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Fall 2021 Course Syllabus
Course: GOVT-2306- Section: 2E Texas Government |
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| Instructor Information | |||||||||||
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| Instructor | Nathaniel Crosby | ||||||||||
| crosbyna@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||||
| Phone | 4099846330 | ||||||||||
| Office |
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| COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID 19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID 19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||||
| 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 | None | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes |
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 separations 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. 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. |
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| Core Objectives |
1. Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication. 2. 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. 3. Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. 4. Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making. |
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| Program Student Learning Outcomes | |||||||||||
| Textbooks |
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Gibson, L. Tucker, Clay Robison, and Joanne Conner Green. 2022. Government and Politics in the Lone Star State, 12th Edition. New York: Pearson. |
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| Lecture Topics Outline |
Week 1: Introduction and Political Culture Week 2: The Texas Constitution Week 3: Federalism Week 4: Federalism and Local Government Week 5: The Texas Legislature Week 6: The Executive and the Bureaucracy Week 7: The Judiciary Week 8: Midterm and Purple Texas? Week 9: Socialization and Polarization Week 10: Political Parties Week 11: Elections, Campaigning, and Voting Week 12: Media Week 13: Interest Groups Week 14: Public Policy Week 15: Paper Presentations Week 16: Final Review |
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| Major Assignments Schedule |
The schedule is tentative and subject to change. Week 1, 08/23 - 08/27: Introduction and Political Culture Monday - Introduction Wednesday - Chapter 1 Gibson Quiz 1 and Introduction Paper are Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 2, 08/30 - 09/03: The Texas Constitution Monday - Chapter 2 Gibson Wednesday - Migration Discussion Lecture & Research Paper Draft Day Readings on Blackboard (Migration) Discussion Forum Due Sunday at 11:59pm Quiz 2 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 3, 09/06 - 09/10: Labor Day and Federalism Monday - Labor Day No Class Wednesday - Chapter 3 Gibson Quiz 3 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 4, 09/13 - 09/17: Federalism and Local Government Monday - Texas in the Federal System Discussion Lecture Wednesday - Chapter 4 Gibson Readings on Blackboard (Texas in the Federal System) Discussion Forum Due Sunday at 11:59pm Quiz 4 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 5, 09/20 - 09/24: The Texas Legislature Monday - Chapter 5 Gibson Wednesday - Gerrymandering Discussion Lecture Readings on Blackboard (Gerrymandering) Discussion Forum Due Sunday at 11:59pm Quiz 5 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 6, 09/27 - 10/01: The Executive and the Bureaucracy Monday - Chapter 6 Gibson Wednesday - Chapter 7 Gibson Quiz 6 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 7, 10/04 - 10/08: The Judiciary Monday - Chapter 8 Gibson Wednesday - Review for Midterm Midterm Essay Due Sunday at 11:59pm Quiz 6 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 8, 10/11 - 10/15: MIDTERM and Purple Texas? Monday - MIDTERM MULTIPLE CHOICE IN CLASS Wednesday - Can Texas Go Purple? Discussion Lecture Readings on Blackboard (Can Texas Go Purple?) Discussion Forum Due Sunday at 11:59pm No Quiz Due This Week! Week 9, 10/18 - 10/22: Socialization and Polarization Monday - Chapter 9 Gibson Wednesday - Polarization Discussion Lecture Readings on Blackboard (Polarization) Discussion Forum Due Sunday at 11:59pm Quiz 8 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 10, 10/25 - 10/29: Political Parties Monday - Chapter 10 Gibson Wednesday - Class Decided Topic Discussion Lecture Quiz 9 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 11, 11/01 - 11/05: Elections, Campaigning, and Voting Monday - Chapter 11 Gibson Wednesday - Class Decided Topic Discussion Lecture Quiz 10 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 12, 11/08 - 11/12: Media Monday - Chapter 12 Gibson Wednesday - Class Decided Topic Discussion Lecture Quiz 11 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 13, 11/15 - 11/19: Interest Groups Monday - Chapter 13 Gibson Wednesday - Interest Groups Discussion Lecture Readings on Blackboard (Interest Groups) Discussion Forum Due Sunday at 11:59pm Quiz 12 Due Sunday at 11:59pm Week 14, 11/22 - 11/26: Public Policy Monday - Chapter 14 Gibson Wednesday - Research Paper Work Day RESEARCH PAPER DUE AT MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24th AT MIDNIGHT Final Exam Essays Open No Quiz this week Week 15, 11/29 - 12/03: Final Review Monday - Paper Presentations Wednesday - Paper Presentations FINAL EXAM ESSAYS DUE AT MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 3rd Week 16, 12/06 - 12/10: Final Review Monday - Paper Presentations and Final Review Wednesday - Final Exam Multiple Choice |
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| Final Exam Date | December 7, 2021 - 1:40 PM | ||||||||||
| Grading Scale |
A = 100-90 B = 89-80 C = 79-70 D = 69-60 F = 59 and below |
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| Determination of Final Grade |
20% Quizzes 5% Introduction Paper 15% Midterm Exam 25% Final Exam 15% Research Paper 10% Discussion Boards 10% Attendance |
