SYLLABUS
Government 2306-006(12046): Texas State and Local Government. Sprg ‘08 16 wks
Class: TTh 10:35-11:50am CYP1 Room 1108
Instructor: Shina Amachigh, Ph.D.
Office: Rm 1103.9
Office Hours: MW 12:25-1:25pm
TTH 1:15-3:15pm or by appointment.
Phone: 223-2144
E-mail:
Textbook:
R.H Kraemer, C. Newell and D.F Prindle, Texas Politics (9th Edition) 2005 Thomson Wadsworth USA
Course Introduction.
This introductory course is designed to familiarize the student with the political and governmental systems of the state of Texas. Texas is one of the largest of the fifty states both in terms of landmass and population. Texas is also one of the more politically consequential states in the United States in many regards, for example, in US presidential politics. A grasp or understanding of Texas politics and government is therefore useful to Texans and non-Texans alike and has some utility beyond Texas’s borders-at least Texans think so!
Course Description.
This course is an introduction to Texas state & local government. The course includes an introduction to Texas state & local government, a framework for analyzing Texas state & local government, the constitutional basis for Texas state & local government, the processes of Texas state & local government, the institutions of Texas state & local government and the policies of Texas state & local government. (Government Faculty Handbook)
Course Objectives.
Students will:
-be exposed to “a comparison of the reality of Texas government and politics to the democratic ideals of participation, majority rule, minority rights, and equality before the law.”(Text intro)
-be made aware of the “increasing conservatism even in a state that has always been conservative.”(Text intro)
-be introduced to conflict as a theme in state politics: economic, ethnic and ideological
-be introduced to the workings of the official institutions of Texas politics and government eg the Executive, Legislative and the Judicial branches of government and the “unofficial” institutions such as political parties, interest groups and the media.
-become familiar with the structure of Texas state and local governmental and political institutions.
-be led to think through and examine their positions on various Texas state and local governmental and political issues with a view to “making sense” of them.
Opportunities will be provided for students to “see” government in action and to become familiar with the political process.
A major objective of this course is to encourage student participation in the political process as informed actors.
Course Requirements.
1. Class “participation” is required and includes attendance, asking relevant questions,
expressing opinions and commenting during class discussions which will be numerous, hopefully. Attendance will be verified by roll call. Only documented medical absences will be excused. Participation will be rewarded up to 80 points for attendance. The class will meet 30 times. Students will earn 2.66 attendance points each time they attend class. An additional 20 points will be rewarded for asking relevant questions, expressing opinions and commenting during class discussions for a possible total of 100 “participation” points.
2. There will be three tests required. Test one will be over Chaps 1-5, test two on Chaps 6-10, test three on Chaps11-15. Each test will have 45 multiple-choice items [objectives, True and False]. Each item will be worth two points. Also, students will be asked to respond to 2 short-answer questions on each test. Each short answer will be worth five points. This means that each test will be worth 100 points.
3. An optional final will be available only for those students who have a 90% or better
attendance record. You only have three (3) absences to give in this 16-week class if you plan to take the optional final. The optional final will have 25 multiple-choice items [objectives, True and False] taken from the three tests. Each item will be worth four points for a total possible of 100 points. Students who qualify to and take the optional final may substitute it for a lower test score on tests one or two only. Only students who have a 100% attendance record after test three may request to do “extra-credit” work for no more than 5 grade points.
Test Dates: (See course outline for more details)
I. 2/14 II. 3/27 III. 5/6 Optional Final. 5/8
4. Paper.
Students will write a research paper(not an opinion or position paper)on an issue derived from attendance at one of the following:
a Texas state agency, board or commission meeting/s,
a Texas legislative committee hearing/s,
a Texas court proceeding or trial,
a city council meeting/s,
a county commissioner’s court meeting/s or
a Special District’s board meeting/s (eg ISD, water, mass transit).
Students may also volunteer at a local campaign, political party or interest group office and research and write on an issue they encountered.
Research Paper Guidelines
Students must use a variety of at least five (5) sources which may include books, articles in professional journals, news magazines/newspapers, or internet sources. Students must document all direct quotes or paraphrased information. The documentation must be done in the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. For information about the MLA style or how to cite internet sources, consult the ACC Learning Resource Service’s MLA Documentation Guide at http://library.austincc.edu/help/MLA/.
