GOVERNMENT 2302
AMERICAN and
INTERNET
Instructor:
Dr. Terry Spurlock,
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Scope and Emphasis
Do
people need government? If so, why?
What desirable goals—if any—can government achieve that individuals cannot
achieve by themselves? What is the U.S. and Texas’s
government’s record in furthering these goals? This course grapples with these
questions while surveying the broad and complex subject of American and
Reading Assignments
The weekly reading assignments in your texts will be substantial (averaging about 50 pages a week) but not overwhelming. Assigned readings will are referenced in your syllabus. It is essential, therefore, that you read the assigned material in advance of the tests. Those who do not will be wasting their time and tuition money. The readings, study guides and any additional material posted will figure prominently in the course’s exams.
Texts
Kenneth Janda, Jeffrey Berry, and Jerry Goldman. The
Challenge of Democracy, 9th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008) ISBN: 978-0-618-81017-8
Maxwell,
et. al.
Participation
Students should post to the discussion board if they have a question or problem with the course that other students might help them answer. All communication about the course will be within the course shell.
1. Mid-term and final exams must be proctored. Quizzes are not proctored. Proctors will have a password that will allow you to begin testing.
2. You cannot directly sign in to the exam. Click the title of the exam. The proctor password must be entered before you can begin the exam. After the password has been entered by the proctor, click “begin exam”.
3. TVCC students may test
at Terrell (LRC), Palestine (LRC), or
4. VCT students must test at their testing centers. Proctor passwords will be sent to the listed testing contact. If your home college has branch campuses, proctor passwords will be sent to all listed testing contacts.
Missed Exam
Students are expected to take exams as scheduled. Usually you will have several days to take an exam before the expiration of the deadline. Only under the most extraordinary circumstances will missed exams be made up.
Approaches to Learning
The
Challenge of Democracy 9ed. is a general textbook about government and
politics in the
Texas Politics Today 13ed. is a traditional structural look at Texas government. We will use it in conjunction with the American government book.
Methods of Evaluation
Your grade will be based on your performance on the midterm and final examinations (50%), the assigned essays (25% and the chapter quizzes (25%). Chapter quizzes may be taken three times and the highest score will be used to average for grades. Under Essays, you will find 5 assignment topics. You choose 4 of the 5 to write about. (You may skip one, but the deadlines apply.)
Study Guides and Practice Tests
Study guides are available within the WEBCT course shell.
OUTCOMES and OBJECTIVES
COORDINATING BOARD CORE CURRICULUM EXEMPLARY OBJECTIVES (OUTCOMES) FOR SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
The objective of a social and behavioral science component of a core curriculum
is to increase students' knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists
discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among
individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will
better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in
addressing the issues facing humanity. The exemplary objectives for this course
are:
1. To
comprehend the origins and evolution of
2. To analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on the area under study.
3. To
understand the evolution and current role of the
Assessment: Satisfactory completion of these objectives (1, 2, and 3) will be demonstrated by the students earning a grade of 70 or more on the mid-term, final exam and the chapter quizzes covering these topics.
4. To analyze, critically assess, and develop creative solutions to public policy problems.
5. To recognize and assume one's responsibility as a citizen in a democratic society by learning to think for oneself, by engaging in public discourse, and by obtaining information through the news media and other appropriate information sources about politics and public policy.
Assessment: Satisfactory completion of objectives 4 and 5 will be demonstrated by the students receiving a passing grade on short essays covering areas of civic responsibility
Course Objectives*
The course content includes, but is not limited to, the following objectives:
1. Acquire a general knowledge of the nature, scope and purpose of American government.
2. Understand the structure and organization of the national government.
3. Appreciate the responsibilities of the Congress, the presidency, the federal courts, and the bureaucracy in policy development and implementation.
4. Understand the relationship between government and individual right and liberties
1. Acquire a general knowledge of the
nature, scope and purpose of
2. Understand
the structure and organization of
3. Appreciate the responsibilities of the state legislature, the governor, state courts, and the bureaucracy in policy development and implementation.
4. Acquire an understanding of the problems facing cities and counties.
5. Understand the relationship between government and individual rights and liberties
*
More specific learning objectives for each lesson are listed in the individual
study guides.
GOVERNMENT 2302 UNITS
Each unit will have at least one essay assigned.
PART IV: INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
UNIT 1: CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATURE.
JANDA: CHAPTER 11
MAXWELL: CHAPTERS 6 AND 7.
Chapter Quizzes;…...............................
UNIT II: THE EXECUTIVES.
JANDA; CHAPTERS 12 and 13
MAXWELL: CHAPTERS 8 and 9.
Chapter Quizzes…...................................
UNIT III: THE JUDICIARY.
JANDA, CHAPTER 14
MAXWELL: CHAPTERS 10 AND 11.
Chapter Quizzes;…..........................
Mid-term Exam: Units I, II, III____________________________
PART V: MAKING PUBLIC POLICY
UNIT IV: PUBLIC POLICY.
JANDA; CHAPTERS. 17 and 19.
MAXWELL; CHAPTER 12.
Chapter Quizzes;…..........................................
Unit V; ECONOMICS
AND GLOBAL POLICY
JANDA; CHAPTERS 18 and 20.
MAXWELL: CHAPTER 13
Chapter Quizzes: .......................................................
Final Exam: Units IV and V.