syllabus+-+GOVT+2302+-+04



Government 2302--Alvin Community College Instructor: Kevin Jefferies--Office: D-225

Office Phone: 281-756-3736 e-mail: ** __ kjefferies@alvincollege.edu__ **GOVT 2302 - 04 Summer Two
 * Class Blog:** [| http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com/]
 * Class Wiki:** http://theweakerparty.wikispaces.com/

Focus on the Supreme Court**


 * Course Description:** This is the first of two required courses designed to familiarize students with the nature of national, state, and local government. The class is designed to cover the basic principles associated with government and politics, with a special emphasis on those which are central to the founding of the United States and the design of the U.S. Constitution. Beyond that we cover the evolution of issues embedded within the Constitution such as federalism, the relationship between the individual and the state, the nature of the electoral process and the impact of political parties as well as the manner in which political forces develop and impact the governing system. The separate impact of Texas and local municipal governments are taken into consideration as we explore these issues.

We will also spend time on five of the more important cases decided in the Supreme Court term which just concluded in June. The cases are listed below. Each week (each Tuesday night to be exact) you will be required to turn in a 500 word summary of each of these cases. Please turn these in in the discussion feature on the WikiSpace page devoted to each case. We will discuss this procedure in class.


 * Readings:**

- Lowi, Theodore, Benjamin Ginsberg and Kenneth Shepsle. American Government. 10th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton. - Brown, Lyle et al. Practicing Texas Politics. 13th Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Both are available in the campus bookstore. You will also be expected to augment your textbook reading by keeping abreast of current events with newspapers, magazines, and televised news shows. I provide you with the links to the Supreme Court cases. These are available from the Supreme Court website. they are relatively long, so I don't advise you to download them. Read them online.


 * Testing and Writing Assignments:** There will be five vocabulary quizzes over the highlighted terms in each of the assigned chapters. Each Thursday I will ask you to define ten terms. The purpose of this exercise is to ensure that we all have the ability to carry on a conversation using relevant terminology.

There will be five multiple choice tests given each Tuesday over the content of each chapter and the subject matter discussed in class.

Each Tuesday by the end of the day you are also required to turn in--via the Wiki--a 500 word summary and analysis of the following Supreme Court cases:

1 - [| Boumediene v. Bush] 2 - [| District of Columbia v. Heller] 3 - [| Crawford v. Marion County Election Board] 4 - [| Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party] 5 - [| Davis v. Federal Election Commission] I will look for two things when I assign your grade: (1) can you comprehend the case? (2) can you analyze the case?

And yes there will be a comprehensive multiple choice final.

Here is a breakdown of the grading:

Vocabulary Tests: 10% Multiple Choice Tests: 30% Written Work: 40% Final: 20%

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


 * Schedule**:

AG: American Government PTP: Practicing Texas Politics

Wednesday July 16: Intro Thursday July 17: Vocabulary Quiz #1, Discussion of [| Boumediene v. Bush] Monday July 21: Lecture Tuesday July 22: Quiz #1, Paper due
 * Section One: AG: Chapter 2 and 3, PTP: Chapter 2**

Wednesday July 23: Lecture Thursday July 24: Vocabulary Quiz #2, Discussion of [| District of Columbia v. Heller] Monday July 28; Lecture Tuesday July 29 - Test #2
 * Section Two: AG Chapter 5, PTP: Chapter 7**

Wednesday July 30: Lecture Thursday July 31: Vocabulary Quiz #3, Discussion of [| Crawford v. Marion County Election Board] Monday August 4: Lecture Tuesday August 5 - Test #3
 * Section Three: AG: Chapter 6, PTP: Chapter 8**

Wednesday August 6: Lecture Thursday August 7: Vocabulary Quiz #4, Discussion of [| Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party] Monday August 11: Lecture Tuesday August 12 - Test #4
 * Section Four: Chapter 7, PTP: Chapter 9**

Wednesday August 13: Lecture Thursday August 14: Vocabulary Quiz #5, Discussion of [|Davis v. Federal Election Commission] Monday August 18: Test #5
 * Section Five: AG: Chapter 8, PTP: Chapter 10**

- Final
 * Tuesday August 19**

** Student Behavior ** : By choosing to attend class at ACC you will be expected to behave like a college student, which means that you are expected to take the material seriously. Your respect for me is inconsequential, but your respect for the material--which after all covers the principles and rules our country is based on--demand your respect. You will be expected to come to class prepared to discuss the material assigned that day and to pay attention. You will neither sleep nor engage in idle chatter. Both behaviors detract from the quality of the classroom environment. If you are disruptive you will be asked to leave. Please understand that the ACC administration takes these issues as seriously as I do and will back me up if you seek to be disruptive. Your choice to remain in this class is my indication that you agree with these conditions.
 * Attendance** will be taken before each class at the beginning of class.

If you choose to come to class, I expect that you will remain in class for the duration. If you must leave early let me know before class, and please sit by the door so you minimize the disruption you will cause. It shows tremendous disrespect to your classmates, the subject matter and me if you make a big production out of leaving the class early.

Here's a good read from cyberspace: [|How to be a college student]. ** Regarding Individual Help ** : I am available for help if you need it. But do so as soon as possible. I do not accept extra credit work after the final exam. If you have any disabilities or other special needs that will affect your ability to learn in this class, please inform me of them. Appropriate steps will be taken to make reasonable accommodations and assist you with your needs. ** Scholastic Dishonesty ** : If you are caught cheating in any way you will fail the course. You are expected to do your own work. Do not download written work from the internet and try to pass it off as your own. [|What is plagiarism you ask]?