The paper must be 5 full pages in length (not counting either the cover page or the "works cited" page) and must have one-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) and utilize a standard font size-Times New Roman 12. Papers must also be typed, double-spaced and stapled. Papers that are not typed will not be accepted. No exceptions. Papers that violate any other requirement/s will be penalized (10 points per violation). Students must avoid plagiarism and collusion. See academic dishonesty under Course Policies below.
Due date for the paper is May 1. Late papers will not be accepted. No exceptions. The paper is worth 100 points.
5. Pop Quizzes.
Again, a major objective of this course is to encourage student participation in the political process as informed actors. The first step here, of course, is to be informed. Therefore, students will be expected to stay informed regarding Texas state and local government political-news headlines on a daily basis. Students may subscribe to a daily newspaper (student rates may be available) or watch a daily evening news. In order to verify this activity, there will be 10 unannounced two-question quizzes during the course of the semester dealing with political-news headlines. Each question will be worth 5 points and each quiz will be worth 10 points for a possible total of 100 points.
Final Grade Computations.
A=540-600; B=480-539; C=420-479; D=360 -419; F= 0-359
Course Policies.
Academic Freedom
Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, particularly about political ideas, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is my hope that these differences will enhance class discussions and create an atmosphere where students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and learn. Therefore, a student's grade will not be adversely affected by any beliefs, opinions or ideas expressed in class or in written assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in classroom discussions.
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 answers to or stealing answers from another student), plagiarism, and collusion. 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.
If a student commits any of the above actions, the instructor will seek disciplinary action in the form of an academic penalty (which may include a course grade of 'F').
Learning Disability
Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities should, but must ,request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities (http://www2.austincc.edu/osd/index.html) on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students with disabilities are encouraged to identify themselves at the onset of the semester in order to ensure that proper accommodations are implemented in a timely manner.
Withdrawals, “Make-ups” and “Incompletes”
Students are responsible for withdrawing themselves from the course. The instructor will not
initiate withdrawals. Students who simply stop coming to class but do not officially withdraw
themselves from the class will be required to be assigned a grade-it will be an "F." Please note
that a recent state policy limits incoming freshmen to only 6 withdrawals for the entirety of
their college careers. No “make-up” examinations or “incompletes” will be allowed except for
documented medical reasons. In addition, “incompletes” will only be given to students who are
passing with a “C” or better average at the time of their request.
Attendance & Class Conduct
According to the Student Handbook, “students are expected to attend classes in order to
progress satisfactorily toward completion of course objectives.” Again, attendance is required as
mentioned above. Students are expected to arrive on time and not to leave until the class is
dismissed. The instructor expects to be the last to arrive for class and will be the last to exit the
classroom at the end of class. Please note that students who leave class early will be counted
absent. Disruptive conduct will not be allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, chit-
chatting, sleeping and reading material or doing work not related to this class. You may be
asked to leave the class for the remainder of that particular lecture and counted absent.
Office Hours
The instructor is eager to help all students achieve their goals for this course. But students must do their part and communicate during office hours or by e-mail or voice mail with the instructor regarding any difficulties or challenges with course materials or life circumstances..
Course Outline:
Date Topic Text
Jan 15, 17 The Context of Texas Politics Chap. 1
Jan 22, 24 The Constitutionl Setting Chap. 2
Jan 29, 31 Interest Groups Chap. 3
Feb 5, 7 Political Parties Chap. 4
Feb 12 Voting, Campaigns, Elections Chap. 5/Review
FEB 14 TEST 1 CHAP. 1-5
Feb 19, 21 Organization of the Legislature Chap. 6
Feb 26, 28 The Legislative process Chap. 7
March 4, 6 The Governor Chap. 8
MAR 10-16 SPRING BREAK. COLLEGE CLOSED
Mar 18, 20 The Administrative State Chap. 9
Mar 25 The Judiciary Chap. 10/Review
MAR 27 TEST TWO CHAP 6-10
Apr 1, 3 The Substance of Justice Chap. 11
Apr 8, 10 Local Government Chap. 12
Apr 15, 17 The State Econ/Financing State Govt Chap. 13
Apr 22, 24 Issues in Public Policy Chap. 14
Apr 29, May 1 The Future of Texas Politics Chap. 15
May 1 REVIEW/PAPER DUE
MAY 6 TEST THREE CHAP. 11-15
MAY 8 OPTIONAL FINAL CHAP 1-10
Note: This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.