NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	Federal Government
Course Prefix & Number:		GOVT2305	Section Number:	0692	Semester/Year:	Spring 2020
Semester Credit Hours:		3	Lecture Hours:	3	Lab Hours:	0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties, and civil rights.
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required Course Materials: Patterson, Thomas E.  We the People. 13th edition. McGraw Hill. (E-book with Connect Plus Access) ISBN 978-1264031919

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Travis Cooper
Campus/Office Location:
Telephone Number:
E-mail Address:	tacooper@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
5:45-6:30PM		5:45-6:30PM

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
	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 in U.S. Politics.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
2	Exams	200 pts
1	Research Paper	100 pts
5	Online Assignments	100 pts

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria)

 

 

Tentative Course Schedule

 

Online Assignment 1 – February 8^th

Online Assignment 2 – February 15^th

Exam 1 – February 15^th

Online Assignment 3 – February 22^nd  

Online Assignment 4 – February 29^th

Online Assignment 5 – March 7^th

Paper – March 7^th

Final Exam March 14^th

 

 

I.  The Foundations of American Politics

Text: Chapters 1-5

A.  Critical Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen 

• Learning to Think Critically
• Political Culture: Americans’ Enduring Beliefs 
• Politics and Power in America

 

B.  Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

• Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences
• Negotiating Toward a Constitution
• Protecting Liberty: Limited Government
• Providing for Representative Government
• Constitutional Democracy Today 

 

C.  Federalism

• National and State Sovereignty
• Federalism in Historical Perspective
• Contemporary Federalism 
• The People’s Influence 

 

D. Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

• The Bill of Rights, the Fourteenth Amendment, and Selective Incorporation
• Freedom of Expression
• Freedom of Religion
• The Right to Bear Arms
• The Right of Privacy
• Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes
• Rights and the War on Terrorism

 

E. Equal Rights

• Equality Through Law
• The Struggle for Equality

 

                                        

II.  The Structure of American Government

Text: Chapters 11-14                   

A.  Congress - the people’s branch

 

2.  Congress in Operation

a)  The Making of Public Policy - environment and influences

b)  Legislators and Their Constituents - trustees and delegates

c)  Congress and the Executive 

              B.  The Executive Branch  

l.  The Presidency 

a)  The Institution - traditional roles (6), the Cabinet, and the Executive Office

b)  The President - the Obama Presidency

c)  The Changing Image of the Presidency - today’s perspective

d)  Electing the President - the Electoral College

 

D. The Judicial Branch 

1.  The Organization of the Judiciary - focus on the Supreme Court

2.  The Politics of the Judiciary - independent, not apolitical

3.  The Decision-making Process - rule of four, certiorari, stare decisis, other elements

4.  Judicial Power  - selected case illustrations

 

IV.  The Focus of American Politics   

A.  The American Political Process   

1.  Parties and Elections - securing consent

                                         The American Party System

a)  Origins of the Two-party System - focus on Hamilton and Jefferson

b)  Third Parties - and independents

c)  Development of Contemporary Parties - Democrats and Republicans

d)  The Function of American Parties - liberal and conservative Ideologies 

2.  The American Voter - an international perspective

a)  Voters and Nonvoters - focus on Texas

b)  Costs of Non-participation - exercising the vote

3.  Public Opinion and Pressure Groups

a)  Tracking Public Opinion - polling strategies

b)  Types of Interest Groups – and their power

B.  Politics and the Media - “massive” media

C.  Politics and Money:  Campaign Finance - focus on recent reforms

 

D.  Domestic Policy

l.  Recurring Issues

a) The Balance of Power - federalism and the separation of powers revisited

b) Government and the Economy 

              Regulation vs. Deregulation 

              Glass-Steagall Act

c) Civil Liberties – focus on Incorporation

d) Social Policy – focus on Social Security

e) National Security – the war on terrorism 

 

 

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is _______________.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______

o        Communication

o        Mathematics              

o        Life and Physical Science

o        Language, Philosophy & Culture

o        Creative Arts

 

X         Government/Political Science

o        Social and Behavioral Sciences

o        Component Area Option

o        American History

 

X            Critical Thinking

X             Communication

o           Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

X              Personal Responsibility

X              Social Responsibility