May Mini 2026
Federal Government
Approved: Initials/date GOVT 2305 – 2A1 CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (3 hours lecture, 0 hours lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Online PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: TSI Complete in 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. 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: Adan Arriaga, J.D. Email: aarriaga@eagle.lit.edu Office Phone: (409) 247-5138 Office Location: Lonnie Howard Technology Center (Room 206) Office Hours: By appointment REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS American Government 3rd Edition Krutz, Waskiewicz; Free Web Version ISBN-13: 978-1-951693-38-1 https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-3e 2 ATTENDANCE POLICY Consistent attendance and active participation are essential to your success in this course, whether it is conducted in person, online, or in a hybrid format. You are expected to attend all scheduled sessions, engage with course materials, contribute to discussions, and complete all assignments. For online and hybrid courses, this includes regular log-ins to Blackboard and participation in discussion boards. Attendance and participation will be monitored throughout the semester. If your in-class attendance or online engagement declines significantly or stops, the instructor will contact you to discuss your progress and offer support. An academic intervention will be initiated if a student accumulates three absences from in-person class or fails to access the Blackboard platform for a continuous period of seven days in online or hybrid classes. If you anticipate an absence or disruption in participation, notify the instructor in advance when possible. Ongoing lack of attendance may lead to additional academic intervention. 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. COURSE CALENDAR UNIT DUE DATE TOPIC & ASSIGNMENT READINGS UNIT 1 Historical Foundations and the US Constitution May 18 – 20 May 20 Course Introduction & Syllabus Acknowledgment Syllabus 1.1 What is Government? Journal 1.1 Chapter 1.1 & 1.2 1.2 Political Socialization Journal 1.2 Blackboard Reading 1.3 Roots of the Revolution Quiz 1.3 Discussion: Liberty or Loyalty in 1776 Chapter 2.1 Appendix A: Declaration of Independence Chapter 2.2 3 1.4 The Constitution Quiz 1.4 TOPIC & LEGISLATOR SELECTION DUE (CORE ASSESSMENT) Chapter 2.3 Appendix B: U.S. Constitution Appendix C: Federalist 10 Chapter 2.4 Appendix C: Federalist 51 Chapter 2.5 UNIT 1 Exam None UNIT 2 The Supreme Court and Civil Liberties & Rights May 21 – 23 May 23 2.1 Supreme Court Decisions Engel v. Vitale (1962) Schenk v. United States (1919) Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) Texas v. Johnson (1989) Discussion: Free Speech & Civil Liberties Miranda v. Arizona (1966) Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) Mapp v. Ohio (1961) Discussion: Due Process & Civil Liberties Case briefs Civil Liberties Quiz 2.2 Chapter 4 Civil Rights Quiz 2.3 Chapter 5 Federalism Quiz 2.4 Chapter 3 FIRST DRAFT OF CORE ASSESSMENT DUE None Unit 2 Exam None UNIT 3 Branches of U.S. Government May 24 – May 27 May 27 3.1 Legislative Branch Quiz 3.1 Chapter 11 Armstrong, M. (2023), Concerning United States Constitutional War Powers 3.2 Executive Branch Quiz 3.2 Chapter 12 3.3 Judicial Branch Quiz 3.3 Chapter 13 4 SECOND DRAFT OF CORE ASSESSMENT DUE None Unit 3 Exam None UNIT 4 Interest Groups, Voting, & The Media May 28 – 30 May 30 Interest Groups Discussion: Interest Groups and Their Impact on Government Chapter 10 Public Opinion & Public Polling Quiz 4.2 Chapter 6 The Media Quiz 4.3 Chapter 8 Political Parties Quiz 4.4 Chapter 9 Political Participation Voting and Elections Quiz 4.5 Chapter 1.3 Chapter 7 Unit 4 Exam None CORE ASSESSEMENT DUE May 30 CORE ASSESSMENT FINAL DRAFT DUE None OPTIONAL FINAL EXAM May 30 OPTIONAL FINAL EXAM None COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: Tests 50% Core Assessment 20% Quizzes/Assignments/Discussions 30% GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F 5 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. 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). 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. 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 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 6 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. