ADMINISTRATIVE LAW -
LGLA 1341
I. Course Description. This course presents fundamental concepts of administrative law and procedure in governmental agencies at all levels with emphasis on the paralegal’s role in the administrative process. Topics include creation of governmental agencies, operation, rule making; and adjudication.
II.
Required/Recommended Texts:
A.
Required Purchase: (1) Tex. Govt.
Code Ann. Secs. 551, 552 and 2001.
B. Recommended: (1) Black's
Law Dictionary
III.
SCANs Competencies:
The SCANs Competencies that will be
developed in this Course are listed on
IV.
Instructional Methodology:
This is a lecture course in which
students are expected to prepare for and repond to questions related to the
assigned material.
V.
Course Rationale:
This course is designed to provide
the student with an understanding of administrative law and procedure
especially as practiced in the state of Texas.
The paralegal role in an administrative law environment will be
emphasized.
VI.
Course Outcomes:
The Student Learning Outcomes for this
course are listed on Attachment B.
III. Instructional
Methodology. This is a lecture course
in which students are expected to prepare for and respond to questions related
to the assigned material.
IV. Course Evaluation System.
The maximum
number of points available in the course is one hundred (100). Your final letter grade for this course will
be the sum of (A) your total Exam Points and (B) your total remaining
Attendance Grant Points.
88 exam points. There will be four 22-point exams offered during the semester. (Total possible Exam Points=88)
12 ATTENDANCE GRANT POINTS. You are hereby awarded by grant a total of twelve (12) points to be counted toward your final letter grade. Each absence from class will result in the subtraction of four (4) Attendance Grant Points. After your third absence, no Attendance Grant Points will remain, and your final letter grade will reflect total Exam Points only.
MISSED
EXAMS. Except as otherwise provided by
these rules, the first time you are absent for an offered exam, the Exam
Points for that exam will be assigned a score equal to the lowest
score of the other exams you have taken during the semester. In addition,
that absence will result in the subtraction of four (4) Attendance Grant Points. Each subsequent missed exam
will be assigned a score of zero (0), and four (4) Attendance Grant
Points will be subtracted from your total.
Option to Decline One Exam. In your sole discretion, you may decline to participate in any one exam. That exam will be assigned a score equal to the lowest of the other exams taken during the semester, but no Attendance Grant Points will be subtracted from your total.
VIII.
Course Policies:
a. Attendance.
The courtesy of
your attendance is a requirement for the maximum benefit from this course. It is your sole and affirmative obligation
to demonstrate class attendance and to adequately accommodate for the
consequences of each missed class period.
b. Withdrawal.
Excessive absences may eventually result in the
student being withdrawn from the course. Do not, however, assume that absences
will automatically result in a withdrawal. Excessive absences may simply result
in a letter grade "F" at the end of the course. If the student wishes to withdraw from the
course, the student must go to an Admissions Office and fill out a Withdrawal
Form.
c. Incomplete
An “Incomplete” will not be granted in this
course unless the student has a grade of “C” or better on the first two exams,
and a demonstrable emergency.
d. Scholastic Dishonesty
Acts prohibited by the college for which
discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not
limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration
with another in preparing outside work.
Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their
thought, research or self-expression.
Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether
taken electronically or on paper;
projects, either individual or group, classroom presentation, and homework.
e. Academic Freedom
Each student
is expected to participate in class. In any classroom situation that includes
discussion and critical thinking, there are bound to be differing viewpoints.
Students may not only disagree with each other on occasion, but the students
and instructor may also find that they have disparate views. It is expected
that these differences will enhance the class and create an atmosphere where
students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn.
Accordingly, rest assured that no student’s grade will be adversely affected by
any beliefs or ideas expressed in class.
f. Student Discipline
In the event, a student acts in such a way as to significantly interfere with or disrupt the learning atmosphere of the classroom, the instructor may direct the student to leave the class and may take other measures as appropriate. See the ACC Student Handbook either in hardcopy or on the web: http://www3.austin.cc.tx.us/evpcss/handbk/toc.htm
g. Office of Students with Disabilities
Each ACC campus offers support services for
students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request
reasonable accommodations through the Office for Student with Disabilities on
the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three
weeks before the start of the semester.
g. Course Calendar
The Course Calendar is a separate document that
you will have received along with this syllabus.
h. Testing Center
General use of the testing center is not
available to students in this course; however, should you have occasion to use
an ACC testing center, be sure to first review the Testing Center Guidelines
available either in the testing center or on the web under “Students” at:
http://www2.austin.cc.tx.us/testctr/
i. Student Services Handout
A Student Services Handout is available at:
http://www3.austin.cc.tx.us/evpcss/rss/Default.htm
j. Instructional Services Handout
An Instructional Services Handout is attached
for your review
LGLA 1341
Attachment
A: SCANS Competencies
Students in this course
will be expected to use or achieve the competencies set out below.
