Syllabus+-+GOVT+2305+-+Spring+2013


 * Government 2305**
 * Kevin Jefferies**
 * Office: D-225**
 * Office Phone: 281-756-3736**
 * email:** kjefferies@alvincollege.edu. -- though I'd like you to use the email on blackboard for classroom issues.
 * class blog:** [|http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com]

//Spring 2013// //GOVT 2305-01 MW 930-11am// //GOVT 2305-03 TTH 11-1230pm// //January 14 - May 11//

**This is the official information about the class from the ACC catalog:** Government 2305: Federal Government (3-credits) This course surveys the origin and development of the federal system and includes an analysis of the federal constitution. The course focuses on federal, state and interstate relations and citizenship in a modern democratic society. Prerequisites: READ 0310 and ENGL 0310.

Please note the prerequisites. By taking this class it is assumed that you have the basic ability to read and write at the college level. You will be expected to perform at that level in all written assignments and communications.


 * Introduction: Why is This Course Offered?** We live in a democratic republic. In such a system the people are sovereign, meaning that ultimate political authority rests with the people. This isn't necessarily good news. Overall levels of knowledge about governmental are quite low. The founding generation recognized this and created a governing system that placed a significant number of barriers between the people and the law. This was to ensure that the "instability, injustice, and confusion" common in democracies would not lead the new country to an early demise. Nevertheless it was understood that participation would expand and an educated population would be required to ensure that the country would survive. Public education and democratic government therefore go hand in hand. This class is not only offered, but required, in order to ensure that you become a knowledgeable participant in the American governing system. I might be prejudiced, but I happen to think that this is the most important class you will take in college, and I treat it as such.


 * Learning Objectives: What Do I Plan to Accomplish?** The purpose of GOVT 2305 is to become familiar the basic terminology of American Government and Politics, the Constitution of the United States, and the political institutions that help determine what policies are enacted into law. We begin with a simple overview of the terms "government" and "politics" and all the additional terms related to them. We then proceed to the evolution of the concept of natural rights and how it is embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Then we have a series of sections devoted to, first, an overview of the constitutions of the United States and Texas, and then the various principles embedded within it (republicanism, separated powers, federalism, individual liberty). This allows us to dig into the Federalist Papers and various pertinent sections of the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights. We then shift to a discussion of Civil Rights and the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. Being a democracy, elections are central to our political and governing process, as are political parties, which are the principal institutions that contest in elections and structure governing institutions once elected. We conclude with an overview of public opinion, the media, and interest groups. Together these three factors reflect our collective right to participate politically.


 * Methods for Accomplishing Course Objectives** Below (under "Calendars") you will see a series of links which take you to pages I have put together on class subject matter. You will be expected to read not only the material I have assembled for you, but additional material pulled from various sources online. You'll see a lot of links, but you aren't expected to know everything I link you to. The class is designed to introduce you to the large number of additional sources of information which exist online. Your understanding of the assigned material will be assessed in two ways. The first is based on your ability to answer short answer questions while the second will be based on answering multiple choice and other similar questions. The first is subjective and is meant to force you to think critically about the subject matter while the latter tests your factual understanding of the material.


 * My Teaching Style** Over the course of two decades of teaching government, I've come to the conclusion that the Constitution is simply establishes a way to make decisions publicly, of non-violently reconciling the different points of view -- or interests -- that exist in society. James Madison says as much in Federalist #10: //The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.// Conflict is part of the process. I see my job as helping you understand how the constitutional system structures that conflict. While it is common for people to consider the political and governing process as hopelessly complex and confusing, it isn't. Once you properly understand the framework of the overall, while you still might get lost in the specifics, the general process make sense.


 * BlackBoard** This class will be run in Blackboard, which means that you will also take your quizzes (Blackboard calls them "assessments" so that is the term I will use) and submit your written work through this site. If you do not already have a blackboard account, get one.

Click here to get started: []


 * Readings: You only have to buy one book for this class.**

//Mann, Thomas E. and Norman J. Ornstein. It's Even Worse Than it Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. 2012. New York: Basic Books.//

There is so much information regarding government and politics online that there is little reason to use a printed textbook. As much as possible I try to take you websites where you can find information relevant to the class' subject matter. Hopefully you will find some of these site to be useful to you in the future. All of the readings in this class are available online in the pages you are linked to below under "calendars." When you click on these links you will be taken to separate pages with power points slides. Here you will notice the bulk of the material that you will be assessed over in the class. Some of this is written in the sildes, some you will be linked to.

I do however what you to buy a book about a contemporary issue in governing on the national level. This book will be the subject of the 1000 word essay described below. The book is //It's Even Worse Than it Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism// ([|see Amazon]). you can find a copy in the bookstore.


