Course Syllabus

Jump to Today

 

Course Description:

Teaches the political structure, processes, institutions, and policymaking of the US national government. Focuses on the three branches of government, their interrelationships, and how they shape policy. Addresses federalism; civil liberties and civil rights; political socialization and participation; public opinion, the media; interest groups; political parties; elections; and policymaking. The assignments in the course require college-level reading fluency and coherent communication through written reports. This is a Passport Transfer course.

 

Student Learning Outcomes:

 

At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Civic Engagement
  • Explain the importance of citizen engagement, ways Americans can influence and become engaged in government, and factors that might affect people's willingness to become engaged in government.

 

Critical Thinking
  • Differentiate between the concepts of democracy, direct and representative democracy, and several of the philosophical concepts that contributed to the development of U. S. democracy.
  • Describe the origin and history of the U. S. Constitution and how the Constitution has adapted to our changing society.
  • Explain the concept of Federalism and how the distribution of power between the national and state governments affords possibilities for conflict or cooperation.
  • Describe the application of civil liberties and the central role of the Supreme Court in its interpretation of these rights.
  • Describe the application of civil rights and the central role of the Supreme Court in its interpretation of these rights.
  • Identify/discuss individual and group participation in government and why such participation is vital to a free political system.
  • Identify/discuss how public officials, the media, and interest groups compete for setting the political or public agenda.
  • Describe the structure and function of the three branches of American Government.
  • Explain the influence of the bureaucracy on American politics.
  • Explain the policy and budget-making processes.
  • Explain ideologies underlying U.S. foreign policies throughout history.
  • Compose a major essay, using peer-reviewed sources, critically evaluating a contemporary political issue being debated in America differentiating various points of view, and proposing an equitable resolution.

 

Professional Readiness
  • Participate in collaborative assignments and presentations in the classroom or online.
  • Adhere to classroom attendance and behavior requirements.
  • Timely submission of assignments.
  • Identify career opportunities within the federal government.

Quantitative Literacy
  • Interpret and communicate quantitative information using language appropriate to the context and intended audience.
  • Use appropriate quantitative methods to analyze voter turnout data; generally, assess polling information; and assess budget goals and proposals vs. costs and actual spending.
  • Read and interpret graphs and descriptive statistics.
  • Analyze how political and economic trends influence public policy, using demographic information and other data sources.

Scientific Literacy
  • Describe the role of Enlightenment philosophers and their use of scientific reasoning in proposing political theories as well as their influence on the core values of American political thought.

 Written Communication
  • Compose a major essay and/or multiple smaller essays, using peer-reviewed sources, critically evaluating a contemporary political issue being debated in America differentiating various points of view, and proposing an equitable resolution.
  • Written short essays addressing the topics addressed in the Critical Thinking section.

American Government and Civic Engagement
  • Explain what the government is and why it is necessary.
  • Identify the type of government in the U.S. compared to other government types.
  • Describe pluralist theory, elite theory, and the pluralism-elitism debate.
  • Explain the importance of citizen engagement in a democracy and various methods of engagement.

Constitution and its Origins
  • Identify pre-US philosophical theories and ideas that influenced the Founders and the creation of the US Constitution, including relevant ancient and Enlightenment ideas.
  • Explain Revolutionary ideas and actions that led to the Articles of Confederation and US Constitution.
  • Identify US Constitutional structure and ratification process and arguments on its path to becoming the supreme law of the land.
  • Consider the major controversies that have come from the Constitution and the creation of the US Bill of Rights.

Federalism
  • Explain the concept of federalism.
  • Describe how federalism has evolved in the United States.
  • Compare different conceptions of federalism.
  • Explain how federal intergovernmental grants have evolved.
  • Identify the types of federal intergovernmental grants.
  • Discuss the advantages of federalism.
  • Explain the disadvantages and controversies of federalism.

Civil Liberties
  • Define civil liberties and civil rights.
  • Describe the development of civil liberties in the U.S. context and the conflicts that have been involved.

Civil Rights
  • Define the concept of civil rights.
  • Discuss the development of relevant concepts and controversies through American history, and the roles that various institutions and actors have played in this history.
  • Consider the efforts of various groups to appeal for recognition of equality in America.

 

Public Opinion and Political Socialization
  • Define public opinion and political socialization.
  • Explain the process and role of political socialization in the U.S. political system.
  • Compare how citizens learn political information.
  • Explain how information about public opinion is gathered.
  • Identify factors that change public opinion.
  • Compare levels of public support for the branches of government.

 

Voting and Elections
  • Consider the factors that influence Americans to vote as they do or why they chose not to.
  • Describe important processes and terms in the process of electoral campaigns.

 

The Media
  • Explain what the media are and how they are organized.
  • Describe the main functions of the media in a free society.
  • Compare different media formats and their respective audiences.
  • Discuss the history of major media formats.
  • Consider various controversies that surround the media today.

 

Political Parties
  • Describe political parties and what they do.
  • Explain the development of the two-party system in America.
  • Consider the issues and controversies that surround the current party environment.

 

Interest Groups and Lobbying
  • Explain how interest groups differ from political parties.
  • Evaluate the different types of interests and what they do.
  • Discuss the important terms associated with interest groups, including various theories on how they influence the policy process, and the differences citizens have in access to interest groups and the entities they try to influence.

