Austin Community College Department of Government

Summer 2015 Texas State & Local Government

GOVT 2306 Unique #: 31236

Instructor: Samuel West Meeting Place: PIN 410 Office: TBD Meeting Time: MTWTH 10­11:50 Office Hours: TWTH 12­12:30 Email: samuel.west@austincc.edu

Course Description

This course is an introduction to Texas State and Local Government. The course includes an introduction to a

framework for analyzing Texas government and politics, the constitutional basis for Texas government and politics, the

processes of Texas government and politics, the institutions of Texas government and politics, and the policies of

Texas government and politics.

Competencies

Students will need good reading, writing, critical thinking, and study skills to succeed in this course. Students will be

expected to read and learn from a textbook, complete out­of­class assignments, navigate the Web in a search for

information, write essays on exams, and, depending on the instructor, submit research papers or book reviews or policy

analyses or other such work. Students will be expected to follow grammar and spelling rules in all elements of the

course, as well as observe MLA or Turabian or some other accepted citation style in completing research­based course

work. Although students will be provided with test dates and general learning outcomes, they will be expected to

attend class, learn from lectures, and study information in detail to prepare for the tests.

General Education Learning Outcomes

• Civic and Cultural Awareness ­ Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing,

contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural

practices

• Critical Thinking ­ Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information.

•Personal Responsibility ­ Identifying and applying ethical principles and practices; demonstrating effective learning,

creative thinking, and personal responsibility.

•Written, Oral and Visual Communication ­ Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and

medium.

Technology Requirements

In addition to a basic technological prowess, there are certain technology requirements you’ll need to take full

advantage of the resources used in this course.

ACCmail: Activate (or verify) and regularly check your ACCmail address. ACC provides all students with an

ACCmail address (taking the general form firstname.lastname@g.austincc.edu) for official communication.

This is the only address I can use to send official communication. I’ll send notices and supplemental readings

to your ACCmail address on a regular basis.

Blackboard: You'll need to log in and regularly check Blackboard­­the virtual learning environment

containing the course syllabus, announcements, handouts, study guides, assignments, discussion board, and a

grade book where I'll post your grades. ACC's Instructional Computing and Technology Services has

published a Blackboard Support site with a brief Getting Started guide and answers to Frequently Asked

Questions (FAQ's).

Modern web browser: You’ll need a modern web browser to access some of the online resources.

PDF Reader: You’ll need a Portable Document Format (pdf) reader to read some of the supplemental

readings. Adobe’s Acrobat Reader is available free of charge from the Adobe Corporation for most modern

operating systems.

QuickTime Player: You’ll need Apple’s QuickTime player (or a media player that will play QuickTime video)

to view certain video files. QuickTime Player is available free of charge from Apple Computer.

Windows Media Player: You’ll need Windows Media Player (or a player that will play Windows Media files).

Windows Media Player is available free of charge from the Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh users can

install Flip4Mac to view Windows Media files.

Adobe Flash Player. You’ll need Adobe’s Flash Player to view certain video files. If you can’t view Flash

files, visit Adobe Corporation’s Adobe Flash Player site to download a free player.

NOTE: ACC’s Instructional Computing & Technology Services provides computing resources for ACC students to

complete course assignments, write papers, conduct research, use specialized course software, search the Internet and

communicate with their professors and classmates.

Instructional Methodology (Textbook)

Our primary textbook will be The Texas Politics Project This is a no­cost online resource and most readings will be

drawn from it.

We will read a fair amount of supplemental readings in addition to the textbook in this course. Links to these readings

are in the course schedule at the bottom of the syllabus.

You should regularly read the Texas Tribune to keep up with developments in Texas state and local government.

Over the course of the semester I may encounter additional supplemental materials I want you to consult. I’ll notify you

via email with either full text or the URLs for such materials.

The Texas Education Code (51.301) mandates that “every college and university receiving state support or state aid from public funds shall give a course of instruction in government or political science that includes consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. This course shall have a credit value of not less than six semester hours or its equivalent.”

Therefore, the Government Department of Austin Community College has established the following goals: To provide six semester hours of instruction in politics and government emphasizing participatory

democracy. To provide ACC Government majors the foundation needed to pursue a baccalaureate degree in

political science.

Grading System

For this course, there will be four exams. Participation is also required. The grade breakdown is as follows:

20% ­ Exam #1

20% ­ Exam #2

20% ­ Exam #3

20% ­ Exam #4

10% ­ Essay

10% ­Participation

100%

Exams: Exams will be multiple choice format.

Participation: An important component for successfully completing this course is class participation. Every class

begins with a discussion of a topical story (or stories) from a major Texas news source (probably theTexas Tribune).

You must lead one discussion over the course of the semester. The story must be related to Texas state and local

government. Arrive to class ready to lead or join in discussion on one or more of the stories. Although I am a strong

believer in volunteerism, I will "cold call" on you to elicit your input should the volunteer spirit wane.

Participation counts for 10% of your final grade. Participation is graded on your: 1) displaying knowledge about the

story; 2) effectively presenting the story to your classmates; and, 3) linking the story to issues discussed in lectures or

the textbook.