 * My Blog:** I also maintain a blog -- [|http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com] -- where I post items, usually on a daily basis, that pertain to the subject matter of the class. Everyday we will spend time discussing how current events illustrate the principles we cover in class. The blog features a large number of links to the various institutions we will come to understand in this class. In order to better communicate, I want you to go to the page and subscribe to it, you will notice a subscription widget on the right of the page. By subscribing, you will receive daily information regarding not only what we will cover in the class, but also various other notices such as whether class will be cancelled.

You will also notice that I often link to Wikipedia pages, the open-sourced web based encyclopedia. Wikipedia is often criticized as being unreliable and subject to manipulation. In some cases entries are edited by people who wish to bias the information contained in the article for self interested reasons, but the site has become increasingly reliable, especially with relatively non-controversial or historical topics. I have found the range of articles available to be impressive. There is easily accessible information available there, that simply cannot be found elsewhere. I have found it to be very useful for my purposes. Perhaps its best feature is that it records all edits and allows for discussions of controversies associated with how subjects are discussed.

Here are some links that touch on controversies associated with Wikipedia: - [|Dean's World]. - [|EDUCAUSE]. - [|Reliability of Wikipedia, from Wikipedia itself]


 * Grading**: A = 89.5 - 100; B = 79.5 - 89.5; C = 69.5 - 79.5; D = 59.5 - 69.5; F 59.5 - 0

Y//our grade will be based on how well you perform in the following://


 * 1 - Assessments (25%)**: You will be expected to take an assessment for each section in class. I want you to take them all, but will drop the lowest two - again provided you took them. The purpose is to ensure that you have familiarity with the subject matter we cover in class. These assessments will be given through BlackBoard, so once again, please get an account immediately. The assessments are intended to reinforce the principle points made in each section and assess - objectively - your retention of those points. You can use the power points available on each wiki page while answering the questions, so yes they are open note. Check below for the days and times each assessment will be opened.


 * 2 - Weekly Written Assignments (25%**): Each week I will also post a question designed to encourage you to think critically about that week's material. They will generally ask you about a current event that illustrates some aspect of that week's readings. These will also be presented to you in BlackBoard - though the questions will be written out in the blog - and you are to send your responses through BlackBoard as well. I'd prefer you to use the submissions box, but note that you will be timed out if you take too long to compose it there. I'd recommend writing answers out in a word processor then pasting them into the box. The assignments will be posted at the beginning of each week and you will have a full week to write at least 150 words (you should consider this to be a bare minimum) and be analytical in nature, based on the specific facts related to the subject. If you plagiarize your answer you will receive a 0, and this grade will not be replaced. I will accept late work, but all work is to be turned in by noon January 12th. You are required to turn all of these in, and I will not drop any of these grades.


 * 3 - A Written Report (25%**): You will be required to turn in a 1000 word paper at the end of the semester on a topic you can find by clicking on this link. The paper will be evaluated base on a variety of criteria including, content, organization, grammar and spelling. The paper is to follow MLA guidelines. These can be found on the following website: []. The ACC writing center can also assist you with formatting issues. Send me your report by the date listed below. You must submit the paper in two separate places, both can be found on BlackBoard. One - the one I will be grading - can be found under "assignments" where you submit the weekly written assignments. The second is under the Writing Assessment link on BlackBoard - which you will see each time you get on BlackBoard. Here the assignment will be evaluated based on three criteria. First, did it meet the requirements of the assignmen? Second, was it organized well? And third, are the mechanics of the paper (spelling, grammar, and whatever else applies) proper? Please follow the instructions provided to upload your paper.


 * 4 - A Cumulative Final (25%**): The Final will be opened January 11th at noon and will be due January 12th at noon. It will be composed of 100 multiple choice questions drawn from the the subject matter covered the entire term.


 * Regarding Student Behavior:** You are adults and will be expected to act accordingly. For online students this means that I expect you to do your own work. You will not ask anyone else to write papers for you, or you will not simply copy text from various sources and tell me you did it. Turnitin, and other techniques will be used to determine if you have plagiarized. Among the Founders, proper behavior was considered to be a necessary mark of a civilized person and a requirement for political participation. Read through Washington's [|Rules for Civility and Decent Behavior]. It is a great example. Consider adopting a few.


 * //Please Note: If you have any disabilities or other special needs that will affect your ability to learn in this class, please inform me. Appropriate steps will be taken to make reasonable accommodations and assistance with your needs.//**


 * Scholastic Dishonesty:** If you cheat in any way in this class and are caught, you will fail the course. Do not download items from the internet and pass them off as your own. If you do so, you will receive a zero for that paper or assignment and that grade will be final. If you do it a second time, you risk failing the course, or receiving a sanction for your actions.


