NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:	American State & Local Government
Course Prefix & Number:		GOVT2306	Section Number:	372	Semester/Year:	Fall 2017
Semester Credit Hours:		3	Lecture Hours:	3	Lab Hours:	0
Course Description (NCTC Catalog): Origin and Development of the Texas constitution, structure and powers of state and local government, federalism and inter-governmental relations, political participation, the election process, public policy and the political culture of Texas.
Course Prerequisite(s): None
Required or Recommended Course Materials: Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. paperback w/ebook folder ISBN: 9780393283679   Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. 2 hole punch w/ebook folder 9280393616477

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:	Dr. David R. Smith
Campus/Office Location:	No physical office at NCTC. Via email or online only.
Telephone Number:	N/A
E-mail Address:	dsmith@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
	Explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution.
	Demonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal government.
	Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
	Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.
	Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.
	Analyze the state and local election process.
	Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens
	Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
	Research and compose an essay assignment/argument using proper grammar/English and basic computer skills.

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Point Values
3	Exams: 70 pts per exam	210
13	Chapter Quizzes (Post-Test): 20 pts per quiz	260
33	Chapter Assignments: Varying point values (3-6pts)	140
3	Pre/Post-Tests and Intro Course Essay	40
3	Written Assignments	150

 

COURSE SUBJECT OUTLINE (Major Assignments, Due Dates, and Grading Criteria): Found at end of document.

90-100% of points: A

80-89.999% of points: B

70-79.999% of points: C

60-69.999% of points: D

0-59.999% of points: F

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL)

Additional Instructor-specific Absence Policy:

Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is October 20, 2017.

 

 

 

DISABILITY SERVICES (Office for Students with Disabilities)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).

Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc.  Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify.

For support, please contact the counselors at (940) 498-6207 or (940) 668-4321.  Alternatively, students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville.

CORE CURRICULUM FOUNDATIONAL COMPONENT AREA (For classes in the Core)_______       

 

o         Communication

o         Mathematics              

o         Life and Physical Science

o         Language, Philosophy & Culture

o         Creative Arts

 

X         Government/Political Science

o         Social and Behavioral Sciences

o         Component Area Option

o         American History

 

REQUIRED CORE OBJECTIVES (For classes in the Core)

 

X             Critical Thinking

o           Communication

o           Empirical and Quantitative

 

o           Teamwork

X              Personal Responsibility

X              Social Responsibility

 

COURSE TYPE

o           Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)

X          Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

o        WECM Course

 

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

 

Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.  You are not to give any person (including, but not limited to: parents, spouses, friends, etc) access to your Canvas account at any time during the semester.  If you do, you are putting the integrity of the course work you have completed in question.  Do not ask someone to email me on your behalf via Canvas.  If you have an emergency and cannot contact me yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact me using my NCTC email address: dsmith@nctc.edu.  Again, do not give anyone access to your Canvas account.  Any student who cheats on any course material (exams, assignment, post-tests) will immediately fail the course and academic dishonesty papers will be filed with the Dean and VP of Instruction.

 

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Crystal R.M. Wright
Office Location:	Gainesville Campus, Room 824
Telephone Number:	940-668-7731, ext. 4320
E-mail Address:	cwright@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean:	Dr. Larry Gilbert
Office Location:	Corinth Campus, Room 305
Telephone Number:	940-498-6216
E-mail Address:	lgilbert@nctc.edu

 

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE: (Subject to change with notification from Instructor)

Unit I 

Chapter 1: The Political Culture, People, & Economy of Texas

Chapter 2: The Texas Constitution

      ** Amending the Constitution

      **State Constitutional Comparison

Chapter 3: Texas and the Nation

 Chapter 4: Political Parties in Texas

Chapter 5: Elections in Texas

     **Voting Assignments

        

Unit II

 

Chapter 6: Interest Groups and Lobbying

Chapter 7: The Texas Legislature

     **State Legislator Assign; Talking Against the Clock

Chapter  8: The Texas Executive Branch

Chapter 9: The Texas Judiciary

     **Waiting on the Courts; Civil Cases Disposed of by Texas Courts

 Unit III

Chapter 10:  Local Government in Texas

     **Local Reps; Larges Home Rule Cities

Chapter 11: Public Finance in Texas

     **Taxes in Texas

Chapter 12:  Public Policy in Texas

        Chapter 13:  Crime & Corrections Policy in Texas

     ** Exoneration Assign

 *Each chapter has a Chapter Post Test in addition to the Class Assignments