COURSE SYLLABUS. POL 180: U.S. Federal Government Fall, 2015, Hybrid: Tuesday, 1:00-2:15 pm, Humanities 102

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1 COURSE SYLLABUS POL 180: U.S. Federal Government Fall, 2015, Hybrid: Tuesday, 1:00-2:15 pm, Humanities 102 Instructor: Stuart Bounds Phone:[H] or [C] Office Hours: By appointment. Please do not hesitate to call if you need to discuss anything related to the class. Note: all must be submitted through the inbox tab at the top of the Canvas course home page for POL HY at Course Description: A study of the basic principles of the national government of the United States, its structure and powers, and the operations of Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court. Citizenship, elections, political parties, and pressure groups are studied. [FALL/SPRING] Three hours lecture per week. Course Goals: 1. Provide a foundation for the study of American Government and Politics. 2. Provide a basic understanding of American Government and Politics and develop a context for evaluating current political events and public policy debates. 3. Fulfill the course requirement in the Criminal Justice degree and certificate programs. 4. Meet the requirements for transfer into a baccalaureate program for political science majors. Course Content Areas The course covers the following major topic areas: Foundations of American Government The Constitution Federalism Political Participation Congress The Executive Branch The Judiciary Civil Liberties/Civil Rights

2 Student Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the key principles underlying the structure of government created by the Constitution of Delineate the evolution of American federalism in terms of the balance of power between the Federal and state governments. 3. Identify the constitutional standards for the essential civil liberties and civil rights established by the Constitution. 4. Assess the forms, scope and impact of citizen political engagement in the American political system. 5. Illustrate the impact of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances on policy making at the Federal level. Teaching/Learning Strategies This course is a hybrid course which combines traditional face-to-face class sessions with online independent learning activities. Fourteen class meetings will focus on basic course content and learning objectives for each course module. The final class meeting will be used for presentation of projects and related discussion. It is critical that assignments be completed as scheduled so that the class meetings can be effective in mastery of learning objectives. It is equally important that the independent learning activities meet the assigned deadlines. Students are expected to do a minimum of two hours of work outside of class for every hour in class. Some assignments may require more time. Class sessions for each week will include short presentations by the instructor, discussion of journal assignments, student comments and questions relating to the learning objectives, group activities, and 11 short objective quizzes on the assigned readings (the lowest grade will be dropped). Note; cell phones, smart phones, tablets, computers and other electronic devices must be turned off during the weekly class sessions. Students may be asked to leave the class if they turn on electronic devices during the class sessions without instructor approval. Two exams will be given. The exams will focus on the learning objectives for the modules covered in the exam. Online assignments include 10 Journals which are completed individually and submitted online in Canvas. Completion of assigned readings and assigned online activities in Canvas prior to class sessions is essential. Please note, assignments completed after the due date will not receive full credit; those submitted a week after the due date will not be accepted without PRIOR approval of the instructor. Project. Students will select one of the assigned themes for the Project. The project will culminate in both a written report and an oral presentation. Supplementary learning resources are available in the Course Resources module in Canvas.

3 Grading Your grade in the course will be determined by your performance on two exams and 10 quizzes, your submissions on 10 Journals, your project and class participation.. Up to 400 points can be earned in the class. The grade will be calculating using the following scale: 2 65 points 10 5 points points 100 points 20 Points A points B points C points D points F Under 240 points Note: Assignments and grading requirements may be adjusted at the discretion of the instructor due to unforeseen circumstances. Students will be notified in advance of any changes. Required Textbook Thomas R. Dye, Ronald K. Gaddie. Politics in America, 2014 Election and Updates Edition, New York: Pearson Education Inc. Academic Instruction Emergency Management Plan In the event that Chesapeake College needs to close for an extended period of time due to a flu pandemic, severe weather, or other emergency situation, consideration will be given to the timing and duration of the closure as follows: 1. Closure during the semester for up to one week there will be an opportunity to make up work missed without significant alteration to the semester calendar. 2. Closure extending beyond one week (or in situations where classes are cancelled on the same days/evenings over multiple weeks) the College may extend the length of the semester. Depending on the timing of the closure, scheduled breaks, end of semester dates, and/or the processing of final grades might be impacted. Students can acquire information about closures on the College website or by calling or Chesapeake College courses held at off campus sites will follow the protocol of the host facility.

4 Course Schedule The schedule is subject to change with advanced notification to the students. August 25 Tues Class Meeting, Introduction August 31 Mon Journal 1 Sept 1 Tue Class Meeting, Foundations Quiz 1 Sept 7 Mon Journal 2 Sept 8 Tue Class Meeting, Constitution Quiz 2 Sept 15 Tue Class Meeting, Constitution Quiz 3 Sept 21 Mon Journal 3 Sept 22 Tue Class Meeting, Federalism Quiz 4 Sept 28 Mon Journal 4 Sept 29 Tue Class Meeting, Public Opinion/Participation Quiz 5 Oct 5 Mon Journal 5 Oct 6 Tue Class Meeting, Political Parties/Interest Groups Quiz 6 Oct 13 Tue Exam 1 Oct 19 Mon Journal 6 Oct 20 Tue Class Meeting, Campaigns and Elections Project Outline Due Oct 26 Mon Journal 7 Oct 27 Tue Class Meeting, The Congress Quiz 7 Project Outline Due Nov 3 Tue Class Meeting, The Executive Branch Quiz 8 Nov 9 Mon Journal 8

5 Nov 10 Tue Class Meeting, The Judiciary Quiz 9 Nov 16 Mon Journal 9 Nov 17 Tue Class Meeting, Civil Liberties Quiz 10 Nov 23 Mon Journal 10 Nov 24 Tue Class Meeting, Civil Rights Quiz 11 Dec 1 Tue Project Presentations Project Due Dec 10 Thu 2 nd Exam