Texas Governemnt Syllabus

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

 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name of Instructor:

Paula Knowles

Campus/Office Location:

Flower Mound

Telephone Number:

 

E-mail Address:

pknowles@nctc.edu

 

OFFICE HOURS

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

8:15-9:15 a.m.

 

8:15-9:15 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Focus: 

Students in this class will apply what they learn about Texas governmental structure, systems and political processes to current issues and controversies. By focusing on problems and policies relevant to Texas and providing analysis of the issues in question, we will discover the connections between governmental process, problems, policies and real-world outcomes. 

 

Requirements:

Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to the respective 6 Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Teamwork, Social Responsibility, and Personal Responsibility. Specific competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Explain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.

2. Describe 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.

 

 Class Expectations

  • Class time will consist of lecture, student presentation, class activities and discussion sessions.  Students will be expected to come to class having read the material to be covered that day and prepared to discuss said material.  
  • Any requests for extensions must be communicated via email before assignment is due.
  • Assignments turned in after the due date are subject to a reduction in points.
  • Absences may be excused by emailing notification before the class period begins.
  • Phones and other electronic devices are not to be used during class, unless with the instructor’s explicit permission. 
  • All communication with professor outside of class, including submission of assignments, must be via official NCTC email. 

Grading Criteria:

 

Midterm Exam -- (Federalism and Texas Constitutions) --100 points (16%)

Presentation/Final -- 100 points (16%)

Paper – 100 points (16%)

3 Research/Analysis assignments (50 points each) 150 points (25%)

4 Class Activities (25 points each) 200 points (33%)

 

540-600 = A

480-539 = B

420-479 = C

360-419 = D

359 or below is failing.

 

There will be no extra credit assignments.

Scholastic dishonesty is unacceptable and is not tolerated. Actions taken by individual instructors in response to a case of scholastic dishonesty by students may include (1) assigning a zero for the paper, project, exercise or test and/or (2) requiring the student to resubmit another paper, project, or exercise or to retake the test. If the student chooses to appeal the actions taken by the instructor, the appeal should follow the normal process of an academic chain of command (department chair, academic dean, Vice President Academic Affairs).

 

 

Schedule

 

                   

Monday

Wednesday

Assignment

Due

Week 1

3/25-27

Lecture: Syllabus

Discussion:?

Lecture: Colonization in America

  Class Activity: Policy

Activity: end of class Wednesday

Week 2

4/1-3

Lecture: Federalism

Class Activity: Which Level?

Lecture: Texas Constitutions

In Class work: Primary Source Analysis

Primary Source Analysis

 4/4 11:59 p.m.

Week 3

4/8-10

Lecture: 1876 Constitution

Class Discussion: Amendment Analysis

Lecture: Legislature

Class Activity: Budget

Activity: end of class Wednesday

Week 4

4/15-17

Lecture: Plural Executive

Class Discussion: Film Analysis

*Midterm*

Class Discussion: Elected Judges

*Midterm –in class

Week 5

4/22-24

Lecture: Justice

In Class work: Numbers

Lecture: Interest Groups

In Class work: Find an Org.

Numbers/Org.s -   4/25 11:59 p.m.

Week 6

4/29-5/1

Lecture: Local Government

Class Discussion: Film Analysis

Lecture: Urban/Rural Problem

Class Activity: Town Council

Activity: end of class Wednesday

*Paper: 5/5 11:59 p.m.

Week 7

5/6-8

Lecture: Political Parties

Class Discussion: TBA

Lecture: Elections

Class Discussion: TBA

 

Week 8

5/15

 

Presentations

 

 

 

 

There are no Handouts for this set.