United States Government

Coach Welch

Course Syllabus

Coach Welch Email:

Requirements

  • Bring your textbook to class each day
  • Notebook/binder
  • Pen (Blue/Black) or Pencil
  • Access to a computer and email (may use school lab)

Grading

  • Tests—50%
  • Daily Grades—25%
  • Article Summaries—Due each Friday typed
  • Readings in American Government—Will be done in class
  • Government Journal—Will be done at the beginning of each day—due every Friday
  • Classwork—assigned and due by end of class
  • Nine Weeks Test—25%

Rules & Expectations

  • Be respectful of the instructor and other students at all times.
  • Be responsible for the information you miss if you are absent.
  • Keep cell phone and other electronic devices out of sight unless you have permission for them to be out.
  • 1st offense—Keep device until end of class
  • 2nd offense—Keep device until the following day class period
  • 3rd offense—Turn in device to Coach Weathers.
  • Refrain for using inappropriate language in class. The use of such language will result in a paddling or office referral.
  • Bring required materials to class.
  • Be on time each day. Tardiness will be marked
  • Tardies 1-3—Warning from instructor
  • Tardies 4-5—1 day of morning and afternoon break detention
  • Tardies 6-7—2 days of morning and afternoon break detention
  • Tardies 8-9—5 days of morning and afternoon break detention
  • Tardies 10-11—5 days of morning and afternoon break detention (student placed in parent care)
  • Tardies 12 or more—Suspension
  • Cheating will not be tolerated. Students will be given a zero (0) and reported to the office for academic misconduct.
  • Exemption policy—Any student missing 3 or less days during the nine weeks will be exempt from their final exam.
  • Food and drinks (other than water) should not be brought into the classroom. Food should be finished outside the room.
  • LEAVING CLASS
  • We will NOT leave class once the tardy bell rings UNLESS called to office by the principal or counselor.
  • Each student will receive two (2) emergency passes for each 9 weeks. Once those are used, the student WILL not leave class unless called to office by the principal or counselor.
  • Emergency passes that are not used will be worth 20 points each on the lowest test grade at the end of the nine weeks.
  • Refer to the Enterprise School District 2016-17 Student/Parent Handbook about any rules/regulations not specifically covered in this syllabus. The rules and regulations in the handbook will be enforced in this class

Course Calendar

Unit / Chapters / Week
Fundamentals of American Government I / 1—Principles of Government
2—Origins of American Government / 1
Fundamentals of American Government II / 3—The Constitution
4—Federalism / 2
Voters and Elections / 6—Voters and Voter Behavior
7—The Electoral Process / 2-3
The Legislative Branch / 10—Congress
11—Powers of Congress
12—Congress Organizes / 3-5
The Executive Branch / 13—The Presidency
14—The Presidency in Action
16—Financing Government / 5-6
The Judicial Branch / 18—The Federal Court System
19—Civil Liberties: First Amendment Freedoms
20—Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights
21—Civil Rights—Equal Justice Under Law / 6-8
Local Government / 24—Governing the States
25—Local Government and Finance / 8-9