AMERICAN GOVERNMENT National, State and Local Course Information and Syllabus Government 2301.075 Spring 2008
Your Instructors: Jesse Horton, Professor of Government Email address: jhorton@mail.accd.edu or wkbyerly@yahoo.com Address: Government Department, Chance Academic Center Room 208, San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78212-4299 You may reach me by calling the government telecourse hotline, 733-2543. I will be available throughout the semester to answer questions, or assist with any problem you may have with the course. If you need to meet with me, my office is located in the CAC 208. American Government: National, State and Local This course covers basic principles of American Government, including the U.S. and Texas constitutions, state and local government, and the basic institutions of government, legislative, executive, and judicial. The telecourse not only covers factual material but also presents concepts and interpretations. It takes you to various parts of the United States, and introduces you to prominent political and governmental figures. Course Elements You should expect to do the following: 1. Watch on television(and take notes on) 26 lessons on television or purchase the 26 lessons on two tapes or DVDs or watch on the Internet the on-line streaming of the 26 videos. Use the Study Guide. - Optional 2. Study the reading assignments from the text. (Use the Study Guide - Optional.) 3. Attend or view a review session before each of the exams. This session will consist of a review lecture and an opportunity for you to ask questions. (optional) You may purchase a tape or DVD of the four reviews from the SAC bookstore or you may watch the reviews on the Internet. 4. Take four exams. Required: Kraemer, Richard, et. al., Lynch, Texas Politics, 9th edition, West-Wadsworth Publishing. Optional: Warwick, Noreen, Texas Politics and You, 4rd edition, Dallas County Community College District, Wadsworth Publishing. The study guide introduces each lesson, tells you what portions of the text to read, and provides outlines for the readings and summaries of the telelessons, as well as self tests. You are not required to turn in material from the study guide. The study guide is designed to direct you in the successful completion of the telecourse. Remember to use the study guide. It is available at the College bookstore and other local bookstores. 3. For each examination: a Scan Tron Mini Bluebook (Form 886-E), No. 2 pencil, and a self-addressed envelope (stamped, legal size). Viewing Programs There are twenty-six half hour telelessons in this course. You must watch two programs each week. The lessons are broadcast back-to-back on Wednesdays and Thursdays on Warner Cablesystem of Texas, Channel 98. Broadcast Schedule TIME WARNER 98 - Programs are shown on Warner Cablesystem of Texas, Channel 98 and Grande Cable Channel 21: Wednesdays 8:00 -9:00 p.m. Programs 1, 2, etc., 4, 5, etc. Thursdays 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. Programs 1, 2, etc., 4, 5, etc. Problems concerning weekday broadcasts should be reported to 733-2501 immediately. Internet Access: On line-streaming – the 26 videos and 4 reviews may be viewed on line. Directions are on the last page of this syllabus. Week of SCHEDULE January 13 2. The Texas Constitution January 20 4. Federalism and Texas January 27 6. Political Culture February 3 8. Media and Public Agenda February 10 10. Political Parties in Texas February 17 12. Campaigns and Elections February 24 14. The Texas Legislature March 2 16. Texas Casework and Oversight March 9 18. Texas Bureaucracy March 16 20. Globalism and Texas March 23 22. Judicial Selection in Texas March 30 24. First Amendment Civil Liberties April 6 26. Civil Rights and Equal Protection Missed Programs On-Demand Access Should you miss a telelesson, all programs are available for review in the Moody Learning Center, fourth floor, at the Media Services desk, on the following schedule: Mondays through Thursdays 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM Fridays 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Saturdays 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Important: Demand access is intended as a backup and not as your primary source of viewing. If there is a line, you will be allowed to use the machines only 30 minutes at a time. SAC I.D. is required to checkout the tapes. Students may purchase all 26 video lessons at the SAC Bookstore. Review Sessions - Optional (but strongly recommended) Before each exam, an optional review session will be held on the SAC campus (or you may purchase a review tape with all four reviews on one tape or DVDor view the reviews on the Internet). These sessions are not required, but if you can attend, the sessions will provide you with additional contact with your instructor, and interaction with other government students. The review, whether live, streamed or taped, is very important. During an hour and a half lecture, the 40 multiple choice questions on the test will be covered. There will be no attempt to identify each question as the lecture proceeds, but most, if not all, of the multiple choice questions will be mentioned. Therefore, our recommendation is to read the required chapters in the text. Then listen to the review tape. It is a good idea to listen to 20 or 30 minutes of the tape while taking notes. Take a short break. Then listen to the same 20 or 30 minutes, check your notes as you listen, and try to match the points the professor is making in the tape with the material you read in the text. After you are comfortable with this material, move on to the next 30 minutes on the tape and repeat the same procedure. Finally, use the same approach on the last 30 minutes of the review. From related student experiences, I do not think it is wise to try to listen to an hour and a half of review without a break. REVIEW SESSION SCHEDULE
EXAM SCHEDULE