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION Due Dates and Late Work All deadlines are listed in the course schedule. Students must plan accordingly. Late work is not accepted unless a documented emergency or exigent circumstance occurs. Extension requests must be submitted in writing within 48 hours with documentation. Approval of extensions is at the instructor’s discretion. DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS This course follows the LIT academic calendar, not the high school schedule. High school events, testing, or activities are not valid reasons for late or missing work. Technology and Technical Responsibility Students are responsible for having all required technology. This includes downloading and maintaining Respondus LockDown Browser before any exam. Failure to install or configure required software does not excuse missed work. All technical issues, including Blackboard access, LockDown Browser errors, passwords, device problems, or connectivity, must be directed to LIT Help Desk or Blackboard Support. The instructor does not provide technical troubleshooting. Technical difficulties of any kind, including internet outages, device failure, software errors, or user error, are not valid excuses for missing deadlines. Students must troubleshoot promptly and seek appropriate support. DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS School issued devices, including Chromebooks, are the responsibility of the high school and its IT department. Device limitations or restrictions do not exempt students from LIT requirements. Work Submission Online courses submit all work through Blackboard. In person courses submit work during class. Hybrid courses may use both. This policy applies to all coursework, including exams. Technical issues during submission must be reported within 30 minutes. Grading Most assignments are graded within one week. Students will be notified of delays. 7 Communication All communication must occur through Blackboard. Messages are answered within 24 hours on weekdays. Weekend messages are answered on the next business day. If Blackboard is unavailable, students may use their official LIT email. Assignments may not be submitted by email. Academic Integrity Students must follow the LIT Academic Integrity Policy. All work must be original. Prohibited actions include plagiarism, cheating, collusion, and fabrication. Violations result in failure of the assignment and may result in failure of the course. All coursework must be completed individually unless collaboration is permitted. Free tutoring and academic support are available. Exam Policy Exams are open note unless stated otherwise. Only your own handwritten or typed notes may be used. Quizzes are closed resource. Notes may be reviewed by the instructor or proctor. Shared, copied, or AI generated notes are not allowed. Unauthorized materials violate the Academic Integrity Policy. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy and Ethical Use AI tools may be used only for support tasks such as brainstorming or outlining. AI may not replace your own analysis or writing. All AI use must be acknowledged and cited. ETHICAL AI USE INCLUDES: • transparency about how AI was used • verifying accuracy of AI generated information • ensuring originality of your work • protecting personal or sensitive information • never using AI on exams, quizzes, or independent work Students must consult the instructor before using AI on any assignment. Misuse or undisclosed use may be treated as academic misconduct. Citation Policy All sources, including print, digital, human, and AI, must be cited. Students must use a consistent citation style such as MLA, APA, or Chicago. Missing or improper citations may constitute academic misconduct. Class Etiquette This course may involve complex topics and diverse viewpoints. Students are expected to maintain a respectful, constructive, and professional learning environment. Disruptive behavior, disrespectful language, or actions that interfere with instruction will be addressed according to the LIT Student Code of Conduct. 8 Extra Credit Extra credit is not offered. Students may take the optional final exam to replace their lowest exam score. Any policy regarding dropped scores applies equally to all students. FERPA & Student Privacy Policy FERPA protects the privacy of student education records under 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and 34 C.F.R. Part 99. Once enrolled at LIT, all FERPA rights belong to the student, including dual credit students. The instructor will not share grades, attendance, performance information, or any other student records with parents, guardians, counselors, facilitators, or outside individuals without the student’s written consent through an official LIT release form. All communication about academic progress will occur directly with the student. Dual Credit Students High school personnel do not have automatic access to LIT student information. Any counselor or facilitator with questions must contact the LIT Dual Credit Department first. The instructor will not respond to outside inquiries unless directed through the proper LIT channels. Students are responsible for monitoring their own academic standing and communicating directly with the instructor regarding course concerns. Modification Clause The instructor may modify the syllabus or schedule as needed. Students will be notified of any changes.