HONORS GOVT 2302 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT II
COURSE SYLLABUS
Dr. Glenn
David Garrison, Professor of Political Science
Spring 2006
(revised 1-14-06)
It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide reasonable
and appropriate accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities.
The College adheres to all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and
guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to
afford equal educational opportunity. Contact the ACCESS Office in a timely
manner for accommodations. (G200), 972.881.5898, TDD 972.881.5950
OFFICE & HOURS:
| Monday | 11:50 - 12:50, 2:30 - 3 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 12:15-2 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 11:50 - 12:50, 2:30 - 3 p.m. |
| Thursday | 12:15-2 p.m. |
| Friday |
Please make appointments for these or other mutually agreeable times.
Telephone:
972.881.5815; 972.881.5800 (Secretary); 972.881.5700 (Fax)
Email:
dgarrison@ccccd.edu
Please
include name, course, and section in email correspondence.
Professor's
Web
site:
http://iws.ccccd.edu/dgarrison
THE COURSE:
The HONORS GOVT 2302 course examines the institutional structures of government at both national and state levels (emphasizing Texas), including the legislative process, the executive and bureaucratic structures and the judicial process. Additional topics include civil rights and civil liberties, domestic policy, foreign relations and national defense.
This course and GOVT 2301
fulfill the State of Texas legislative requirement of 6 credit hours of
American Government for Baccalaureate Degrees.
Lab required. 3 credit hours.
This course may not be taken if the student has received credit for
Government (GOVT) 251 OR Political Science (PLSC) 262.
If you have taken an American
or Texas Government course at another
institution, check with Enrollment Management to
assure that you have enrolled for the proper course to
complete the legislative
requirement. Generally, if you have
credit
for an out-of-state college/university American
Government course, you should enroll in GOVT 2301 to fulfill
the Texas requirement.
The Course Learning
Objectives:
The successful student should have knowledge of the basic principles of
American and Texas government and an understanding of American political
institutions at both the national and state levels. The student should develop an appreciation of the interactions
between and among various participants at all levels of the American political
system and the rights of individuals under the American Constitution in a
pluralistic society.
The student should know critical thinking skills in the interpretation and understanding of information and argument especially by oral and written critique including the interpretation of visual and mathematical data. The student should be able to understand the application of this knowledge to contemporary politics.
THE
TEXTBOOKS:
HOW TO REGISTER FOR YOUR TEXTBOOK WEB SITE
PEARSON
LONGMAN:
Participate.com
4.0
(No
Course ID Access Code from your class is required.)
Registration
Enter
http://www.longmanparticipate.com/
in your Web Browser.
Click
on the button.
Select
No, I am a New User.
Open
your Student Starter Kit to reveal your unique Access Code and enter it in the
fields provided.
Enter
________ as your School Zip Code,
select
United States as your Country and
click
Next.
Enter
your Name and Email and
select
Your School.
Create
your Login Name and Password,
answer
the Security Question and
click
Next.
If successful,
you will
receive
a Confirmation Screen with your information (this screen was also emailed to
you).
Login
Enter http://www.longmanparticipate.com/
in your Web Browser.
Go
to Established Users and
enter
the Login Name and Password you created.
Click
“Log in”
Click
on the book cover of the text that matches the text being used for your course.
You now have access to all the resources for LongmanParticipate.com!
THE METHOD OF EVALUATION:
exam is in part
comprehensive. All exams are
mandatory.
Exam 1 =
200 points (20%)
Exam
2 =
200 points (20%)
Final =
300 points (30%)
Experiential Tasks
=
300 points
(30%)
Writing
Task
Portfolio
1000
total possible points
The grading scale is:
900-1000 points = A
800-899 points = B
700-799 points = C
600-699 points = D
0-599 points = F
Bonus Opportunities are offered throughout the semester and on each exam. See the Bonus Opportunities web site page.
Class participation is expected and includes:
a. writing a letter of introduction,
b.
becoming knowledgeable in current
affairs relevant to the course,
c.
joining in
class discussion,
d.
reviewing test scores by
appointment before the next exam,
e.
attempting all
bonus point
opportunities,
f.
attending
class regularly,
g.
visiting
the Writing Center for each writing assignment, and
h.
demonstrating a
thoughtful and
caring interest in the class and course.
