GOVT 2306 0301 - TEXAS GOVERNMENT

Introduction

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Syllabus

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Texas Government

Course prefix, number, and section number: GOVT2306 0301

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025 2nd 8 Week 

Semester start and end dates: October 20, 2025 to December 15, 2025

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous

Class meeting location, days, and times: online

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: 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 prerequisites: none

Required course materials:
McGraw Hill Connect Courseware (Ebook, Assignments, etc): The State of Texas: Government,
Politics & Policy, Sheri Mora (9781265198503). Students are required to register and purchase
course materials by the official date of records. Students who fail to do so, may be dropped from
the course.
** Students gain access to the required courseware once they register and complete the Connect
Orientation assignments. The publisher also provides two weeks of courtesy access if
needed. Purchasing materials directly from the publisher is less expensive, purchasing from other
sources will cost more.

Name of instructor: Terri Houchin
Office location:
Telephone number:
E-mail address: thouchin@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: 7:00-9:00 AM Tuesday/Thursday

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER
The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the
best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced
as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
List of graded assignments:
14 Connect Chapter Assignments
14 Connect Chapter Quizzes
4 Canvas Assignments
4 Discussion Boards
4 Unit Exams
Research Assignment
Final grade scale: 50% Assignments 50% Exams
Late work policy: LATE WORK IS NOT ACCEPTED. THERE IS A ZERO TOLERANCE LATE WORK POLICY. 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF
GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy: 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)]”.

AI/Natural Language Programs (NLPs)/Large Language Models (LLMs) Usage Policy: This
information is used with permission and citation with gratitude to Princeton University: The
McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.
• Intellectual honesty is vital to an academic community and for my fair evaluation of your
work. All work submitted in this course must be your own, completed in accordance
with the College's academic regulations. You may not engage in unauthorized
collaboration or make use of ChatGPT or other AI composition software/NLPs/LLMs.
• Students must obtain permission from me before using AI composition software (like
ChatGPT) for any assignments in this course. Using these tools without my permission
puts your academic integrity at risk.
• This course does make use of AI/NLPs/LLMs plagiarism checker software for the purpose
of detecting the use of AI programs.
• Any violation of this policy will be considered academic dishonesty and will be
documented as such
Instructor-specific Academic Dishonesty Policy:

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)
Withdrawal Policy
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s
responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is:  November 21, 2025
Reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions must be provided. (Texas Ed. Code 51.982/SB 412)  Must allow students to have excused absences, make up missed assignments, and other adjustments necessary for health and safety for students who are pregnant or experiencing a pregnancy-related condition.
Student Code of Conduct
By enrolling in a course at North Central Texas College, students agree to abide by the Student
Code of Conduct. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in removal from the course.
CANVAS & CONNECT ACCESS: All students must have complete access to Canvas and Connect
for the entire semester. It is the student’s responsibility to have access to the internet, as well
as all needed programs to complete both face to face and online courses. Students are not to
give any other person access to his/her Canvas or Connect account. Students can be removed
from the course immediately up violating this rule. Once a student has given another person
access to his/her canvas account, the credibility of any work completed becomes questionable.
COMPUTER ACCESS: Students must have access to a computer for various assignments in this
course. You cannot use a cell phone to perform all requirements of this course. If you do not
have a computer, then you need to make sure that you access a computer at one of the NCTC
campuses, a public library, etc.
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:
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.
Core Objectives: Critical thinking, Communication, Personal Responsibility, Social Responsibility
COLLEGE POLICIES
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with
respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is
the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange
appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
AI STATEMENT
Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative
Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance
from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially
complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of
generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in
doubt. When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement
with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines
the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such
technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the
discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and
to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the
Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment
of these technologies rests with the faculty.
Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use
of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such
tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate
such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are
encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student
Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS
The student should contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints
specific to the class. If the student and faculty are not able to resolve the issue, the student
may contact the chair or coordinator of the division. If the student remains unsatisfied, the
student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Donna Smith
Office location: Corinth Campus, Room 208
Telephone number: 940-498-6266
E-mail address: dhooper@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson
Office location: Gainesville 1403
Telephone number: 940-668-4209 ext 4377
E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu

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