  4. Monday, January 29, 2024  *TEST over We The People chapters 4, 5, & 6 and Excuse Me Essay Quizzes 1 & 2, open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;
  5. Wednesday, January 31, 2024   Zoom Class meeting at 7 PM. Con Law lecture over PPs #5 and lecture over Excuse Me PP #3 & #4;
  6. Monday, February 5, 2024  *TEST over We The People chapters 7, 8, & 9 and Excuse Me Essay Quizzes 3 & 4, open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;
  7. Wednesday, February 7, 2024  Zoom Class meeting at 7 PM. Con Law lecture over PP #6 and  Excuse Me lecture over PP #5, #6, #32, & #33;
  8. Monday, February 12, 2024  *TEST over We The People chapters 10, 11, & 12 and Excuse Me Essay Quizzes #5, #6, #32, & #33, open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;
  9. Wednesday, February 14, 2024  Zoom Class meeting at 7 PM. Con Law lecture over PP #7 and  Excuse Me lecture over PP #37, #38, #45, & #47;
  10.  Monday, February 19, 2024  *TEST over We The People chapters 13, 14, & 15 and  over Excuse Me Essay Quizzes #37, #38, #45, & #47, open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;
  11.  Wednesday, February 21, 2024  Zoom Class meeting at 7 PM. Con Law lecture over PP #8;
  12.  Monday, February 26, 2024  *TEST  over We The People chapters 16, & 17 , open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;
  13.  **Thursday, March 7, 2024** TEST over Constitutional PowerPoints 1 through 8, open all day on Blackboard in the “Content” section;

Additional Information

You may contact me anytime by my cell phone at 806-421-6171. Please leave a message if I do not answer, with your name, return phone number and course (US Government). I will call you back.

Although I prefer phone calls, you can also email me at my AC email listed above at the top of this syllabus.

Syllabus Created on:

01/13/24 10:41 AM

Last Edited on:

01/13/24 11:01 AM