Regular make-up date: Wednesday, April 9, CAC 207. Examinations There are three major exams and a final. Each exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each (80%), and one essay question worth 20 points (20%). The final will consist of 40 multiple choice questions over section IV material, worth 2 points each 80% and one essay question worth 20 points (20%). The three final exam essay questions, of which you do one, will be chosen from all the potential essay questions for the first three exams. There will be no essay questions from section IV. You must take the final in order to complete the course. I will grade your exams and send you the results through the mail. The final course grade will be the sum of the four examinations divided by four. The letter grade values are as follows: A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F Below 60 Please bring your driver's license with you to the exam; you will need to identify yourself with a picture. If you have a name change during the semester, notify us immediately. An exam will not be issued if there is an inconsistency between the name and I.D. To facilitate orderly grading of exams, you will be required to use scantron form 886 mini‑blue book test sheets. These sheets allow us to machine grade the multiple-choice section of the exams. The scantron sheets are readily available at the College and L & M bookstores. I would recommend you purchase 4 sheets at the beginning of the semester. Please bring a stamped self-addressed, business envelope to each exam with which to return your exam after grading. If possible, please use a self-sealing envelope. Do not bring pagers or cellular phones into the testing center. They are disruptive. If you leave during the exam, you will have to take a make-up. Children are not allowed in the testing center. Exam Honesty Any student who does not comply with the Assessment Center rules and personnel will receive a "0" on that exam. Make-up Examinations Make-up exams will be given only in extenuating circumstances. Every effort should be made to take exams during the regularly scheduled testing period. All make-ups must have my approval. If you miss an exam, you must send me a letter explaining why you missed it and requesting a make-up. I will notify you by return mail if your request has been approved. Make-ups for exam 1, 2, or 3 will be given on April 9, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in CAC 207. If you miss the first two exams, you will be dropped with a W. You can only miss one exam and take a make up for the exam you missed. You must have four test grades. Make-ups will be the same format as the regular exams. Make-ups will contain different questions from the regular exams. You must have an approval ahead of time to take a make-up. If you take a make-up exam at the exam time for a later exam, you must begin by 6:00 p.m. No exam, even if you are taking two exams on one night, will be handed out after 7:00 p.m. Course Withdrawals LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW IS APRIL 14, 2008. In order to drop a telecourse, a student must obtain a withdrawal form from the professor, take the completed form to the Counseling Center for an exit interview and submit the form to the office of Admissions and Records. If it is impossible for the student to come to the campus, a request for withdrawal must be submitted to the professor in writing. The written request must include the course the student wishes to drop, the student’s name and social security number, the reason for the drop request and the student’s signature. Since dropping a course by mail is for the convenience of the student, the instructor will not be held responsible should a student’s drop request fail to reach the instructor. If you miss orientation and the first exam, you will be dropped from the telecourse. Telelessons Reading Assignments Unit I Text Pages 1. Texas: Who We Are Ch. 1, pp. 1-32 2. The Texas Constitution Ch. 2, pp. 34-60 3. The Politics of the Environment Ch. 14, pp. 433-442 4. Federalism and Texas Ch. 1, p. 17-18; Ch. 8, pp. 225-226 5. Local Governments in Texas Ch. 12, pp. 343-380 6. Political Culture Ch. 1, pp. 21-25, Ch. 4, pp. 97-104 Exam I - Covers above readings and telelessons 1-6 Unit II 7. Community Involvement No Texas book reading 8. Media and Public Agenda Ch. 4, p. 102 9. Interest Groups in Texas Ch. 3, pp. 62-94 10. Political Parties in Texas Ch. 4, pp. 96-126 11. Third Parties in Texas Ch. 4, pp. 122-124 12. Campaign and Elections Ch. 5, pp. 128-156 13. The Ballot Box: Voting Under Texas Law Ch. 5, pp. 129-154 Exam II - Covers above readings and telelessons 7-13 Unit III 14. Texas Legislature Ch. 6, pp. 158-192,, Ch. 7, pp. 194- 222 15. The Legislative Process Ch. 7, pp. 194-222 16. Texas: Casework and Oversight Ch. 6, pp. 158-192 17. Governor Ch. 8, pp. 224-250 18. Texas Bureaucracy Ch. 9, pp. 252-283 19. Fiscal Policy Ch. 13, pp. 382-413 20. Global: NAFTA and Texas Ch. 15, pp. 446-452 Exam III - Covers above readings and telelessons 14-20 Unit IV 21. The Texas Courts and the Criminal Justice System Ch. 10, pp. 285-312 Ch. 11, pp. 314-341 22. Judicial Selection in Texas Ch. 10, pp. 297-308 23. Decision Making by the Courts Ch. 11, pp. 314-341 24. First Amendment Ch. 11, pp. 315-321 25. Rights of the Accused Ch. 10, pp. 331-335 26. Civil Rights and Equal Protection Ch. 5, pp. 129-136, Ch. 11, pp. 325- 331 The essay on the final exam covers the entire course including UNIT IV. The multiple choice questions on the final comes from Unit IV. Change of Address It is vital that you call the Government Telecourse hotline (733-2543) with any change of address. this will insure that you receive all mailings related to the course. Office Hours Office hours are by arrangement from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please call in advance for an appointment. If you do not have an appointment, and I am in my office, CAC 208, knock on the door and if possible we can talk at that time. My telephone number is 733-2543. If you need to talk to me, we will arrangement it! Parking Students who park on the San Antonio College campus are required to have a parking permit, which can be acquired from the bursar’s office, Fletcher Administration Center, Room 201. Government 2301 Course Objectives Upon completion of the course the student should be able to: 1. Comprehend the principles of the U.S. and Texas constitutions and especially the principle of federalism relating to the national and state governments. 2. Comprehend the role of political parties and interest groups in the American political system with emphasis on citizen participation in a democratic society. 3. Comprehend the structure and role of local government. 4. Comprehend the structure and role of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government with comparisons of the national and state levels. 5. Comprehend current public policy questions and analyze possible solutions. 6. Comprehend the concepts of civil liberties and civil rights in a multicultural society. Academic Dishonesty Policy Students may be subject to disciplinary proceedings resulting in an academic penalty or disciplinary penalty for academic dishonesty. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion. For additional information refer to the "Student Code of Conduct" in the San Antonio College Bulletin. Children on Campus Policy Students are urged not to bring children to either a class or a lab. Minors under the age of 12 must not be left unattended on campus. ADA Statement for Students Requiring Special Accommodations As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, if accommodation is needed, students must make the request through the Office of Disabled Student Services, CAC 124C, Phone: 733-2347. |