Course
Syllabus
National Government 2305
Spring Semester 2009
Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday
McLennan Community College
Instructor: Kevin T. Holton, M.A.
Office:
LA 117A
Office Hours: TTh 9:30-12:00, or by appointment
E-mail: [email protected] (for questions
and comments outside class time or office hours)
Course
Web Address:
www.geocities.com/ktholton (notes/outlines/course
info.)
Required Text: Barbara A. Bardes, Mack C. Shelly, and Steffen W.
Schmidt, American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials (2008
Edition),
Additional
readings will either be distributed in class and/or posted on given websites
throughout the course of the semester.
If you have any difficulty accessing these additional readings, please
let me know well in advance of when they are supposed to have been read for any
class discussions. All links in the
general course calendar below are clickable from the course website’s
copy of this syllabus.
Course Objectives:
*Identify
and explain the theories of representative government underlying the American
Republic, including: government by consent, constitutional government, and limited government
*Identify
and explain the various constituencies, functions, and powers of the
Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch and the Judicial Branch
*Explain
the development of each branch, its singularities, and the limitations to the
system of checks and balances
*Identify
and explain the key elements of campaigns
and elections for government offices in each elective branch
*Identify
and explain the roles of interest groups, media, and public opinion in American
politics
*Identify
and explain the origins of various American civil rights and civil liberties
*Prepare
students for meaningful and participatory citizenship
Grading Policy: There will be four (4) major exams, all multiple choice,
assessing the student’s knowledge of major themes and the mechanics of
government presented throughout the course. Students will be expected to think, not
simply regurgitate answers learned by rote. Do not expect the exams to exactly
mirror what we have covered in class; the goal is application, not
memorization. Each exam will build
upon the both the material of the current unit and the knowledge gained in
previous units. In other words, all
exams are cumulative, and students will be expected to apply theories and ideas
from previous units to material in later units. The final exam is 100
questions, 50 from the fourth unit, and 50 from the previous 3 exams. Each of the four exams will each count
for 20% of your final course grade.
The remaining 20% of your course grade will be determined by the
semester activity described below.
If you miss an exam or fail to turn in any completed
assignment on its due date, you must provide a written excuse before making up
for the missed assignment. You will
have one week after your return to class to make up for the assignment; after
that, a zero will be recorded.
Students who struggle with some assignments yet who
actively and intelligently participate in class generally receive the benefit
of the doubt if grades are borderline at the end of the semester. I do not show favoritism, but I also do
not reward laziness.
Attendance
Policy: Attendance
is not an option. Absences must be
documented appropriately in order to be excused. Unexcused absences from 25% or more of
the course will result in your being dropped from the course or your receiving
an F.
Tardiness to class is unacceptable. Be on time to class as we will begin when the bell rings.
Should
you require help during the semester understanding concepts in the book and
outside readings or from the material presented in the lectures, please do not
hesitate to visit with me before class or at another pre-arranged time to
discuss your questions or concerns. I am also available by e-mail several
times during the day. I sincerely
want you all to succeed, but it is your responsibility to seek proper
solutions to your problems.
ADA Statement: In accordance with the requirements of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the regulations published by the
United States Department of Justice 28 C.F.R. 35.107(a), MCC’s designated
ADA co-coordinators, Dr. Johnette McKown, Executive Vice President and Dr. Lynn
Abernathy, Vice President, Student Services shall be responsible for
coordinating the College’s efforts to comply with and carry out its
responsibilities under ADA. Students with disabilities requiring
physical, classroom, or testing accommodations should contact Marc Sweatt,
Disability Specialist, at 299-8067 or [email protected].
*****Below
is a reading schedule for your studies. Please understand that we may
cover more or less material in lecture than is required reading for that
day. The more you read, both in the book and in other, outside sources,
the better prepared you will be. I have made the reading schedule
extremely light, but I strongly encourage you to read more than is suggested
below. If you would like some additional book titles relating to the
topics at hand, feel free to ask. I also reserve the right to require
reading of additional documents that may be posted on the web from time to
time. All reading assignments are potential sources of exam
material. Do not assume that readings and information not discussed in class
will not be covered on the exam.
ALL PAGE NUMBERS ARE FROM THE CURRENT, CUSTOM EDITION OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY: THE ESSENTIALS.
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Study Tips:
A.
Take extensive
notes. I suggest you write down as
much as you possibly can from each lecture. There
should not ever be a time when you pen is not moving and your mind is not
engaged. Do this in a way that
is consistent with your ability to understand the material. Do not just write down snippets, and do
not rely solely upon my online notes—they are not complete and not up to
date.
B.
Attend to
definitions and major concepts and anticipate applying them to specific cases
or scenarios.
C.
Pay special
attention to examples given in class.
These will probably crop up again on the exams in some form or
another. Think of other examples
that may lead to similar conclusions or results. Learn to apply the concepts addressed in the book and in the lectures.
D.
Read the book chapters and other readings assigned
each day. Mark key passages and take notes in the
book or on the readings themselves.
This will help you retain information.
E.
Outline book
chapters and the readings. Pick out
the key themes and ideas of each reading.
F.
Look at the
overall picture. Do not focus too much on digesting independent details. If you look at the larger picture, not
the minutia, the details will be easier to remember when it comes time to apply
them.
G.
Remember that
test material may come from both the lectures and the readings. Some things will be covered in one that
may not be covered in the other. Do not assume that you can attend the
lectures and not read or read and not attend the lectures.
H.
