AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Problems and Policies

Course Information and Syllabus

Government 2302.075

Summer 2008

Your Instructors: J.C. Horton, Professor of Government

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 Chance Academic Center room 208.

American Government: Problems and Policies

This course covers basic principles of American Government, covering the theories and concepts of government politics, public opinion, parties, civil rights and civil liberties, problems and functions of national, state and local government.

Course Elements

You should expect to do the following:

1. Watch on television (and take notes on) 26 telelessons or purchase the 26 lessons on two tapes or DVDs for $20or 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. You may purchase a tape or DVD of the four reviews from the SAC bookstore or watch the reviews on the Internet.

4. Take four exams.

Required: Cummings and Wise Democracy Under Pressure; 10th edition, Wadsworth- Thomson Learning.

Optional: Lynch, Eileen, Linda Camp Keith, and Sue Lee, Telecourse Study Guide for Voices in Democracy: United States Government, 3^rd edition: Wadsworth-Thomson Learning. Optional

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 various college bookstores.

For each examination: a Scan Tron Mini Bluebook (Form 886-E), No. 2 pencil, and a self-addressed envelope (stamped, legal sized).

Viewing Programs

There are twenty-six half-hour telelessons in this course. You must watch three programs each week. The lessons are broadcast back-to-back on Wednesdays and Thursdays on Time Warner Cablesystem of Texas, Channel 98.

Broadcast Schedule

TIME WARNER 98 - Programs are shown on Time Warner Cablesystem of Texas, Channel 98 and Grande Cable Channel 21:

Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. – 11:30am. Programs 1, 2, 3, etc., 4, 5, 6, etc.

Thursdays 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Programs 1, 2, 3, etc., 4, 5, 6, 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

June 9-13 1. Democratic Voices in a Changing Society

2. The Living Constitution

3. Constitution in Crisis

June 16-20 4. Federalism

5. Intergovernmental Relations

6. Public Opinion and Political Socialization

June 23-27 7. Participation in Democracy

8. Mass Media and Government

9. Interest Groups

June 23-July 4 10. Political Parties

11. Media and Elections

12. Presidential Elections

July 7-11 13. Congressional Elections

14. Congress

15. Legislative Process

July 14-18 16. Congress and the President

17. The Presidency

18. Bureaucracy

July 21-25 19. Domestic Policy

20. Foreign Policy

21. Global Politics

July 28-Aug. 1 22. Federal Courts

23. Criminal Justice

24. Due Process of Law

Aug. 4-8 25. First Amendment Freedoms

26. The Struggle for Equal Rights

Missed Programs - Demand Access

Should you miss a telelesson, all programs are available for viewing in the Moody Learning Center, fourth floor, at the Media Services desk, on the following schedule:

Monday 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 the video (all 26 lessons) at the SAC.

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 tape or DVD with all four reviews on one tape or DVD or view the review 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, taped or streamed, 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 of the tape, 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 1 Tuesday, June 17 7:30-9:00 CAC 200

Exam 2 Tuesday, July 8 7:30-9:00 CAC 200

Exam 3 Tuesday, July 22 7:30-9:00 CAC 200

Final Tuesday, August 5 7:30-9:00 CAC 200

EXAM SCHEDULE

Exam 1 Wednesday, June 18 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

Thursday, June 19 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

NO EXAM WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER 7:00 PM

Exam 2 Wednesday, July 9 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

Thursday, July 10 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

NO EXAM WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER 7:00 PM

Exam 3 Wednesday, July 23 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

Thursday, July 24 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

NO EXAM WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER 7:00 PM

Final Wednesday, August 6 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

Thursday, August 7 5:00-8:00 p.m. CG 201

NO EXAM WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AFTER 7:00 PM

Regular make-up date: Wednesday, July 30, CAC 205.

Examinations

There are three major exams and a comprehensive final. Each major exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each (80%), and 1 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 your instructor immediately. The testing center cannot issue an exam 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-E mini-blue test sheets. These sheets allow me 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. Children are not allowed in the testing center. Do not bring telephones, pagers, alarms, or satellite transponders to the testing center. These are disrupting to others taking the exams. You need to bring a stamped self-addressed business envelope to each exam. If possible, please use a self-sealing envelope. If you do not bring an envelope, we will be unable to return your exam. If you leave during the exam, you will have to take a make-up.

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 or email explaining why you missed 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 Wednesday, July 30, 6:00 p.m. in CAC 205. 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 than 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 JULY 22, 2008.

