Federal Government 205 Internet Course (Fall 2015) ed. 8/20/2015 Syllabus Section(s): GOVT 205 4509 Office Hours: By email Instructor: Matt Stellges Office Number: NA Phone: will give as needed Email address: matthew.c.stellges@lonestar.edu Department Chair Contact Information: Michael Hickey Phone: 96-27-7290 email: Michael.J.Hickey@lonestar.edu Office: A220-M Dana Morales Phone: 96-27-791 email: Dana.A.Morales@LoneStar.edu Office: A220-K Dean Contact Information: Kirk Bennett, MBA (96) 27-721 Office F55 MEETING TIMES This is an internet class and runs constantly during the semester. Students will have assigned ending times for assignments throughout the course. It is YOUR responsibility to keep up with deadlines that are listed both on the class calendar as well as in the course itself. COURSE DESCRIPTION: A survey of the Federal government including such topics as the US Constitution; democratic theory; federalism; political culture, political socialization and public opinion; political participation and electoral behavior; political parties and interest groups; press; Presidency, the Congress and the Courts; the role played by the Bureaucracy, Social policy, Economic policy, and the dynamic nature of American Foreign policy. These phenomena are examined at the national levels with an emphasis placed on linkages with the formulation of public policy. THIS COURSE SATISFIES STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION IN TEXAS.
IMPORTANT! You MUST log in and compete the two items requested of you in the Let s Get Started section by the official class census day or you will be DROPPED from the course (see calendar below for this date). TEXTBOOKS, SUPPLIES, MATERIALS: We The People 10 th the Essentials Edition (Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir) You will also need: Reliable Internet Access (broadband is best) Appropriate browser and required plug-ins STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: In completing this course, you will Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system. Analyze the election process. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Analyze issues and policies and U.S. politics. PURPOSE This course has two objectives: A) to educate you regarding the integrate workings of national, state and local governments, and B) to provide you a vehicle to make better sense of our political world and its enormous impact on our daily lives. Through the course of this class, we will examine the key actors, processes, and structural components that make up our political environment. By the end of this course, you should not only possess a better understanding of governmental processes, but also you should be better informed about how you can play an important and active role in determining the direction of government. CREDIT hours ADA STATEMENT LSC-Montgomery is dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all students. The college system promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations through the Rehab Act of 197, Title V, Section 504 and the American with
Disabilities Act of 1990 and ADA Amended Act of 2008. If you have a disability for which you need classroom accommodations, please come see me with your paperwork or contact Vicky Saunders in the Disabilities Services Office in Building C 221-A to obtain the letter of accommodation. ( 96-27-729 or Victoria.Saunders@lonestar.edu) Veterans' Services To get information about Veterans' services, see Terrance Hudson in C Building, office C221-B; call him at 96-27-7242; or e-mail him at Terrance.J.Hudson@lonestar.edu. POLICY ON PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING Plagiarism is the practice of taking passages or ideas from another and using them as your own. The instructor reserves the right to give the student a zero for any assignment where plagiarism or cheating occurs. Any idea or quote of others must be credited and properly noted. In the case of cheating during the course of a test, or unauthorized collaboration on a writing project, the instructor is authorized to allocate a zero for those involved in that activity. Do not hesitate to discuss this matter with the instructor if there are Any questions. For more information on plagiarism and academic integrity: http://www.lonestar.edu/departments/studentservices/academic_integrity_brochure.pdf DESCRIPTION OF COURSE CONTENT: See class Calendar below. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Here are the Sections and the chapters that you will be tested on: Exam 1: Chapters 1, 2 and (Section 1) Exam 2: Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 (Section 2) Exam : Chapters 9, 10, 11, 1, and 14 (Section ) Final: Chapters 15, 4, 5, and Comprehensive (Section 4) CLASS Quick Look CALENDAR First day of class Monday, August 24 Let's Get Started section August 24 September 4 Section 1 (Test 1) August 24 September 16 Section 2 (Test 2) September 16 October 7 Section (Test ) October 7 November 4 Last day to drop with a W November 9 Section 4 (Final) November 4 December 9
