Course Title:

Texas Government

Course Prefix & Number: 

GOVT 2306

(Online)

Section   Number: 

342

Semester/Year:

Spring 2019

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 Course Materials:

Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. paperback w/ebook folder

ISBN: 9780393283679 or

Champagne-Harpham. Governing Texas. 3rd edition. Norton. 2 hole punch w/ebook folder

9280393616477

Name of Instructor:

Richard Huckaby

Campus/Office Location:

Corinth Campus, Room #335

Telephone Number:

940-498-6204

E-mail Address:

rhuckaby@nctc.edu

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

11:00 am 2:00 pm, Rm#335, Corinth Campus

8:00am – 12:00pm (before/after class @ Ponder HS

11:00 am 2:00 pm, Rm#335, Corinth Campus

8:00am – 12:00pm (before/after class @ Ponder HS

1:00-3:00pm Rm#335 (Corinth Campus)

1:00-3:00pm Rm#335 (Corinth Campus)

Online – Anytime (Monday-Sunday) using message utility in your Canvas account

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1.

Explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution.

2.

Demonstrate an understanding of state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal government.

3.

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

4.

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

5.

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

6.

Analyze the state and local election process.

7.

Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens

8.

Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Point Values

6

Exams

70%

3

Written Graded Assignments (GAs)

20%

13

Discussion Boards

10%

Examinations 

There will be a total of six (6) exams. Exams will be a combination of objective multiple choice and True/False questions (primarily multiple choice). Each exam will cover only material covered in class activities, reading assignments, and exercises covered or assigned since the last exam. Each exam will be graded on the basis of 100 points. Your instructor, at his discretion, may change the format of the exam. Exams not taken are assigned a grade of zero and are included in the exam average. The exam average represents 70% of the consolidated course grade. 

Online exams are interactive timed exams. Students will be given a window of time to open the exam, but once open -- the exam will be timed. Once the exam is started you must finish -- you cannot start, stop, and restart the exam. 

Graded Assignments 

There are four (4) written graded assignments. They may involve the use of the Internet, the textbook and/or other resources. Graded assignments are a course requirement and not a student option. Written graded assignments not submitted are assigned a grade of zero and are included in the graded assignment average. The graded assignment average represents 20% of the consolidated course grade. 

Discussion Boards 

There are 13 discussion boards (one for each chapter). Every student is expected to actively participate in all Discussion Board assignments. 

Active participation is posting to the appropriate chapter discussion board forum and responding to questions and/or comments.

You meet the participation requirement when you post your original comments to the designated discussion board and make at least one comment on another student's post. A single entry receives half credit. Students will lose 8 points out of 100 for each unexcused absence from an assigned Discussion Board assignment. Posting to the discussion board within the prescribed times is particularly important because it is intended to be a student exchange. There is no credit for posting after the assigned deadlines. 

All posts should address the assigned topic and students should respect the opinion of others even though different from their own. Improper postings by a student are grounds for removal from the course. 

Tentative Course Schedule

Government 2306.342 – Texas Government (Online) Spring 2019 

       (Subject to Change w/o Notice) 

Online Courses 

Students are expected to login to their Canvas account frequently, view all online course entries,  and meet all assigned deadlines. It is a good idea to check for announcements and emails daily -- that is how you can stay advised and/or reminded of course activity and deadlines.

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.

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations contained 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)]”. 

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Board policies. 

Cheating on exams or the other graded assignments is not tolerated. The instructor has the authority to give a student an "F" in the course when there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that cheating occurred. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  Plagiarism is defined as any of the following: 

• Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
• Copying words, ideas, or images from someone else without giving credit;
• Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks;
• Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation or image;
• Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
• Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not.
• Students will receive an F on the first documented instance of plagiarism and a warning from NCTC. A second instance of plagiarism will result in the student's suspension from all classes for the remainder of the semester. 

Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course.  You are not to give any person (which includes 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 completed in question.  Do not ask someone to email me on your behalf in Canvas.  If you have an emergency and cannot contact me yourself, it is best to have an alternative person contact me on my office phone 940-498-6295 or my NCTC email address: rhuckaby@nctc.edu.  

Again, do not give anyone access to your Canvas account.  Any student who cheats on any course material (exams, written assignments, discussions) may immediately fail the course and academic dishonesty papers will be filed with the Dean and VP of Instruction.

North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

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