Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title: TEXAS GOVERNMENT

 

Course Prefix & Number: GOVT2306

Section Number:  102

Semester: Spring 2019

 

Semester Credit Hours: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: N/A

 

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.   

 

Course Prerequisite(s): None

 

Required Materials:

  1. Governing Texas by Champagne & Harpham, Norton, 3rd edition, paperback w/ebook folder, ISBN: 978-0-393-28367-9
  2. Governing Texas by Champagne & Harpham, Norton, 3rd edition, 3-hole punch w/ ebook folder, ISBN: 978-0-393-28752-3
  3. Students can also purchase the ebook at a lower price directly from Norton using the link within the course module

 

 

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Steve Sorensen

Campus/Office Location:

Gainsville Campus

Telephone Number:

 

E-mail Address:

ssorensen@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

 

11:30 am–12:30 pm

 

11:30 am–12:30 pm

 

 

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 constitutional democracy in the United States.

 

Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system.

 

Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice.

 

Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government.

 

Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in the political system.

 

 

Analyze the election process.

 

Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

 

 

Analyze issues and policies in U.S. Politics.

 

 

GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

3

Exams

60%

1

Term Paper

10%

14

Lecture Quizzes

10%

13

Chapter tests

10%

13

By the Numbers

10%

 

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

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

 

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)

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

 

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)]”. 

 

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. Bruce King

Office Location:

1500 North Corinth St, Corinth, TX 76208-5408

Telephone Number:

940-498-6464

E-mail Address:

bking@nctc.edu

 

 

There are no Handouts for this set.