There are no excuses to miss class. This is an Internet class and is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If a situation arises that you feel will cause you to miss several deadlines and generally put you behind in class, PLEASE consider withdrawing from class as I do not grant extensions or exceptions to the class work for any reason. Yes, the class is available on weekends and holidays. You are required to attend this class just as if you were taking a traditional class. Exams (0%): There will be three exams and a comprehensive final. Each regular exam has 70 multiple choice and true false questions. The questions will cover material covered in your assigned readings, the class lectures (power point presentations), and any outside material you are directed to read. Each test is worth 100 points. All tests will be taken on-line (D2L). You must complete all assessments in each section PRIOR TO taking the exam. These first three exams are worth a total of 00 points. Please note: Be sure you have completed everything in each section before you attempt the test! When you take the test, you are telling me that you are done with that section and you WILL NOT be permitted back into that section other than to review the lectures. Final (25%): The final exam will cover the material after the third exam AND material from the previous three tests (comprehensive). It will be 125 questions and is worth 200 points. All class work MUST be completed before attempting the final! It will also be taken on-line (D2L) and may be taken once all previous sections have been completed. However, once the final exam has been taken, access to the rest of the class WILL BE DENIED!!! Be sure you are done with the entire class BEFORE you take the final! Daily work: There are four types of daily work that you will be expected to complete: quizzes, a short writing assignment, and assignments. Quizzes (10%): Each section will have approximately 4 quizzes over the lectures (PowerPoint presentations) and each will be multiple choice or true/false questions. There are a total of 15 quizzes in the entire course The 2 lowest quiz grades will be dropped giving you 1 quiz grades for the course. Assignments (15%): You will also 2 assignments in each section that cover the material in the book that you are being asked to read in each section. There are a total of 12 assignments in the course and the lowest 2 assignment grades will be dropped giving you a total of 10 assignments for the course. Short Writing Assignment (10%): There is 1 short writing assignment in the course (in sections 2). You will need to follow the directions for this writing assignment. Discussion Posts (10%): There are two discussion posts (section 1 and section 4). Each post is worth 25 points. For each post you will be graded based on a) your initial post to the subject given by the instructor, and b) your reply to other students posting. Participation: Absences - You must complete at least one item per part of each section. This can be a quiz, an assignment, a test, or submitting a short writing assignment. You do not have to earn points; you must only complete an item in that section. Each section (and part) has the start and end dates listed on the D2L calendar.
Please note, it is NOT enough to just log in to class, substantive work must be completed or submitted for you to be counted as attending class. Reading the lectures does not count. Sending an e-mail does not count. If you do NOT complete at least one item, you will be submitted to LSC Montgomery as having missed or not attended for one week s worth of classes. If you achieve two such weeks, you are subject to be dropped from the class according to the LSC Montgomery Attendance Policy based on excessive absences. Keep in mind that if this is after the above Q date, your grade will be recorded as a QF. In short, LSC Montgomery is employing you in the job of education. As in real life, if you do not show up for work, you can be dismissed for cause. This LSC Montgomery policy allows me to fire you when you do not show up for class. Your grade will be weighted accordingly: CRITERIA FOR GRADING: Short Writing Assignment (10%) A= 90.0 100.0% Quizzes over lectures (10%) B= 80.0 89.9% Chapter assignments (15%) C= 70.0 79.9% Discussion Posts (10%) D= 60.0 69.9% Three major tests (0%) F= 0.0 59.9% Comprehensive Final (25%) (100%) Class Calendar As this is an internet class, there are no holidays. The class is available as long as the Lone Star College server is running. If the server goes down or there are significant connectivity problems, I will make the necessary adjustments. If you have any problems, contact me as soon as you have them do not wait until after a deadline has passed to inform me as to why you could not complete the assigned work. Finally, your computer problems are not an excuse to miss class. Week One Assignment Details First Day of Class Let s Get Started Section (closes 9/4) Section 1 (8/24 9/16) Monday, August 24, 2015 Tuesday, August 25, 2015 Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work cont. Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work cont. Thursday, August 27, 2015 Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work cont. Friday, August 28, 2015 Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work cont. Week Two Monday, August 1, 2015 Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work cont. Tuesday, September 01, 2015 Part 1: Chapter 1 and accompanying work cont.