 * Incompletes:** I do allow students to take incompletes provided unusual circumstances have arisen that prevent you from finishing the class in a timely manner. Unless there is an overwhelmingly good reason to take the incomplete -- such as a prolonged hospital stay -- the grading scale is will be adjusted as follows: B = 85.5 - 100; C = 69.5 - 85.5; D = 59.5 - 69.5; F 59.5 - 0. This is done to be fair to the students who were able to complete the class on time, but could have performed better if they had also been given extra time.


 * Calendar and Schedule **

Note: In order to ensure that you are comfortable with the class, and have an understanding of class material, I want you to take an open-ended assessment on the content of the syllabus, and send me a quick hello from the assignment section. You will note both on BlackBoard.

Also note that once the assessments are open, you may take them an unlimited number of times. All assessments have to be taken by May 9 at noon.

Please note that I reserve the right to add assessments that cover any topical subject matter that presents itself this semester. These may include close looks at the fiscal cliff, the brewing conflict in the Middle East, and anything else that pops up. Strange things do happen. I'd like to have a degree of discretion in order to take advantage of those as they happen.

Week One: January 14 - 20 - Why do I have to take this class??? - Defining Key Terms Assessments Open 8am January 14 Written Assignment Open 8am January 14, due 8am January 21

Week Two: January 21 - January 27 - Natural Rights, Separated Powers, and the Declaration of Independence. Assessments Open 8am January 21 Written Assignment Open 8am January 21, due 8am January 28
 * -** The United States Constitution.

Week Three: January 28 - February 3 - Federalist 10 and the Republic. - Federalist 51 and the Separation of Powers. Assessments Open 8am January 28 Written Assignment Open 8am January 28, due February 3

Week Four: February 4 - February 10 - Federalist 45 and Federalism - Federalist 84, Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights. - Religious Liberty: The Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses. Assessments Open 8am February 4 Written Assignment Open 8am February 4, due February 11

Attention: Note that I've changed the order of the readings. This format makes more sense to me now than What I originally had. There might be more to come, so keep posted.

Week Five: February 11 - February 17 - The Legislature: Definition and Historical Background. - The Legislature: Constitutional Design - Parties and Committees in Congress Assessment Open 8am February 11 Written Assignment Open 8am February 11, due February 18

Week Six: February 18 - February 24 - The Executive: Definition and Historical Background - The Executive: Constitutional Design - Presidential Power and the Bureaucracy Assessment Open 8am February 18 Written Assignment Open 8am February 18, due February 25

Week Seven: February 25 - March 3 - The Judiciary: Definition and Historical Background. - The Judiciary: Constitutional Design. - Judicial Review and the Supreme Court Assessment Open 8am February 25 Written Assignment Open 8am February 25, March 4

Week Eight: March 4 - March 10 - Elections. - Voting Behavior (section cancelled) - Campaigning (section cancelled) Assessment Open 8am March 4 Written Assignment Open 8am March 4, due March 11
 * -** Civil Rights and The Equal Protection Clause.

Week Nine: March 11 - March 17 Spring Break!

Week Ten: March 18 - March 24 Assessment Open 8am March 18 Written Assignment Open 8am March 18, due March 25
 * -** Political Parties.

Note: I'm streamlining the content of the final weeks of class. You'll note a handful of changes and adjustments below. This should loosen your load a bit and make the rest of the class a bit easier to manage, Remember that noon May 9th is the last time you can turn any work, This applies to the assessments, weekly written work and the 1000 word report.

Week Eleven: March 25 - March 31 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Interests Groups. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Public Policy and Sub Governments Assessment Open 8am March 25 Written Assignment Open 8am March 25, due April 1

Week Twelve: April 1 - April 7 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- The Freedom of Speech <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- The Freedom of the Press Assessment Open 8am April 1 Written Assignment Open 8am April 1, due April 8

Week Thirteen: April 8 - April 14 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Budgeting Assessment Open 8am April 8 Written Assignment Open 8am April 8, due April 15

Week Fourteen: April 15 - April 21 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Foreign Policymaking Assessment Open 8am April 15 Written Assignment Open 8am April 15, due April 22

Week Fifteen: April 22 - April 28 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Social Welfare Policymaking Assessment Open 8am April 22 Written Assignment Open 8am April 22, due April 29

Week Sixteen: April 29 - May 9 - Review 1000 word essay due May 9 at noon

Last Day to turn in written work: May 9 at noon. Last day to take an assessment May 9 at noon

Next: Finals Week! - Lucky You.

Cancelled sections: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- The Freedom to Peacefully Assemble <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- The Freedom to Petition Government for a Redress of Grievances - Lobbying and the Revolving Door - Public Opinion - The Media - The Treasury Department <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- Economic Policy Making - The Defense Department - The State Department - The New Deal and the Great Society