Fall 2019 Course Syllabus Course: GOVT-2306- Section: 01 Texas Government

Instructor Information
Instructor	Dr. Tina Capeles
E-mail	capelestl@lamarpa.edu
Phone	(409) 984-6378
Office	Location: Student Center - Room: 408 Hours: MWF 10:00-12:30 and T/R 9:30-11:00
Department	General Education and Developmental Studies Chair: Dr. Michelle Davis E-mail: davisml1@lamarpa.edu Phone: (409) 984-6341 If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Course Information
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.
Prerequisites	Competency in reading and writing skills required.
Learning Outcomes	Upon successful completion of this course, students will: Explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution. Describe 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. Evaluate and respond to the political environment applying researched data.
Core Objectives	*Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. *Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. *Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. * Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Program Student Learning Outcomes	Reading skills - Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material. Identifies all main ideas, supporting details, and vocabulary in reading material; demonstrates a full understanding of the reading.
Textbooks	Required Text: Inside Texas Politics: Power, Policy, and Personality of the Lone Star State Brandon Rottinghaus ISBN: 9780190299514 Oxford University Press
Lecture Topics Outline	The Social and Economic Milieu of Texas Politics The Texas Constitutions Texas Government and Politics and the Federal System State Budget and Finance Local City Governments in Texas Contemporary Public Policy Issues in Texas Interest Groups and Political Power in Texas The Mass Media in Texas Politics The Party System in Texas Elections, Campaigns, and Political Behavior The Legislature The Texas Executive: Governors The Texas Bureaucracy and Policy Implementation Texas Judiciary
Major Assignments Schedule	Week 1: Chapter 1-The Struggle for Texas: Demographics, Culture, and Political Power Week 2: Chapter 2-The Texas Constitution Week 3: Chapter 3-Federalism Week 4: Chapter 13-Budget, Finance, and Policy Week 5: Exam Week 6: Chapter 4-Voting and Elections Week 7: Chapter 5- Political Parties: Texas in Blue and Red Week 8: Chapter 6- Interest Groups Week 9: Chapter 12- Local Government Week 10: Exam Week 11: Chapter 7- Legislature Week 12: Chapter 8- Governors of Texas Week 13: Chapter 9- The Plural Executive and the Bureaucracy Week 14: Chapter 10- Texas Judiciary Week 15: Public Policy Week 16: Final Exam
Final Exam Date	December 6, 2019 - 8:00 AM   Through  December 6, 2019 - 10:00 AM
Grading Scale	90 - 100 = A 80 - 89 = B 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D Below 59 = F
Determination of Final Grade	Exams 75% of the final grade. Research assignment 25% of the final grade.
Course Policies
Instructor Policies	Students are responsible for all material covered in the course, lectures, chapter readings, exams, and the research assignment. Exams: There will only be makeup exams in cases of emergencies and with proper approval by the instructor. In case of emergency, the instructor must be notified at least one day in advance by email as to the reason for missing the exam. Students need proper documentation as to why the exam was missed. Excused reasons are sickness, hospitalization, legal matters, or family matters. A grade of 0 will apply for an exam missed without proper documentation. Routine doctor appointments or work schedule are nor considered acceptable for missing exams. Exam dates are announced in class. Research Assignment: Late assignments will not be accepted. Do not email an assignment, it will not be accepted. Students have ample time to complete by the due date. Students should take into consideration any problems that could arise with technology, and therefore, it is recommended that students submit assignments and exams accordingly. See the assignment date in the course menu. Academic Ethics: Applicable to all coursework. It is expected that all students will engage in ethical conduct and will not engage in copying work or the production of other research papers or assignments. This also includes student's previous coursework or current assignments of other courses. Such violation of ethical standards will result in an automatic grade of "0" on the work in question with no opportunity to make up the work. This expectation also extends to proper citations and credit for works used in the research paper. All quotes, paraphrases, or facts taken from another source must be cited. Caution about Quotes and Paraphrases: There should be no more than two to three in the paper and short in length. Students enrolled in both federal government 2305 and Texas 2306, or who have previously taken any government courses, it is required that you write a separate research paper for each course. You may not use the same information. Students may not use assignments from other government courses or any other coursework. Different topics and sources are required. If you have any questions, contact me. Also, the same applies to Discussion Board/Assignments. Any duplicated work will result in a 0 for the grade. Academic integrity is essential, whether in class or online learning, and I take it very seriously. Academic dishonesty will not be accepted in this class. Students are to submit their work, not the work of others, including as stated above, a students' work from past or present courses. If you submit others work as your own or use resources not allowed, you will receive a 0 for the grade and possible F for the course based upon the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, all student submissions are checked for plagiarism, and use of any materials not authorized for use is prohibited. It is also expected that students are not accessing other material questionable to the assignment. My class policy is that if any academic dishonesty is discovered, the student will receive an 0 for the assignment in question and a possible F in the class. You will not just receive a 0 on the individual assignment - whether it be the research assignment, or other assignments - you risk receiving an F for the course. See the Lamar State College-Port Arthur guidelines for academic dishonesty below. Lamar State College-Port Arthur Academic Dishonesty Policy: Lamar State College-Port Arthur considers academic dishonesty, including collusion, cheating, and plagiarism as defined in the Student Handbook, to be a serious academic offense. Students guilty of such behavior will be subject to the following penalties: First offense: Student will receive a failing grade on the exam or assignment with no possibility for a make-up. If the offense is flagrant, the student may receive an F in the course. The student's name and the documented offense will be forwarded to the proper college officials. Second offense: Student will receive an F in the course with no possibility for make-up. The student's name and the documented offense will be forwarded to the proper university officials. All accused students will be given written notice of the offense, the penalty assessed, and the right of appeal to the department chair/advisory committee.
Attendance Policy	Students must maintain the readings and all other material on a weekly basis. Students need to attend class to stay on track; consistency is important for success. This is not a self-paced course. Keeping pace is important. In case of emergency, the instructor must be notified at least one day in advance by email as to the reason for missing an exam. Students need proper documentation as to why the exam was missed. Excused reasons are sickness, hospitalization, legal matters, or family matters. A grade of 0 will apply for an exam missed without proper documentation. Routine doctor appointments or work schedule are not considered acceptable for missing exams. Exam dates are announced in class.
Academic Honesty	Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSC-PA policies (Section IX, subsection A, in the Faculty Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
Facility Policies	No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
Important Information
ADA Considerations	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
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Other
HB 2504	This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.