Federal Government
GOVT-2305

• Class Meetings:
  

  Bldg	Room	Type	Days	Start Time	End Time
  CET	INET	INET	M T W R F S U

• Withdraw Date:07/02/25
• Certification Date:06/12/25

Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution, structure and powers of the national government including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, federalism, political participation, the national election process, public policy, civil liberties and civil rights.

Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system. Analyze the election process. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics.

The College defines essential knowledge and skills that students need to develop during their college experience. These general education competencies parallel the Texas Core Objectives for Student Learning. In this course, the activities you engage in will give you the opportunity to practice two or more of the following core competencies:

1. Critical Thinking Skills: to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information;
2. Communication Skills: to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication;
3. Empirical and Quantitative Skills: to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions;
4. Teamwork: to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal;
5. Personal Responsibility: to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making; and
6. Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Course Materials Link

The "Criteria" table below is a summary of all the graded work in this course.

The "Breakdown" table explains the final letter grade.

Evaluation:

Final grades will be based on the items listed below.

• 4 Exams- 580 points
  • 3 Semester Exams- Worth 130 points each
  • 1 Final Exam-Worth 190 points
• 14 SmartBook Assignments - 280 points
• 1 Policy Reaction - 100 points
• 4 Discussion Boards - 40 points

The table below is a summary of course topics and due dates.

Your instructor will notify you of any changes to the schedule during the term.

In the case of unexpected school closures, I will email students to let them know.

Exams: Each student will receive 2 make-up chances for exams. This does not mean 2 make-ups per exam; rather, there will be 2 opportunities only to make up any missed exams for the course.

McGraw-Hill: There will be no extensions for McGraw-Hill assignments.

Written assignments: All written assignments must be turned in on the due date. If this date is missed, there will be a five (5) point deduction per day up to three days past the due date. After three days are past due, NO written assignment will be accepted.

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