Essay: To aid you in your news story presentation you will need to turn in a one to two page essay. Your essay must

accomplish three things: First, summarize your news story. Describe the facts of the story in your own words. Second,

connect the story to a larger themes or concepts in the class. Explain why a Texas citizen or student of Texas

government ought to be interested in the news story. Third, react to the news story. What did you find surprising or

interesting? Do you agree or disagree with something in the article? Why or Why not? If the story raises a problem, can

you offer a solution? Ultimately you need to have some sort of reaction or opinion or point of view concerning the

news story.

All essays are due in class or electronically through blackboard on the day you present your news story to the class by 5

pm. Please attach a copy of your news story and/or provide a link with your essay to the original news story. I will

deduct a portion of your grade for late papers. All work must be in your own words; Do not quote from the news story

without using quotation marks and proper citation. Please use standard 11 or 12 point font; double­spaced with standard

margins. Make sure you write clearly with correct spelling and grammar.

You will encounter a variety of viewpoints on volatile topics over the course of the semester. You may disagree,

perhaps strongly, with opinions expressed by your classmates (and most certainly me).

As long as we treat each other with respect, these differences enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where

we learn from each other. Your grades will not be influenced by beliefs or ideas expressed in class, in assignments, or

on exams.

Grading: The grading scale for this course is:

90­100% A

80­89% B

70­79% C

60­69% D

< 60% F

Attendance Policy: There is no official attendance policy for this course. However, from my experience, evidence

shows that students who come regularly to class often perform well. You should also note, announcements are not

made via Blackboard. You have to attend class to get this information—this is one benefit of attending class.

Scholastic Dishonesty: Act prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered includes scholastic

dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarism (using another

author’s words or arguments without attribution), and collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with another person in

preparing written work for fulfillment of any course requirement).

Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self­expression. Academic work

is defined as, but not limited to, tests, quizzes (whether taken electronically or on paper), projects (either individual or

group), classroom presentations, papers, and homework. If a student commits any of the above actions, the instructor

will seek disciplinary action in the form of an academic penalty (which will include a zero on the academic work in

question and may include a course grade of “F”). Such disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the instructor

following College procedures outlined in the Student Handbook.

Academic Freedom: Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom

situation that includes discussion and critical thinking, particularly about political ideas, there are bound to be many

differing viewpoints. Students may not only disagree with each other at times, but the students and instructor may also

find that they have disparate views on sensitive and volatile topics. It is the instructor’s hope that these differences will

enhance class discussion and create an atmosphere where students and instructor alike will be encouraged to think and

learn from each other. Therefore, be assured that the students’ grades will not be adversely affected by any beliefs or

ideas expressed in class or in assignments. Rather, we will all respect the views of others when expressed in classroom

discussions.

Incomplete Policy: I will assign a temporary grade of “I” under the following conditions: (a) you have a valid reason

for requesting an incomplete and have completed at least three­quarters of the course requirements; (b) you request an

Incomplete and complete the required form; and, (c) you agree to complete the course by the deadline established on

the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Office Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical, cognitive, or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must meet request reasonable accommodations through the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Office on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three week before the start of the semester."

Course Schedule and Reading Assignments Please note: The syllabus should be used as a guideline for course objectives and student responsibilities. The

instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus, including the course schedule, shown below. Any modification to

the schedule will be announced. Students are responsible for announcements and other information presented in class,

posted on Blackboard, and/or sent via email.

June 1: Class Introduction

Political Culture and the Texas Constitution

June 2: The Texas Model

Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right

Is Texas America?

Gail Collins, "As Goes Texas" (Video)

June 3: Political Knowledge and Political Ignorance

Why Study State and Local Government?

Just How Stupid Are We?

A Brief History of Texas

June 4: Political Culture, Socialization, and Ideology (Texas Politics Chapter 1)

Political Ideology Quiz

June 8: The Texas Constitution (Texas Politics Chapter 2)

Why is the Texas Constitution so Long?

June 9: The Texas Constitution

June 10: Review/Start Elections

June 11: Exam #1

The Media, Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Campaigns and Elections

June 15 Elections, Voting, and Campaigns (Texas Politics Chapter 8)

Texas 2020 NPR Special

June 16 Texas Political Parties (Texas Politics Chapter 9)

Party Identification

June 17 Texas Interest Groups (Texas Politics Chapter 10) and the Media

Who covers state news?

Who Owns the Media?

June 18 Exam #2

Institutions of the Government of Texas

June 22 The Legislative Branch (Texas Politics Chapter 3)

June 23 The Legislative Process (Texas Politics Chapter 4)

June 24 The Governor and the Executive Branch (Texas Politics Chapters 5 & 6)

Measuring and Comparing Governors' powers and authority

June 25 The Judicial Branch (Texas Politics Chapter 7)

June 29: Exam #3

Local Government and Government Finance

June 30: Local Government

County Government

History of County Government

County Organization

Functions of County Government

County Government Video

County Commissioner's Court

County Officials

County Judge

County Commissioner

District and County Clerk

Sheriff

Tax Assessor­Collector

Treasurer

Justice of the Peace

Constable

County Auditor

County Courthouses

County Courthouse Images (click on a few, some are beautiful)

Loving County (the least­populated county in the nation)

City and municipal government

Home Rule Charters

Council­Manager Form

Mayor­Council

Special Districts

July 1: Local Government

July 2: Financing Texas Government

Texas on the Brink (PDF)

July 6: Review

July 7: Exam #4