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| Course Policies | |||||||||||
| Instructor Policies |
During Class Activities that are disruptive to class will not be tolerated. Arriving late for class, reading newspapers, speaking while others are speaking, packing prior to the end of class, and cell phones are all highly disruptive. Cell phones, ipods, and other similar devices must be turned off during class, unless previously approved by the instructor. Laptops may be used for note-taking only; use of laptops for purposes other than note-taking will result in the banning of laptops from the classroom. In addition, students are encouraged to discuss and express opinions on the many issues, some controversial, that are covered in class. Although differing opinions are encouraged, I will not tolerate any attacks of a personal nature or statements that single out students based on their race, gender, religion, age, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, appearance, or sexual orientation. Any student engaging in disruptive or disrespectful activities will be asked to leave the classroom, if it continues after the first warning and removal, you will no longer be welcome in attending this course. Eating and smoking are not allowed in class. This includes the use of e-cigarettes or other forms of vaping. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Outside of Class Emailing the Instructor or Classmates When emailing or contacting anyone involved with this course, especially the instructor, allow for 48 hours before resubmitting an email or request. You should not expect an email over the weekend, even if an assignment is due. The instructor or your classmate may check their email over the weekend, but is not obliged to respond to your email at that time. If you have questions, it is best to get those emails in prior to the weekend. Online Decorum All members of this class are expected to provide the same level of respect to their classmates in person as well as online in the discussion forums. Failure to respect your classmates or instructor can be treated with any penalty similar to those outlined for in class behavior. Grading Timetable The instructor will, to the best of their abilities, have all graded assignments back to students within 2 weeks of the due date. If there are unforeseen circumstances, the instructor will inform the class of the delay in receiving their work back prior to the two week deadline. Please refrain from emailing the instructor about grades during that two week window. Once grades are posted, the instructor will inform the class either by email or by an announcement in class. Computer Requirement Policy: Students are required to have a computer with Internet access for classes. The computer must be an actual computer smart phones, iPads, Androids, Chromebooks, etc., are not acceptable substitutes because they lack software compatibility necessary to complete all assignments and tests. Financial costs for the necessary equipment and internet access are the responsibility of the student. Computer systems requirements: Webcam, microphone, and speakers or headphones Windows 10 or a recent version of Mac OS (minimum Sierra). Windows 10 S mode is not supported (Contact professor to upgrade from S to regular Windows 10) Hardware capable of running Microsoft Teams (free download) and supports multi-media playback Support for Chrome or Microsoft Edge Note: Firefox, Safari, or other browsers may not work on all LSCPA applications Able to run Microsoft Office which will be provided free to TC students Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer Antivirus software such as Windows Defender or another 3rd party anti-virus solution Students should regularly backup content to prevent loss of coursework due to hardware failure. Backup copies of documents and other coursework may be placed on OneDrive cloud storage. OneDrive is included free of charge for all LSCPA students. Make-up Exams and Missed Assignments Missed exams will be excused and made-up after the fact in case of illness or personal emergency only with proper documentation. Please contact the instructor as soon as possible if an emergency arises that prevents you from taking the exam. If you can not take the exam at the time its listed, contact the professor AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to reschedule when you can take it. You must have an actual excuse not just a desire to take it at a different time. Exams missed due to university sponsored events or religious holidays may also be excused, provided that the student informs me of the absence at least two weeks in advance. Vacation (e.g. leaving early for fall, spring or semester break) and social engagements will not be excused. Absolutely no excuse will be accepted for late assignments or missed exams, unless they are formally approved by the university. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Additionally, the documentation must explicitly state that the student was unable to attend class on the date in question. Students must provide proper documentation and make-up the missed assignment (or exam) within two weeks of the originally scheduled date. Failure to do so will result in a zero. Makeup exams may differ significantly in both structure and content from the original exam. Academic Integrity and Honesty Scholastic dishonesty, involving but not limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, collusion, or falsification of records will make the student liable for disciplinary action after being investigated by the Dean of Students. Proven violations of this nature will result in the student being dropped from the class with an F. This policy applies campus wide, including LSCPA Testing Center, as well as off-campus classroom or lab sites, including dual credit campuses. This information can be found in the Student Handbook at https://lscpa.edu. Dont cheat. Dont be that guy. Yes, you. You know exactly what Im talking about. You will also be required to complete an Plagiarism Contract that was provided to you with this syllabus. It must be signed and returned to the instructor if you wish to have ANY of your assignments graded. Religious Observances Texas House Bill 256 regarding religious observances requires that faculty and the university make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. Students are advised to notify the course instructor well in advance of the conflict and must make-up the missed assignment within two weeks of the original due date. Disability Act Statement Lamar State College - Port Arthur complies with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and makes reasonable accommodations upon request. 