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NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
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Course Title: TEXAS GOVERNMENT
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Course Prefix & Number: GOVT2306
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Section Number: 102
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Semester: Spring 2019
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Semester Credit Hours: 3
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Lecture Hours: 3
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Lab Hours: N/A
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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. 48 lecture hours.
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Course Prerequisite(s): None
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Required Materials:
- Governing Texas by Champagne & Harpham, Norton, 3rd edition, paperback w/ebook folder, ISBN: 978-0-393-28367-9
- Governing Texas by Champagne & Harpham, Norton, 3rd edition, 3-hole punch w/ ebook folder, ISBN: 978-0-393-28752-3
- Students can also purchase the ebook at a lower price directly from Norton using the link within the course module
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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Name of Instructor:
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Steve Sorensen
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Campus/Office Location:
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Gainsville Campus
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Telephone Number:
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E-mail Address:
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ssorensen@nctc.edu
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OFFICE HOURS
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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11:30 am–12:30 pm
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11:30 am–12:30 pm
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog
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At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
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Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in the United States.
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Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system.
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Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.
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Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.
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Analyze the election process.
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Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
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Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.
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GRADING CRITERIA
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# of Graded Course Elements
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Graded Course Elements
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Percentage or Point Values
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3
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Exams
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60%
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1
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Term Paper
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10%
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14
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Lecture Quizzes
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10%
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13
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Chapter tests
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10%
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13
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By the Numbers
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10%
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Course Schedule
"In a well-run course, the high-risk student is the one who still tries to memorize without understanding." Ed Friedlander, M.D.
I. Origins and Principles
A. Principles of American Politics
Week 1 Jan. 22–24 Declaration of Independence; Texas Declaration of Independence; Lincoln: The Meaning of the Declaration; Douglas and Lincoln: Exchange of State Sovereignty and Majority Rule
Week 2 Jan. 29–Jan. 31 1. Small Republic Centinel: “The Small Republic Argument”
Week 3 Feb. 5–Feb. 7 2. Large Republic Madison: “The Work of the Constitutional Convention”; Governing Texas, Ch. 6
Paper Topics Due
Week 4 Feb. 12–14 3. Federalism Governing Texas, Ch. 3; Tocqueville: “The Purposes Served by Local Self-Government”; McCulloch v. Maryland
B. Constitutional History
Week 5 Feb. 19–21 Governing Texas, Ch. 1, 2; Tocqueville: Democracy in America, excerpts
Paper References due
1. State Constitutions Texas Constitution of 1836; Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776; Massachusetts Constitution of 1780
Week 6 Feb. 26–Jan. 28 Review And Exam 1
II. Texas State Politics
A. State Government Texas State Constitution, excerpts: pp. 1-15, 22-24, 26-34
Week 7 March 5–March 7 1. Legislature: Governing Texas, Ch. 7
March 11–15 Spring Break
Week 8 March 19–21 2. Executive: Governing Texas, Ch. 8
3. Bureaucracy Governing Texas, Ch. 6; Horner: “The Civil Service”
B. Elections Anthony King: “Running Scared”
Week 9 March 26–28 1. Party System Governing Texas, Ch. 4; Storing: “Political Parties and the Bureaucracy”
Rough Draft Paper Due
Week 10 April 2–4 2. Elections Governing Texas, Ch. 5
Week 11 April 9–11 Review and Exam 2
C. Judiciary
Week 12 April 16–18 Governing Texas, Ch. 9; Texas State Constitution, excerpts: pp. 16-21
III. Local Government
A. County Government
Week 13 April 23–25 Governing Texas, Ch. 10; Texas State Constitution, Article 11
B. Municipal Government
Governing Texas, Ch. 10; City Charter
IV. Public Policy
Final Draft of Paper due
A. Public Finance
Week 14 April 30–May 2 Governing Texas, Ch. 11
B. Education and Welfare
Governing Texas, Ch. 12 “Robin Hood” decision; Anastaplo: “The Babylonian Captivity of the Public Schools,” Adams-Jefferson letters on education
C. Crime
Week 15 May 7–9 Governing Texas, Ch. 13; Ruiz decision; Lazar and DiIulio handouts
Week 16 May 13–17 Final Exam Week
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)
Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” is April 4
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 ResponsibilityCOURSE TYPE
o Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core)
X Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
o WECM Course
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online.
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)]”.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
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Name of Chair/Coordinator:
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Crystal R.M. Wright
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Office Location:
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Gainesville Campus, Room 824
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Telephone Number:
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940-668-7731, ext. 4320
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E-mail Address:
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cwright@nctc.edu
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Name of Instructional Dean:
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Dr. Bruce King
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Office Location:
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1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408
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Telephone Number:
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940-498-6464
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E-mail Address:
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bking@nctc.edu
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