WRITING
PROJECT: See
Writing
& Documenting Papers.
THE ATTENDANCE, MAKE-UP EXAM, & LATE PAPER POLICY:
Take tests at the assigned
time. Makeup exams will be given only
under extraordinary circumstances if a legitimate excuse is presented.
No exams are optional.
Papers are due in class on the assigned date. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE
ACCEPTED. Any
exceptions to this policy must be negotiated with the professor in advance.
THE
COURSE WEB SITE & THE INTERNET:
Internet access computers for student use
are located in the college LRCs (libraries) and computer labs on all
campuses. Public libraries also provide
Internet access. If you need help with the Internet and references, ask the reference
librarians for guidance. The College also offers one hour free courses to
introduce you to the Internet. Use the
College web site
www.ccccd.edu.
POLICY ON SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:
"Cheating is the
willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an
examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, using
someone else’s work for written assignments as if it were one’s own, or any
other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.”
“Plagiarism is the use of an author’s
words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source,
including but not limited to failure to acknowledge a direct quotation."
(Pp. 35-36, Student Handbook)
CIVILITY & RESPECT:
Do not
engage in any behavior that disrupts the classroom atmosphere. Please turn off
any noise
making electronic devices. No food or drink is allowed.
If you have to leave the room for any reason, please sit in chairs near the
door. Explain your leaving to the professor before or after class. If you are
late to class, sit in the chairs just inside the door. Do not walk in front
of the class and the professor.
Do not talk while the professor or students have the floor.
Engage in spirited but civil class discussion. Disruptive behavior will not
be tolerated. Disrespectful students will be banned from the class and
sent to the Dean of Students.
Please take to heart the
life lessons of George Washington.
LETTER
OF INTRODUCTION:
Please write a letter of introduction to the professor. In addition to personal
information,
write
about your expectations in the course, what you would like to do in the course, and what you think
is your role as a citizen in a democratic society.
Please
submit the letter
by email during the first week of class. Include your name, course and section, and email address.
THE COURSE CONTENT:
FOR
THE FIRST EXAMINATION:
O'Connor & Sabato
text, chapter 10 &
U.S. Constitution, Article III
In class video, “Marbury
v. Madison” (available at LRC Reserves)
Texas Constitution of
1876,
Texas Almanac
Proposed Texas Constitutional Amendments for November 8, 2005 Election
In
class video, “Justice for Sale,” (available at LRC Reserves) and
web site
Texas
Supreme Court
The
Bill of
Rights
Fourteenth
Amendment
The
Declaration of Independence
The
Gettysburg Address
The Emancipation Proclamation
Robert Frost, The Black Cottage
Michael Oreskes, “Texas
in Black and White," The New York Times Book
Review,
16 December
1990, 23.
U.S. Constitution Amendments 13-15,
17, 19, 23-26
Hernandez
v. Texas
(1954) (Findlaw)
Sweatt v. Painter
(1950)
(Findlaw)
Smith v. Allwright (1944)
(Findlaw)
Ruiz v. Estelle
(1980)
(Findlaw)
Hopwood v. Texas (1992)
(Findlaw)
Lawrence v. Texas
(2003)
Roe v. Wade (1973)
FOR
THE SECOND EXAMINATION:
U.S.
Constitution, Article II
Election
Glossary, PBS
By the People Election 2004
The
Bush Administration New York Times Interactive Feature
The Terrorism Index, Foreign Policy, July/August 2006.
Jim Hoagland, Washington Post
The Federal Bureaucracy
FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION:
U. S. Constitution, Article I & Amendments 17, 20, 27
Norman Ornstein & Barry McMillion, "One Nation, Divisible," New York Times, June 23, 2005. LRC EReserves
The Texas Legislature
Brian D. Sweany, "Robin Hood's Worst Nightmare," D Magazine, January
4, 2005.
In
class video, “The Best Little Statehouse in Texas,” (LRC
Reserves)
In class video, "Mexican Hat Dance," (LRC
Reserves)
In class video, "Born Politician," (LRC
Reserves)
in class video,
"Hat
Dance," Lobbyists, Vote for Me: Politics in America, The Center
for New American Media, 1996. (available at LRC
Reserves)
in class video,
"The
Born Politician," Floor Vote, Vote for Me: Politics in America,
The Center for New American Media, 1996. (available at LRC
Reserves)