AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT

SYLLABUS

GOVT 2306

TEXAS GOVERNMENT

INSTRUCTOR – Greg Harrison

Course Sections 41028/068

Fall 2009

I. Course Overview and Description

This course is an introduction to Texas state and local government. The course includes an introduction to a framework for analyzing Texas government and politics, the constitutional basis for Texas government and politics, the processes of Texas government and politics, the institutions of Texas government and politics, and the policies of Texas government and politics

The Texas government was founded by people who took up arms against an existing, legitimate government. The Texas Revolution was indeed a revolution. Following an example set seventy years earlier, a people declared their right to sever a political bond that did not serve the people’s own needs. This course will discuss these critical ideas, the different governments founded upon those ideas, and your obligation and duty to your state as a citizen of Texas today.

This course will help to make you a more responsible citizen because you will better:

1. Understand the Texas state and local political systems.

2. See why state and local politics is often a compromise between desirable but conflicting goals.

3. Understand how political decisions are made at the state level.

4. Understand the citizen’s role in the Texas political system.

5. Base your opinions on logic and evidence instead of emotion and belief.

II. Administrative Notes.

1. Instructor: Greg Harrison.

2.Office: RRHEC Rm 462 3.Office Hours: M & W 10:45 – 11:00, 12:15 – 12:30, and 1:45 – 2:15

4. Voice Mail: 223-1790 Box 25204 5. E-Mail: gharriso@austincc.edu

6. Web Home Page: http://www.austincc.edu/gharriso

7. Text:

Texas Politics: 17 Apr 2008
7, Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services Use this link - http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/
University of Texas at Austin

8. Grading:

You will be graded based on the total points scored during the semester on quizzes, assignments, tests, and attendance. There is no provision for extra credit.

	Number	Points Each	Total Point Value
Quizzes	4	25	100
Assignments	4	25	100
Unit Tests	4	100	400
Course Total			600

Final grade will be based upon points achieved:

A = 600 - 537	D = 416 - 357
B = 536 - 477	F = < 356
C = 476 - 417

In order to make an A or B in this class you must make at least a 70% (17.5/25) on each assignment.

If you do not the highest possible grade is a C.

9. Evaluations: The course includes four unit quizzes, four unit tests and an optional make up comprehensive final exam. The quizzes are multiple choice, true and false, and short answer questions. The unit tests are made up of 40 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions. The final exam (50 multiple choice questions) will be the only make up for a missed or low score test. The quizzes will be given without notice at anytime during a lecture period. Quizzes may not be made up.

10. Assignments: There will be four assignments requiring Internet access during the semester. Assignment one is constituency research - determining who represents you at the state level of government. Assignment three is researching a public policy issue and contacting a state official regarding that issue. Assignment two is researching two special interests groups and assignment four is researching some agency within the state government.

11. How to Study for the Tests: First, you must read the material. Second, you must actively participate in classroom learning by taking notes and absorbing the information presented. The tests will be based on the chapter readings. The quizzes will focus upon the information emphasized in class. Thus, if you miss class, you are highly encouraged to get notes from a classmate or on the Internet and do the readings.

12. Attendance: Attendance is an important part of a lecture course. When you miss class, not only will you miss the glib, interesting lectures, you will miss quizzes, assignment help, and testing hints.

13. Academic freedom: Each student is highly encouraged to participate in class discussion. Consider this class a safe haven for ideas. We have the right to agree and disagree with one another and all will respect the view of others when expressed during discussions.

14. Scholastic Dishonesty: As described in the ACC Student Handbook, scholastic dishonesty constitutes a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable according to the procedures outlined in the Handbook. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an exam (either providing answer to or stealing answers from another student), plagiarism, collusion and duplicity. Plagiarism includes use of another author’s words or arguments without attribution. Collusion is defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of any course requirement. Duplicity is an act of deceitfulness in speech or conduct. If a student commits any of the above action, the student will receive an academic penalty of an “F” for the course. This is your class, and it is up to you to decide what you want to make of it. It is an investment in your time and your future. You will get out of it what you put into it. Decide now what effort you want to make and what grade you want to have. To decide you need a good grade at the end of the semester is too late. THE DECISION IS YOURS!!