Resources
1.l. Allocates Time: Allocates time
between coursework/work/family/friends.
Interpersonal
2.1. Participates as a Member of a Team:
Works cooperatively with others on joint assignments.
2.2. Teaches Others: Explains concepts in
class.
2.5. Negotiates: Works toward an
agreement on the validity of exam questions.
2.6. Works with
Cultural Diversity: Works well with men and women and with a variety of
ethnic, social, or educational backgrounds in the context of the class..
Information
3.1. Acquires and
Evaluates Information: Extracts crucial legal issues from court cases.
3.2. Organizes and
Maintains Information: Takes notes on assigned material for use in class.
3.3. Interprets and
Communicates Information: Evaluates assigned material and explains it to
the class.
3.4. Uses Computers
to Process Information: Employs computers to process course notes and to
obtain, analyze and brief court cases.
Technology
5.2. Applies
Technology to Task: Understands the overall intent and the proper procedures
for setting up and using computers and their programs.
Basic Skills
6.1. Reading: Locates, understands, and
interprets written information in the
text and assigned court cases.
6.2. Writing: Communicates thoughts,
ideas, information, and messages effectively in writing.
6.5. Listening: Receives, attends to,
interprets, and responds to verbal messages during class lectures and
discussions.
6.6. Speaking: Organizes ideas and
effectively communicates thoughts when being questioned in class and during
class discussions.
Thinking Skills
7.1. Creative Thinking: Uses imagination
freely, combines ideas in new ways, when discussing hypothetical problems..
7.2. Decision Making: Chooses the best
alternative in multiple choice questions.
7.3. Problem Solving: Recognizes that
problems in hypothetical situations and identifies possible solutions.
7.5. Knowing How to Learn: Finds the important
information in class discussions and texts and consolidates the information
into a useable format.
7.6. Reasoning: Identifies the crucial
issue in a court case and recognizes the potential application of the rule in
the case to other cases with similar facts and circumstances.
Personal Qualities
8.1. Responsibility. Exerts a high level of
effort and perseverance in effectively preparing for class and class
discussions.
8.4. Self-Management: Motivates self
through goal achievement; exhibits self-control and responds to feedback
unemotionally and non-defensively, is a "self-starter."
8.5. Integrity/Honesty: Can be trusted to
accomplish her/his own work without excessive involvement of other students.
LGLA 1341
Attachment
B: Learning Outcomes
With diligent application of
class discussion to the materials provided, each student is expected to
recognize, explain and distinguish among the concepts and principles set out
below. In addition, please note that
the student is expected to recognize and explain those legal terms employed by
the text and the instructor.Open
Meetings Act
Historical context
Purpose
Rights secured
Governmental bodies affected
Meeting
Quorum
Deliberation
Notice requirements
Emergency meetings
Non-emergency meetings
Open session
Executive session
Final action
Records of meetings
Penalties for non-compliance
Rulemaking
Historical context
Purpose
Rights secured
Governmental bodies affected
Legal effect of a rule
Proposed rule
Notice requirements proposed rule
Comments on proposed rule
Response to comments
Public hearings
Emergency rulemaking
Order adopting rule
Judicial review
Contested Cases
Historical context
Purpose
Rights secured
Governmental bodies affected
Contested case
Notice requirements
Discovery
Conduct of hearing
Ex parte communications
State Office of Administrative Hearings
In-house administrative law judges
Proposal for decision
Findings of fact
Conclusions of law
Changing findings and conclusions
Final order
Motion for rehearing
Administrative finality
Judicial review: substantial evidence
Judicial review: de novo
Open Records
Historical context
Purpose
Rights secured
Governmental bodies affected
Information subject to disclosure
Procedures for access to records
Disclosure of records
Procedure for determining exception to disclosure
Exceptions to disclosure
Civil remedies for non-compliance
Criminal penalties