 

Congress
  • Describe the role of Congress in the U.S. constitutional system.
  • Define bicameralism.
  • Explain apportionment and related controversies.
  • Discuss representation.
  • Explain legislative leadership and the role of parties in Congress.
  • Analyze the legislative process.

The Presidency
  • Explain the formal and informal powers presidents bring to their roles in American government and how these powers and roles developed over time.
  • Consider unique and controversial aspects of presidential elections.

The Bureaucracy
  • Define bureaucracy and bureaucrat.
  • Describe the evolution and growth of public administration in the United States.
  • Explain the relationship of the bureaucracy to other government entities.

The Courts
  • Explain the role of the judiciary in the US Constitution and how it has evolved.
  • Describe the federal court system and the path(s) of cases through the courts.
  • Discuss the US Supreme Court and the different theories that guide Court decision-making.

Domestic Policy
  • Describe significant aspects of economic, welfare, and educational policies in the American federal system.
  • Consider those entities of the American political system likely to be involved in these issues.

Foreign Policy
  • Explain important concepts in US foreign and national security policy.
  • Describe the government entities likely to play a dominant role in these policy areas.

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!

American Government 2e from OpenStax

You have several options to obtain this book:

 

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

COURSE POLICIES

 

Attendance:   William Fleming High School’s attendance policies will be strictly followed.  When a student is absent twice, a parent must be called.  When a student is absent four times, a referral must be sent to an administrator.  When a student is absent six times, the student is to be referred to a truancy officer.   

 

In addition, students will be required to follow the attendance policies of Virginia Western Community College.  When the number of unexcused absences reaches a sum equivalent to 30% of the total instructional time (e.g., 14 blocks in a 45 block semester course), the instructor will drop the student from the class. There will be no refund of tuition or reinstatement in the course when an instructor has dropped a student for non-attendance.

 

Evaluation/Grading  Policy: 

 

Grading will follow the William Fleming High School grading scale:

90-100  A

80-89   B

70-79   C

60-69   D

0-59     F

 

Assignments are weighted as follows.

 

Daily Assignments :                              60%

Quizzes, Do Nows, Homework,

 

Tests/Papers/Projects                              40%

 

Make-Up/Late-Work Policy:  Late assignments receive a 2% penalty per day.

 

Make-Up Tests and Quizzes: Students missing a test or a quiz must make up the assignment at a time arranged with the instructor outside of the time for instruction.  Students may make up quizzes and tests within a week after the missed date without a penalty.  After the week, students receive a 2% penalty for each day that the tests and quizzes are not made up.  If the absence is unexcused, the penalty begins immediately.

 

Outline of Topics:  Please refer to the Course Requirements above.  The topics are outlined with units and subunits.

 

Penalties for Academic Honesty Policy Violations:  Students using work of another student or plagiarizing materials receive a grade of  F on the assignment.  Parents are notified, and the incident becomes part of the student record made available to colleges.

Academic dishonesty is not tolerated at Virginia Western; violations of this policy can result in disciplinary actions, including suspension or expulsion from the College. According to The Virginia Western Student Handbook, academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Cheating on a test by giving, receiving, offering, and/or soliciting information.
  • Buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting any material purported to be a part of an assignment.
  • Plagiarism (taking and using the ideas of another as one’s own).
  • Unauthorized use of materials, notes, or other aids during a test.

For more information, read the “Conduct” section of the VWCC Student Handbook

Inclement Weather Schedule:

 

We will follow the same schedule as Roanoke City Public Schools.

 

Students traveling to the VWCC campus should refer to their website or local media for information on campus closings or delays.

 

ADA Statement: Questions or concerns about the college’s and student’s rights and responsibilities regarding persons with disabilities may be directed to the 504/ADA Coordinator.  The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides protection from illegal discrimination for qualified individuals with disabilities.

 

Copyright Statement: The materials for this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with the course, and may not be retained or further disseminated.

 

This course meets away from the VWCC main campus. 

 

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WHEN ON THE VWCC

 

Emergency Alert Information: In the ongoing effort to provide every VWCC student with information about how VWCC plans to handle a crisis occurring on the campus, a video has been created which offers valuable details and proactive guidelines for responding to critical and unpredictable incidents should one occur on our campus. To view the video, visit http://www.virginiawestern.edu/police/safety.php.

 

Virginia Western is pleased to announce the new VW Alert Text Messaging System. The system is designed to immediately contact you during a major crisis or emergency. The system delivers important emergency alerts, notifications and updates to you on all your devices. To register, visit https://alert.virginiawestern.edu/index.php?CCheck=1.

 

An evacuation plan is located on the wall beside the door of each VWCC classroom and computer lab. This plan includes evacuation routes for fire as well as shelter in place room designations. Please make yourself aware of the exits. If asked to evacuate, please do so in a calm and orderly manner using the nearest exit. Do not try to use the elevator in case of a fire or other situation that might cause a power outage.

 

VWCC STUDENT LINKS AND RESOURCES: 

 

For additional information regarding student services or college policies or procedures, please review the information found at these links.

 

Student Consumer Information

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/studentconsumerinfo.php

VWCC Withdrawal Policy

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/withdrawal.php

VWCC Student Resources

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/resources.php

VWCC Student Rights and Responsibilities

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/handbook/studentconduct.php

VWCC Student Conduct Policy

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/handbook/studentconduct.php

VWCC Student Grievance Procedures

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/handbook/grievance.php

Title IX:   Policy on Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking

http://www.virginiawestern.edu/services/intervention/sexualharassment.php

 

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due