Texarkana College

Syllabus: Federal Government
Course Number: GOVT 2305
Semester & Year: Fall 2016
Instructor Information
Name: David Orr
Office: Texas City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd
Telephone: 903.798.3902
E-mail: david.orr@txkusa.org
Office Hours: By appointment only, Monday-Friday: 8am-5pm

Textbook Information
American Government, 12th edition. by James Q. Wilson, ULCA & Pepperdine University
Copyright year: 2015, ISBN: 0547212763

Student Learning Outcomes for the Course
This course is designed to increase students' interest in and knowledge of how America's federal government operates.

Learning Outcome #1: The student will define government, politics, and democracy, and explain why America is considered a representative democracy rather than a pure democracy.
Learning Outcome #2: The student will describe and assess the philosophies that inspired the Constitution, the people who wrote it, the events that led up to the writing, and the contents of the Constitution.
Learning Outcome #3: The student will understand the meaning of the federal system.
Learning Outcome #4: The student will examine the evolving history and character of civil liberties and civil rights in America.
Learning Outcome #5: The student will discuss the influence of mass media, interest groups and political parties on public opinion and show how they serve as institutions to connect people to government.
Learning Outcome #6: The student will be able to explain the different types of elections and why and how people participate in the electoral process.
Learning Outcome #7: The student will be able to describe the structure and function of the three branches of the U.S. Government and to contrast their constitutional authorities.