Spring 2026
Federal Government
Approved: RJM/2026 GOVT 2305.3B1 CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: TSI Complete for Reading COURSE DESCRIPTION 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. This class is completely online. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to 1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the federal system. 3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice. 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. 5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system. 6. Analyze the election process. 7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens. 8. Analyze issues and policies in U.S. politics. INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Dr. Rita McClelland Email: rjmcclelland@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-247-5063 Office Location: LH Technology Center 238 Office Hours: SEE NEXT PAGE Approved: RJM/2026 Days Time Type Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 800 am to 1230 pm Face-to-face, phone, virtually Tuesdays and Thursdays 800 am to 1030 am, and 1230 pm to 100 pm Face-to-face, phone, virtually By appointment outside of office hours on Mondays and Tuesdays 600 pm to 800 pm Virtual meetings only Be sure to: • Schedule an appointment with me on Starfish to make sure I will be in my office during my office hours. Because: • I have committee and department meetings I must attend during my office hours throughout the semester. And I will: • Email you an appointment reminder. It will have a meeting link, if we are to meet online. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS American Government 3rd Edition Krutz, Waskiewicz; Free Web Version ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-38-1 Click this link to access book, https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-3e LIT ATTENDANCE POLICY Attendance in this class is based on your physical participation, your digital participation, and your mental participation in class, including interacting with this class’s instructor in email, and in assignments. LIT DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. 16-WEEK SEMESTER COURSE CALENDAR DATE TOPIC READINGS (Due on this Date) ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) Week 1 Jan 20-25 Course introduction • Syllabus • Introduction • Etiquette • Course navigation • Political Socialization Chapter 1 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 2 Jan 25-Feb 1 • Roots of the Revolution Chapter 2 See Blackboard for specific See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Approved: RJM/2026 assignment due dates Week 3 Feb 2-8 • The Constitution and its Origins Chapter 2 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 4 Feb 9-15 • Federalism: Forging A Nation • Exam 1 Chapter 3 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 5 Feb 16-22 • Landmark Supreme Court Cases Chapter 4 & 5 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 6 Feb 23-Mar 1 • Civil Liberties and Civil Rights • Exam 2 Chapter 4 & 5 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 7 Mar 2-8 • The Legislative Branch • Balancing National Goals and Local Interests Chapter 11 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 8 Mar 16-22 • Exam 2 • The Executive Branch • The Presidency: Leading the Nation Chapter 12 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 9 Mar 23-29 • The Judicial Branch • The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law Chapter 13 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 10 Mar 30-Apr 5 • Exam 3 • Interest Groups Chapter 10 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Approved: RJM/2026 Week 11 Apr 6-12 • Public Opinion • Public Polls Chapter 6 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 12 Apr 13-19 • The Media Chapter 8 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 13 Apr 20-26 • Political Parties, Voting, Elections, and Campaigns Chapter 7 & 9 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 14 Apr 27-May 3 • Foreign Policy Chapter 17 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 15 May 4-6 • Core Assessment Week No Reading Assignment 1. Core Assessment See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates Week 16 May 7-11 • Final Exam • Group Presentations No Reading Assignment Exam 4 See Blackboard for specific assignment due dates LIT COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Tests 50% • Core Assessment 20% • Daily Grades/Quizzes 30% Total 100% Approved: RJM/2026 LIT GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F LIT does not use +/- grading scales LIT ACADEMIC DISHONESTY POLICY Students found to be committing academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, or collusion) may receive disciplinary action. Students need to familiarize themselves with the institution’s Academic Dishonesty Policy available in the Student Catalog & Handbook at http://catalog.lit.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=80#academic-dishonesty. LIT TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimumcomputer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. LIT DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). LIT STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. Approved: RJM/2026 LIT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses LIT STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. LIT STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16- week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face-to-face class. Remember that these are estimates and you may spend either more or less time on your class at any point in the semester. INSTRUCTOR’S COURSE POLICIES DR. MCCLELLAND’S TEACHING PHILOSPHY This is a college level course, and I am your college professor. My goal is to help you learn an effective writing process that you can use both in future classes and in your career after LIT. The learning approach in this class is designed to strengthen your critical thinking skills. You will have many opportunities to think carefully about our topics and to show that thinking through your writing and other assignments. I also want to help you learn how to succeed in college by understanding expectations, managing assignments, and developing the skills needed for college level work. Approved: RJM/2026 DR. MCCLELLAND’S RESPONSE TIME POLICIES 1. I answer my phone only when I am in my office and return calls only if you leave a voicemail. 2. The best way to contact me is through my LIT email at rjmcclelland@lit.edu. 3. I respond to phone calls, LIT emails, and Blackboard messages within 48 hours Monday through Friday and within 72 hours over the weekend. 4. I answer emails Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm, and Fridays from 8:00 am to noon. 5. I do not respond to messages on weekends or campus holidays. 6. If you email on a weekend or I miss your message during office hours, I will respond the next work morning. 7. If you contact me on the day an assignment is due, wait for my response before submitting. You will not be penalized for late work. 8. