GOVT 2305 0844 - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Introduction

Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

Course Title:

Federal Government

Course Prefix & Number: 

GOVT2305

Section Number: 

844

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

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

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.  

 

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

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

 

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

X          Critical Thinking

X               Communication

o             Empirical and Quantitative

 

o             Teamwork

X                Personal Responsibility

X                Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

o             Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

CONNECT TECHNICAL SUPPORT 

Connect Technical Requirements and Support 
Please review the following information from McGraw-Hill Higher Education before you begin any assignments in Connect.

  • Run a system check: To have a successful experience in Connect, you will need to ensure that your computer's system meets the requirements needed to access and run your assignments (e.g.: operating system, browsers, plug-ins).  It is strongly recommended that you troubleshoot your computer at least once a week, and before every test, to be sure that you will be able to complete the required exercises.  Click on the following link to learn how to troubleshoot Connect and what the computer requirements are:  http://connect.mheducation.com/connect/troubleshoot.do'

 

  • Get support: Connect has a Customer Experience Group (CXG) Support Center where you can connect with a tech specialist via chat, phone, or email. Click on this link to access the online support center: https://mhedu.force.com/CXG/s/ContactUs

If you have problems with registration or technical difficulties while completing assignments, contact CXG.  I am not tech support!  Every time you speak with a representative, you will receive a case/ticket number for reference.  Be sure to keep this number so that you can easily check up on the status of any unresolved problems and also to share with me if required.

Toll-free#: 800-331-5094

Support Times:

  • Sun: 12pm - 12am
  • Mon-Thurs: 24 hours
  • Fri: 12 am - 9pm
  • Sat: 10am - 8pm
    (the above times are US Eastern Time)

 

Technical Problem Resolution Procedure

If you experience technical difficulties while completing an online assignment, follow the procedures as outlined below.

  • Take a screen shot:  Take a screen shot/Print Screen of the monitor when the problem occurs. Save as a .pdf or .jpg file.
  • Contact technical support: Make sure you give a complete description of your problem so the Help Desk staff will have the pertinent information in order to assist you properly. This may include:
    • course name/reference number and/or instructor name
    • operating system, Internet browser, and/or Internet service provider (ISP) information
    • Print Screen file
    • your contact information
  1. Send a message to your instructor to notify him/her of the problem: Include all pertinent information of the incident (as listed above).  You must provide the ticket/case number that you receive from technical support. This ticket provides proof of the time and date you tried to submit an online assignment.  Any notifications that do not include this ticket/case number will be invalid.
  2. Follow up: If you do not hear back from the technical support within a timely manner (less than 48 hours), it is your responsibility to follow up with the appropriate person until a resolution is obtained.

 

 

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Adam Ramsey

Office Location:

Gainesville Campus, Room 814

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, ext. 4925

E-mail Address:

aramsey@nctc.edu

Name of Instructional Dean:

Dr. Bruce King

Office Location:

316 E Hickory St, Denton, TX 76201

Telephone Number:

940-380-2504

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

Syllabus File(s)

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