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 Special Populations Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. If you have an accommodation letter from their office indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present it to me so we can discuss the accommodations that you might need for this class. It is best to request these changes at the beginning if not before the start of class so there is ample time to make the accommodations. |
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| Attendance Policy |
Lamar State College - Port Arthurs absentee policy allows instructors deciding attendance policies as it fits with the overall view of the department and college. Therefore, you are expected to follow the attendance policy as provide Here. If a student leaves and returns during class or leaves the class before the class is over, they may be considered absent. Faculty members are not obligated to provide opportunities for students to make-up missed assignments and tests as a result of a students absence from class. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the class every day. A roll sheet will be passed out to all students to sign. If a student is caught signing for another student, they will be treated as if they did not attend the lecture meeting as well as the student they attempted to sign for. If a student is late or missed class, it is their responsibility to notify me. A student is allowed a maximum of 4 absences (which constitutes 2 classes per week). Any more than 4 absences could result in the students final grade being lowered a letter grade for every additional unexcused absence. A student should not stop attending a class without formally withdrawing from the course by the institutions published Last Day for Students to Drop. If a student stops attending after the published Last Day for Students to Drop, the student may receive a grade of "F" in the class. The professor will submit the last date of attendance for students receiving a grade of "F" or "W". Withdrawal from a course(s) may affect a students current or future financial aid eligibility. Students should consult the Financial Aid Office to learn both short and long term consequences of a withdrawal. |
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| 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 |
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| 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. | ||||||||||
| MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus E-mail and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal (My.LamarPA.edu). When you've logged in, click the email icon in the upper right-hand corner to check email, or click on the "My Courses" tab to get to your Course Homepage. Click the link to your course and review the information presented. It is important that you check your email and Course Homepage regularly. You can also access your grades, transcripts, and determine who your academic advisor is by using MyLSCPA. | ||||||||||
| Other |
Alternative Operations during Campus Closure In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, Lamar State College - Port Arthur may need to move to altered operations and course delivery methods. During this time, Lamar State College - Port Arthur may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system Blackboard, online conferencing through TEAMS, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Lamar State College - Port Arthurs website for instructions about continuing courses remotely, instructor email notifications on the method of delivery and course-specific communication, and LSCPA email notifications for important general information. COVID-19 Online/Virtual Environment Instructional Commitment The ongoing COVID-19 situation will require that some course materials and instruction are provided through an online and/or virtual format. Even if all or a portion of a class was originally scheduled to meet face to face, social distancing guidelines associated with COVID-19 will limit the number of students who are able to attend face to face classes in person simultaneously. Further, circumstances associated with COVID-19 could cause the college to be forced to shift completely to an online and/or virtual delivery at any time during the semester. While LSCPA faculty members are committed to providing students the option of face to face instruction if possible, students should be prepared to continue their classes in an online and/or virtual environment if necessary. Lamar State College - Port Arthur is committed to maintaining engaging, high quality instruction regardless of the delivery format. The Lamar State College - Port Arthur Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been exposed to COVID-19 or diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition on the COVID-19 Notification Form (available via a link on the Student Code of Conduct COVID-19 webpage). This information will be provided to the Dean of Student Services. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID-19 link on the LSCPA website. |
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| HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSC-PA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||||
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