NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	Federal Government
Course Prefix & Number:		GOVT2305	Section Number:	843	Semester/Year:	Spring 2021
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:	Sherri Sistrunk
Campus/Office Location:	MHS B211
Telephone Number:	469-948-7179
E-mail Address:	ssistrunk@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
12:00pm – 2:15pm	12:00pm – 2:15pm	12:00pm – 2:15pm	12:00pm – 2:15pm	12:00pm – 2:15pm

 

 

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

Graded Course Elements	Percentage
LearnSmart Activities	15%
Assignments	15%
Quizzes	20%
Research Paper	25%
Unit Exams	25%
Total	100%

 

Grading Scale:  100-90=A      89-80=B      79-70=C     69-60=D       59 and below = F

 

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE

Unit I

• Course Pre-test
• Chapter 1 Political Thinking         
• Chapter 2 Constitutional Democracy                     
• Chapter 3 Federalism

• Chapter 4 Civil Liberties    
• Chapter 5 Equal Rights                  

 

 

Unit II

• Chapter 6 Public Opinion                          
• Chapter 7 Political Participation      

**** Texas Education Policy and Law (Research Assignment)                        

• Chapter 8 Political Parties  

• Chapter 9 Interest Groups                  
• Chapter 10 News Media       

                     

Unit III

• Chapter 11 Congress
• Chapter 12 Presidency                                            
• Chapter 13 Bureaucracy
• Chapter 14 Judicial System                        

 

Unit IV

• Chapter 15 Economic/Environ Policy                    
• Chapter 16 Welfare/Education                                                                               
• Chapter 17 Foreign Policy 
• Course Post-test

 

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 April 3, 2021

 

Important Notes:

• This course has a general policy of not accepting any late work.  Late work will only be accepted if students have a documented medical reason/emergency.

 

• This is NOT a self-paced course.  Students must complete and submit assignments by the specified due date(s).

 

• It is your responsibility to have a working computer with the minimum requirements and a working Internet connection.  (See basic system requirements for Canvas  https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10721 ). Also see section below entitled CONNECT TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

 

• You will have a specified timeframe to complete an assignment(s).  Therefore, do not wait until the day before an assignment is due and potentially experience any technical difficulties.  A due date extension will NOT be given.

 

• Assignments are automatically submitted on the due date.  Failure to complete assignments by their specified due date/time will result in a zero (0).

 

• Full participation in course discussions, reading chapters, reviewing slides, and/or watching any video clips are additional attributes that will help students perform well in the course.

 

• Save your work.  Students are expected to keep a copy of all saved course work until the final course grade has been posted for the semester.  Electronic communications can sometimes fail.  

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