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours during the work week, please contact me again. DR. MCCLELLAND’S LIT EMAIL AND BLACKBOARD MESSAGES POLICY 1. Issues with your LIT email are not considered a valid reason for missing my emails or not contacting me. 2. When emailing for help with an assignment, include screenshots of the assignment submission in Blackboard, the assignment instructions, and any comments provided on the assignment. 3. On the first day of class, an announcement will be sent to your LIT email. Please reply by the due date to confirm that your email is working. 4. To receive a faster response to a Blackboard message, select the Send to Email option before submitting the message. DR. MCCLELLAND’S BLACKBOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS POLICY 1. Read all announcements, as they contain important information. 2. Announcements are posted in Blackboard and sent to your LIT email. 3. Announcements may include updated information or messages that require a response by a due date. DR. MCCLELLAND’S TECHNOLOGY WARNINGS 1. Chrome and Firefox usually work best with Blackboard. 2. If links do not open on your device, notify me as soon as possible. 3. Edge and Safari may require extra time due to compatibility issues. 4. Mobile devices and some laptops may not display the full course in Blackboard. 5. If you use a mobile device, confirm your assignments on a desktop computer. 6. Technology or internet issues are not considered valid excuses for missed work. Approved: RJM/2026 DR. MCCLELLAND’S STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS 1. This course focuses on reading, writing, and critical thinking. 2. Students may disagree during discussions. 3. Respectful disagreement supports learning and academic discussion. 4. Disrespectful behavior toward others is not permitted. DR. MCCLELLAND’S GRADING POLICIES 1. If you submit assignments early, they may be graded and returned for revision. You may resubmit for a higher grade. 2. All grades are recorded in the Blackboard Gradebook, and the highest score from multiple attempts is recorded. 3. Students are responsible for checking that their assignment grades match the Blackboard Gradebook. 4. If there is a difference, email me the assignment title so it can be corrected. 5. Missing assignments receive a zero in the Gradebook until they are submitted and graded. 6. All assignments have due dates and are on assignments and the Calendar. 7. Late work is generally not accepted, but exceptions may be made for unforeseen circumstances. Please contact me as soon as possible if an issue arises. 8. You have unlimited attempts on assignments until their due date. This does not apply to tests. 9. I leave questions or comments on all assignments. Please review and respond to them as needed. DR. MCCLELLAND’S GRADING SCHEDULE 1. I grade Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and Fridays from 8:00 am to noon. 2. I may grade on weekends as needed. I announce on Blackboard when I will be grading on weekends. 3. My grading schedule lets students know when to expect assignments to be graded. Class Assignment Due Day of the Week Weekly Grading Days GOVT 2305.3B1 Thursdays Fridays and Mondays Approved: RJM/2026 DR. MCCLELLAND’S PARTICIPATION POLICIES 1. Attendance is taken every class day for face-to-face students and tracked through course activity for completely online students. 2. Face-to-face students who email me before class will be counted as present. No explanation is required. 3. Face-to-face students may arrive late, but repeated lateness may be addressed. 4. Attendance is important, but active participation is more important for all students. 5. Participation means engaging with assignments and having a plan for completing them. 6. All students are expected to discuss their assignment errors with me. This is a student-led discussion based on grading rubric criteria. Students must initiate, lead, and guide this discussion. Students do not receive a laundry list of errors from Dr. McClelland. 7. The writing and MLA errors list is available in every module. Students are expected to use the AI proofreading tool, which is based on this errors list, for all writing assignments. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, and academic style errors are not marked by Dr. McClelland. 8. Face-to-face students are expected to participate in class discussions, group work, and in class activities. 9. Completely online students are expected to log into the course regularly and interact with course materials. 10. For all students, active participation includes watching lecture videos, completing readings, submitting coursework, and interacting with classmates when required. 11. Being present or logged in without participation does not meet course requirements. 12. Interaction with classmates through discussions, peer feedback, or group projects is part of participation when assigned. 13. Starfish or Blackboard may notify you if you have not logged into the course within three days. DR. MCCLELLAND’S ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND AI USE PHILOSOPHY This class includes an AI proofreading tool, an AI research tool, and AI based assignments for students to use as part of the learning process. AI tools can plagiarize and lie, so they are used in this course as learning and revision tools, not as creators of student work. Students may use AI to check grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, academic style errors listed on the writing errors list, and MLA formatting, as well as to assist with research and understanding course concepts. All ideas, analysis, and written content must be created by the student, and AI may not be used to generate their assignments or their responses. Students are responsible for reviewing any AI assisted changes before submitting their work. DR. MCCLELLAND’S PLAGIARISM AND AI USE POLICY 1. Plagiarism and unauthorized AI use are serious violations of academic honesty. 2. Plagiarism includes copying sources without citation, reusing your own previous work, closely copying or rewording sources without citation, and similar practices. 3. All writing assignments are submitted through plagiarism detection tools in Blackboard and online AI tools. 4. Assignments may also be reviewed using other instructor evaluation methods. Approved: RJM/2026 5. If an assignment is flagged for plagiarism or AI use, it will receive a temporary grade of zero and you will be contacted to meet. 6. During the meeting, we will decide whether the assignment must be rewritten or revised to resolve the issue. 7. Other assignments will not be graded until the issue is resolved. 8. Students must write their own content. AI may not be used to generate ideas or written work. 9. AI may be used to help students edit grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, academic style, or MLA formatting errors. 10. Excessive AI editing may still be detected by AI checkers and reviewed.