Wednesday, September 02, 2015 Thursday, September 0, 2015 Friday, September 04, 2015 Week Three Monday, September 07, 2015 Tuesday, September 08, 2015 Wednesday, September 09, 2015 Thursday, September 10, 2015 Friday, September 11, 2015 Week Four Monday, September 14, 2015 Tuesday, September 15, 2015 Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Thursday, September 17, 2015 Friday, September 18, 2015 Week Five Monday, September 21, 2015 Tuesday, September 22, 2015 Wednesday, September 2, 2015 Thursday, September 24, 2015 Friday, September 25, 2015 Week Six Monday, September 28, 2015 Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Wednesday, September 0, 2015 Thursday, October 01, 2015 Friday, October 02, 2015 Week Seven Monday, October 05, 2015 Tuesday, October 06, 2015 Wednesday, October 07, 2015 Part 1 closes at noon Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Test 1 open Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Test 1 open Part 2: Chapters 2 / and accompanying work cont. Discussion Post #1 Due Section 1 closes today at noon (all work in section 1 must be completed by this time) Section 2 (9/16 10/7) Part 1: Chapters 5 / 6 and accompanying work Short Writing Assignment due at noon Part 1 Closes at noon Test 2 open Test 2 Open Section 2 closes today at noon (all work in section 2 must be completed by this time) Section (10/7 11/4) Part 1: Chapter 9 and accompanying work
Thursday, October 08, 2015 Friday, October 09, 2015 Week Eight Monday, October 12, 2015 Tuesday, October 1, 2015 Wednesday, October 14, 2015 Part 2: Chapter 10 and accompanying work Thursday, October 15, 2015 Friday, October 16, 2015 Week Nine Monday, October 19, 2015 Tuesday, October 20, 2015. Part 1 closes at noon Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Wednesday, October 21, 2015 work Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Thursday, October 22, 2015 work cont. Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Friday, October 2, 2015 work cont. Week Ten Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Monday, October 26, 2015 work cont. Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Tuesday, October 27, 2015 work cont. Part 2 closes at noon Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Wednesday, October 28, 2015 work cont. Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Thursday, October 29, 2015 work cont. Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Friday, October 0, 2015 work cont. Week Eleven Test Open Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Monday, November 02, 2015 work cont. Test Open Part : Chapters 11 / 1 / 14 and accompanying Tuesday, November 0, 2015 work cont.
Wednesday, November 04, 2015 Thursday, November 05, 2015 Friday, November 06, 2015 Week Twelve Monday, November 09, 2015 Tuesday, November 10, 2015 Wednesday, November 11, 2015 Thursday, November 12, 2015 Friday, November 1, 2015 Week Thirteen Monday, November 16, 2015 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Thursday, November 19, 2015 Friday, November 20, 2015 Week Fourteen Monday, November 2, 2015 Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Wednesday, November 25, 2015 Thursday, November 26, 2015 Friday, November 27, 2015 Week Fifteen Monday, November 0, 2015 Tuesday, December 01, 2015 Wednesday, December 02, 2015 Thursday, December 0, 2015 Friday, December 04, 2015 Week Sixteen - Finals Week Monday, December 07, 2015 Tuesday, December 08, 2015 Wednesday, December 09, 2015 Section closes today at noon (all work in section must be completed by this time) Section 4 (11/4 12/9) Part 1: Chapter 12 and accompanying work Last Day to drop with a W Holiday (Course available) Holiday (Course available) Holiday (Course available) Final Open Final Open Section 4 closes today at noon (all work in section 4 must be completed by this time) Total Contact Hours 48