syllabus+-+GOVT+2301+-+04



Government 2301--Alvin Community College Instructor: Kevin Jefferies--Office: D-225

Office Phone: 281-756-3736 e-mail: ** kjefferies@alvincollege.edu **GOVT 2301 - 04 Summer Two
 * Class Blog:** http://theweakerparty.blogspot.com/
 * Class Wiki:** http://theweakerparty.wikispaces.com/

Focus on the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers**


 * 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.

In order to tie students with the concepts and principles central to the founding era, this class will pay special attention to the debate surrounding the ratification of the Constitution in the late 1780s. We Americans are accused of holding ourselves in too high esteem, but the level of public debate concerning the validity of the Constitution occurred at a level rarely if ever matched historically or currently. If we do not understand that debate, then we do not understand the United States of America. In order to come to grips with that debate we will spend each day reading through a set of papers, one Federalist one Anti-Federalist, that focuses on some aspect of the Constitution. Half of your grade in this class will be based on your written assessments of these debates. The other half will come from simple quizzes on the vocabulary terms in each the assigned textbook chapters.

Here are the details:

- The Federalist Papers can be accessed at [|the Avalon Project]. - The Anti-Federalist Papers can be accessed at [|WEPIN]. We will also use two textbooks, though in a secondary manner. These are the sources of the vocabulary terms you will be tested on daily.
 * Readings:** As mentioned above, we will spend the bulk of the class reading and discussing the Federalist and Anti Federalist Papers. Fortunately for you, these are available online free of charge.

//- 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. **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--two 250 word summaries and analyses of the following Supreme Court cases. Here are the links:

> > 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 > > **Wednesday July 16: > -** Intro, Federalist #1 and Anti Federalist #1 (comparison due July 23) > **Thursday July 17:** > - Vocabulary Test #1, AG: Chapters 1 and 2, PTP: Chapter 1 and 2 > > **Monday July 21:** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist # 41 (comparison due July 23) > **Tuesday July 22:** > - Quiz #1, AG: Chapters 1 and 2, PTP: Chapter 1 and 2 > **Wednesday July 23:** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #10 (comparison due July 29) > **Thursday July 24:** > - Vocabulary Test #2, AG: Chapters 3 and 4, PTP: Chapter 3 > > **Monday July 28:** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #57 (comparison due July 29) > **Tuesday July 29//://** > - Quiz #2, AG: Chapters 3 and 4, PTP: Chapter 3 > **Wednesday July 30** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #47 (comparison due August 5) > **Thursday July 31:** > - Vocabulary Test #3, AG: Chapter 10, PTP: Chapter 5 > > **Monday August 4:** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #51 (comparison due August 5) > **Tuesday August 5//://** > - Quiz #3, AG: Chapter 10, PTP: Chapter 5 > **Wednesday August 6//://** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #55 (comparison due August 12) > **Thursday August 7:** > - Vocabulary Test #4, AG: Chapters 11 and 12, PTP: Chapters 4 and 6 > > **Monday August 11:** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #68 (comparison due August 12) > **Tuesday August 12** > - Quiz #4, AG: Chapters 11 and 12, PTP: Chapters 4 and 6 > **Wednesday August 13** > - Federalist and Anti Federalist #84 (comparison due August 19) > **Thursday August 14** > - Vocabulary Test #5, AG: Chapters 9 and 13, PTP, Chapter 6 > > **Monday August 18:** > - Quiz #5, AG: Chapters 9 and 13, PTP, Chapter 6 > **Tuesday August 19:** > - Final > > **Attendance** will be taken before each class at the beginning of class.
 * Fed Antifed #1
 * Fed Antifed #41
 * Fed Antifed #10
 * Fed Antifed #57
 * Fed Antifed #47
 * Fed Antifed #51
 * Fed Antifed #55
 * Fed Antifed #68
 * Fed Antifed #84

** 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. 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]?