15. Withdrawals: I will NOT withdraw students from this class. It is up to students to monitor their progress throughout the semester and to initiate withdrawal proceedings if necessary. To withdraw from a class, students must do it officially by filling out the required form with Admissions & Records. The final withdrawal date is Nov 23, 2009. Furthermore, NO INCOMPLETES will be given unless there is a valid reason such as a medical emergency documented by a physician. To request an Incomplete, a student must explain the reason he/she needs a temporary grade of ‘I’, and complete the necessary form. In most cases, it is better to do the work when it is assigned and thus avoid being disappointed or frustrated if a student cannot justify receiving an Incomplete.

16. Accommodations for students with disabilities: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in a lecture class are encouraged to contact the Office of Students with Disabilities at 512-223-3142 or at http://www.austincc.edu/osd/index.html as soon as possible to better ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

III. How to Succeed in this Course.

1. Start working from the first lesson: Many students fall behind early which makes it difficult for them to do their best later in the semester.

2. Do the readings: Anything from the reading is testable, so you should take notes as you read. I can’t possibly cover all the information in class. It is your responsibility to complete the readings. Make notes of important key terms during your reading. A complete list of reading assignments can be found in attachment 1.

3. Take notes in class: Taking notes (a) helps focus your attention on the material, (b) keeps you alert, and (c) helps you study for tests.

4. Participate in class: You will become more articulate by presenting your ideas extemporaneously, and you will show your instructor that you’re prepared.

5. Write an early draft: Stay ahead of your assignment due dates with an early draft.

6. Vigorously edit your assignments: Editing involves far more than just proofreading. All good writers make wholesale changes to several drafts because no one can get it right the first time. Have a classmate proofread your work. Read through it one last time before hitting “send or print.” These two things can consistently improve your grade.

7. Turn in assignments on time: Failure to turn in assignments on the due date will result in a loss of points based on how late the work is turned in. A 25% penalty will be assessed for each day (not including Saturdays and Sundays) an assignment is turned in late. No assignment will be accepted after two days.

8. Study for tests without your textbook: Study your notes from the reading and class. Read through them several times, emphasizing the particularly important points. Refer to your text to clarify unclear concepts.

Schedule of Assignments

Lesson Number	Date	Topic	Reading
1	Aug 24	Administrivia and Intro to Government	Reading 1
2	Aug 26	Politics and Social Context of Texas Government	Reading 1/ Political Culture
3	Aug 31	Ideological and Economic Context	Political Culture
4	Sep 2	Texas Political Constituencies	Constitutions
5	Sep 7	Labor Day	Holiday
6	Sep 9	Texas Constitutional History	Constitutions
7	Sep 14	Texas Constitution/ Texas Civil Liberties/Rights	Reading 2
8	Sep 16	Unit Test #1	Reading 1, 2 and Political Culture and Constitutions
9	Sep 21	Texas Federalism	Reading 3
10	Sep 23	Shadow Government	Political Parties
11	Sep 28	Unelected Government	Interest Groups
12	Sep 30	Special Interest Groups Assignment
13	Oct 5	Texas Elections	Voting
14	Oct 7	Texas Campaigns and the “Last Man Standing”	Campaigns and
15	Oct 12	Voter Choices	Elections
16	Oct 14	Unit Test # 2	Reading 3, Political Parties, Interest Groups, Voting, Campaigns and Elections
17	Oct 19	Public Policy Process	Political Economy
18	Oct 21	State Finance and Social Policy	Political Economy
19	Oct 26	Public Opinion and Public Policy	Political Economy
20	Oct 28	Public Policy Research
21	Nov 2	Texas State Government	Bureaucracy
22	Nov 4	Texas Local Government	Reading 4
23	Nov 9	Unit Test # 3	Reading 4, Political Economy, and Bureaucracy
24	Nov 11	The Executive Branch - Governor	Executive Branch
25	Nov 16	The Executive Branch - Bureaucratic Agencies
26	Nov 18	Bureaucracy Research
27	Nov 23	The Legislature - Organization	Legislative Branch
28	Nov 25	The Legislature - Process
29	Nov 30	The Judicial Branch - Organization	Judicial Branch
30	Dec 1	The Judicial Branch - Process
31	Dec 7	Unit Test # 4	Executive Branch, Legislative Branch and Judicial Branch
32	Dec 9	Optional Final Exam	Comprehensive

Attachment 1