Fall 2025 Course Syllabus
Course: GOVT-2306 (Section: 02, CRN: 92300) Texas Government |
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Instructor Information | |||||||||
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Instructor | Damaso Sosa | ||||||||
sosade@lamarpa.edu | |||||||||
Phone | (409) 984-6229 | ||||||||
Office | Madison Monroe Educational - Room: 228 | ||||||||
Office Hours | Instructor available immediately before and after class or by appointment. Feel free to email me for an appointment ....sosade@lamarpa.edu |
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Additional Contact Information | Student Center 410 | ||||||||
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. | ||||||||
Required 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.
For off campus students you will be provided with a textbooks that we will use for this course. For all other students we will use an online book that is free to use. For Texas Government 2306 the link is https://oercommons.org/courseware/8453 |
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Additional Materials/Resources | Articles and supplemental information as provided by the instructor. | ||||||||
Corequisites/Prerequisites | None | ||||||||
Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
Program Student Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
Lecture Topics Outline |
Government 2306 Texas Government Texas History and Politics State Constitution / American Federal System The Legislature Executive Departments and Governor Court Systems Local Governments Voting and Political Participation Elections and Campaigns Political Parties Interest Groups and Lobbying Public Policy Criminal Justice System Financing State Government Public Opinion and Media |
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Major Assignments Schedule | All tests will be given in essay form. Class participation, although not mandatory, will help your grade. In the event of a lockdown read the next chapter under lecture topics not covered in class period. Do this each time we cannot meet due to lockdown. | ||||||||
Final Exam Date | December 4, 2025 - 8:00 AM Through December 11, 2025 - 8:00 PM | ||||||||
Grading Scale | 90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D Below 59 = F | ||||||||
Determination of Final Grade |
Addition of all test grades divided by number of essays. | ||||||||
Course Policies | |||||||||
Instructor Policies | Makeup of missed assignments and essays are at instructors discretion. | ||||||||
Attendance Policy | Class attendance is important. I will assume that students will be in class except for circumstances beyond the students control. Assignments will still be done and due upon return to class. | ||||||||
Additional Information | I will provide each student with a policy on the use of AI in my 1206 class. This policy outlines acceptable uses of AI for all students in Mr. Sosa's Government 2305 and 2306 classes. | ||||||||
Institutional Policies | |||||||||
MyLSCPA | Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA. | ||||||||
Academic Honesty | Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty. | ||||||||
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 Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241. | ||||||||
COVID 19 Information | The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website. | ||||||||
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. | ||||||||
HB 2504 | This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504. | ||||||||
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect | As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual. | ||||||||
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct | LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website. | ||||||||
Clery Act Crime Reporting |
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website. |
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Grievance / Complaint / Concern | 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. | ||||||||
Department Information |
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