Due to recent changes in state law, the policy on dropping or withdrawal from class has been changed. The professors in the government video class will not drop you from class for any reason. The decision to drop or withdraw from a class is completely up to the student. We will not drop you from class for excessive absences or for any other reason.

The reason this issue is so important is that many students do not finish the course for a multitude of reasons. Some students get married, get divorced, have babies, have their work schedules changed, run from the law, get fed up with it all, have car wrecks, or are kidnapped by aliens. Many of these students just disappear and do not officially drop or withdraw from class. In the past, professors would drop these students with a “W”. With a “W” on your records you could return to college at some later date without too much trouble. Now, however, if you fail to withdraw from class and we do not withdraw you, you will receive an “F”. One or more Fs on your transcript makes it very difficult to enter college at some later date. Therefore, your professors urge you to remember to drop officially and not just disappear from class. The responsibility is on your shoulders.

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.

Telelessons Reading Assignments

Unit I Text Pages

1. Democratic Voices in a Changing Society Cummings - Ch. 1, pp. 3-31

2. The Living Constitution Cummings - Ch. 2, pp. 33-60

3. The Constitution in Crisis Cummings - Ch. 13, pp. 448-454; Ch. 5, pp. 160

4. Federalism Cummings - Ch. 3, pp. 63-89

5. Intergovernmental Relations Cummings - Ch. 18, pp. 613-616

and pp. 630-633; Ch. 19, pp. 666- 679

6. Public Opinion and Political Socialization Cummings - Ch. 6, pp. 175-197

Exam I - Covers above readings and video lessons 1-6

Unit II

7. Participation in Democracy Cummings - Ch. 11, pp. 331-377

8. Mass Media and Government Cummings - Ch. 8, pp. 221-253

9. Interest Groups Cummings - Ch. 7, pp. 193-213

10. Political Parties Cummings - Ch. 9, pp. 255-287

11. Media and Elections Cummings - Ch. 8, pp. 223-230

12. Presidential Elections Cummings - Ch. 10 pp. 289-329, and Ch.11, pp. 349-362, pp. 367-370.

13. Congressional Elections Cummings - Ch. 11, pp. 344-350, pp. 365-367, and pp. 370-374 only.

Exam II - Covers above readings and video lessons 7-13

Unit III

14. Congress Cummings - Ch. 12, pp. 379-411

15. The Legislative Process Cummings - Ch. 12, pp. 389-399 and pp. 405-408 only & Ch.10, pp. 320- 327 only

16. Congress and the Presidency Cummings - Ch. 12, pp. 379-385 & Ch. 13, pp. 430-433, “The Chief Legislator” only.

17. The Presidency Cummings - Ch. 13, pp. 413-461

18. The Bureaucracy Cummings - Ch. 14, pp. 463-497

19. Domestic Policy Cummings - Ch. 17, pp. 587-647 & Ch.18, pp. 603-638

20. Foreign Policy Cummings - Ch. 16, pp. 541-568 and pp. 572-578

Exam III - Covers above readings and video lessons 14-20

Unit IV

21. Global Politics Cummings - Ch. 16, pp. 555-558, pp. 562-572, pp. 578-582

22. Federal Courts Cummings - Ch. 15, pp. 499-539

23. Criminal Justice Cummings - Ch. 15, pp. 501-505, pp. 518-539

24. Due Process of Law Cummings - Ch. 4, pp. 108-120

25. First Amendment Freedoms Cummings - Ch. 4, pp. 91-108

26. The Struggle for Equal Rights Cummings - Ch. 5, pp. 129-173

Exam IV - Multiple choice questions covers above readings and video lessons 21-26. Exam IV essay cover the entire semester.

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

Beginning this week, I will be available during the following hours to answer any questions or to deal with any problems you may have related to the textbook, study guide, telelessons, exams, etc.

Monday through Friday 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon -1:00 p.m.

If these times are not convenient to your schedule, I will be happy to arrange an appointment if you wish a personal conference.

You may call the hotline (733-2543) at any time. If I am not available, leave a message and I will return your call.

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 2302 Competencies

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Understand the growth of democratic institutions, political parties, interest groups, public opinion and voting.

Know the key principles of the U.S. Constitution.

Have an awareness of the basic concepts of federalism.

Recognize the various means of citizen participation in a democratic and multicultural society.

Understand the operations of the three branches of U.S. government.

Understand current public policy questions and analyze possible solutions.

Recognize the various means of citizen participation in our democracy.

Be familiar with the basic policy issues facing American society both domestic and foreign.

Understand 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 Americans 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.