Ask probing, thoughtful questions in class to serve to clarify or address other aspects of
issues that may not be specifically pointed out in lectures or readings. It is your job to pursue your education; it is my job to guide you in
that pursuit. When you do not pursue, you will not always find the answers you are
looking for.
Constitution
Project
This
is an ongoing project throughout the semester. Various parts of it will be turned in on
the assigned days given in the calendar above and in the descriptions of the
parts below. Enjoy the project, be
creative, and be thoughtful.
Your
basic task throughout the semester will be to construct a constitution for a
new government that will be established after a successful revolution against a
powerful oppressor government. In
other words, your task is the same as that of our Founding Fathers in
1787.
Part 1:
Write a preamble for your new constitution. This seems like an easy task at first,
but do not take it lightly. Consider what the preamble to our own national
constitution accomplishes: it encapsulates the principles of liberal political
theory that are the foundation of our American government, and it states the
basic objectives of the new constitutional government that the rest of the
document creates. So…
1. Decide what principles of government are important by
answering the following:
a. Where does the authority of your new government come
from?
b. On what is your government’s legitimacy based?
2. Decide what are the basic goals of your government
a. What have you been fighting against and what would you
like to change?
b. Summarize the basic powers and functions of your new
government in a few short phrases—remember the preamble to the US
Constitution is not very long, yet very powerfully stated
3. Write your preamble.
4. Submit your preamble proposals on Jan 29 (TTh) or Feb 2 (MW); you may be asked to share your preamble
for class discussion or debate.
Part 2:
Create your legislative branch.
Article I of the US Constitution creates the Congress as the lawmaking
body of the national government.
For your new government, create a legislative body in whatever way you
would like, provided that they are appropriate to your stated goals of your new
government. Some key things to remember:
1. Decide what functions the legislative body is to
perform
a. Will there be more to being a member of your
legislative body than just lawmaking?
b. How will those other functions you select be carried
out?
2. Decide how the members of the legislative body are to
be chosen
a. Who is eligible to serve in this body?
b. Who sets the rules for selection?
c. How long will members serve?
d. What are the minimum qualifications for service in
this body?
3. Decide the
powers of the legislative body
a. Determine whether powers should be broadly stated as
in the US Constitution or highly detailed as in the Texas Constitution
b. Decide what limits there should be, if any, to
legislative powers
c. Decide how the lawmaking process will look
4. Write the first article of your constitution, taking
steps 1-3 into consideration
5. Submit your article one proposals on Feb. 25 (MW) or Feb. 24 (TTh); you may
be asked to share your article one ideas for class discussion or debate.
Part 3:
Create your executive branch.
Article II of the US Constitution creates the Presidency and implies the
bureaucracy as the executive branch of the national government. For your new government, create an
executive office(s) that are appropriate to the stated goals of your new
government. Consider the following:
1. Decide what kind of executive you will have (singular
or plural)
2. Decide how this executive will be chosen
a. Who is eligible/what are the minimum qualifications
for service?
b. Who may participate in the selection process?
c. How long will executive terms last?
3. Decide what are the basic roles of the executive in
your new government?
a. How much power do you wish to give the executive?
b. Do you want to separate executive roles into various
officers, or do you want them concentrated in one man or body?
c. How will executive decisions be implemented? What
government machinery, if any, will be necessary to get things done once
decisions are made?
4. Write the second article of your constitution, taking
steps 1-3 into consideration.
5. Submit your article two proposals on April 2 (TTh) or April 6 (MW); you may
be asked to share your article two ideas for class discussion or debate
Part 4:
Create your judicial branch.
Article III of the US Constitution creates the Supreme Court and allows
Congress to establish all other lower courts. You may choose to establish
constitutionally any or all courts that you would like, appropriate to the
goals of your new government.
Consider the following:
1. Decide what the role or function of the judiciary is
in your new government
a. What powers will it have?
b. Will you leave it up to the members of the higher
courts to determine their own courses of action or will you limit them by the
terms of your constitution
2. Decide what the structure of the judiciary will look
like
a. Will there be only one court in all the land, or will
there be several tiers of courts
b. Will there be some courts with jurisdiction over
specific areas and others over general areas of law?
3. Decide how the members of the judiciary will be
chosen.
a. Who is eligible?
b. What are the minimum qualifications, if any, for
service?
c. Who may participate in the selection process?
d. How long will your judicial branch officers serve?
4. Decide what basic rights the people will have in your
new government and include them in your new constitution
5. Write your third article for your new constitution,
taking steps 1-4 into consideration.
6. Submit your article three proposals on April 29 (MW) or April 28 (TTh); you
may be asked to share your article three ideas for class discussion or debate
Extra Credit: To obtain extra credit worth up to one
higher letter grade on your final
course average, you have the option of
doing the following project, due April
29 (MW)/April 30 (TTh), no
exceptions.
- Select any presidential speech from those listed
on the following website, except
- Read the selected speech
- Jot down ideas and thoughts you have about this
speech, especially those relating to what we have discussed in class about
the development of the national government
- Write a 3-5 page, double-spaced, 12-point font
paper explaining how this speech marked a milestone or major change in the
American government. What were
the consequences of this speech?
What does this speech demonstrate about the growth or slacking off
of presidential power? What
does it indicate about the president’s public approval rating? What does it imply is within the
scope of the national government’s power to govern? How does the president see his own
position in relation to the American people?
- Please include page numbers and staple your pages
together. Do not forget to put
your name on your work, or you will not receive credit.