Texas Government Syllabus for 2013-2014
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

GOVT-2306-PSH Texas Government

Prerequisites

RDNG 0331-minimum grade of C or a score on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading skills

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.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ REQUIRED BOOKS:
\ Title:  Texas Politics Today
\ Edition:   2011-2012 Edition
\ Author:  Maxwell, Crain, and Santos, et. al.
\ ISBN:   978-0-495-90948-4

\

\ NOTE:   Please remember that each student is responsible for purchasing the CORRECT Textbook/Readers for this course.  It is very easy in the hectic early days of a new term to glance at a card in the bookstore and select the wrong books.  It is also possible for a student to get conflicting advice from others, including bookstore personnel who mean well, but may be misinformed about the correct books for the proper Professor.  So be sure to go online, print-out-a-copy of the Syllabus and bring it with you when buying your books.  If in doubt, buy what is listed on the Syllabus, then sort out any issues later.  The Syllabus is the final word on which book is correct, so read it carefully and buy accordingly.

Supplies

The Exams for this Course are taken Online which means that each student will need access to a reliable computer and WIRED Internet service in order to take each of the required Quizzes.  You may take your Exams from Home, or on the College campus

Student Performance

\ Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

\

\ 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 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.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

DISABILITY STATEMENT:    Any student, who because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (SSC 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.
 

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:  Student records are confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.  Therefore, the student’s progress within this class cannot be discussed with parents, friends, or guardians without written permission from the student.  The student (not a parent, friends, or the professor) is responsible for contacting the professor if the student is concerned about their progress in the class, absent for an extended period due to illness, surgery, or other circumstances, or any other extenuating situations which may arise during the course of the semester. The student is responsible for following and understanding their rights and responsibilities as listed in the student handbook at on the AC Webpage.  
 

NOTE:  If a student misses class, it is the student’s responsibility to get class notes from another student.  DO NOT ASK THE PROFESSOR FOR THE NOTES.
 

STUDY GROUPS:  Student-led study groups are encouraged.  The professor will provide, if requested, a secure-web forum for each individual study group.  But, never forget that I am also available to you and will gladly help during my Office Hours or Appointments. 

CELL PHONES:  Cell phone, pagers or any electronic device that might disturb the classroom must be turned off during the class period or it will be confiscated.
 

CHEATING:  Occasionally a few students will attempt to cheat on one of the examinations.  Students caught cheating in any way or using materials other than those allowed will have their examinations rejected and, at minimum, receive a grade of F (0 points) for that examination.  Additionally such students may receive a grade of F for the course and may be suspended from the College (penalties which become a permanent part of a penalized student’s record and cannot be eliminated by the repeat-option).

BEHAVIOR POLICY: To the mature adults who are members of this class I apologize for the insult imposed upon you by this section of the syllabus.  Unfortunately, past behavior by your fellow students has necessitated its inclusion.  Students are expected to behave in a manner befitting adults with the proper respect displayed for their fellow students, the Professor, and the College. This is not middle school, elementary school, nor Lad ‘N’ Lassie day care center, and I have no intention of tolerating behavior which is more stereotypical of any of the aforementioned.  In order to clarify my position, the following list is included as examples of behavior which may result in permanent expulsion from this class.  A student will receive one verbal warning only.  Verbal warnings may include dismissal from class for the remainder of the class period.  A second incident results in permanent expulsion with no chance for reinstatement.

 Prohibited behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. sleeping, head on desk
2. interrupting lecture by any unsuitable means
3. banging, tapping on wall, desk, or floor
4. passing notes
5. disrespect for fellow students
6. wearing headphones - except for hearing assistance as approved
7. disrespectful comments
8. cheating in any form
9. disruptive talking/visiting between students
10. any other disruptive behavior
11. doing homework related to this class or any other
12. moving from desk to desk, walking around room
13. throwing paper wads or any other objects
14. knitting, needlepoint, other arts and crafts

The instructor reserves the right to assign seating if necessary to preserve order.  Contrary to what you are probably now thinking, it is not my intention to design a class which is a prison camp for college students.  I am in favor of having fun in class perhaps as much as anyone; however, it must not be at the expense of an environment conducive to learning.
 

Review behavior guidelines in the AC student handbook.

 

Grading Criteria

Required Assignments and Composition of Final Grade:  
--5 quizzes (Worth 40% of your course grade or 8% for each quiz)
--1 Individual In-Class Presentation, including a brief written summation (min. 1000 words each summary). (Worth 25% of your course grade).
--1 Group Honors Expo Presentation associated with your Community Service Project, including a brief written summation (min. 1000 words each summary). (Worth 35% of your course grade).
--Participation in Community Service Project tied to your Group Honors Expo Presentation.  This will require 3 hours of out-of-class time scheduled at the student's convenience with the organiziation/person, etc. during the semester. 
There is NO extra credit offered.

 

Required Exams:  Students will be tested, on average, once every two to three weeks over the roughly 15 weeks of the Semester. Testing will be done entirely Online, during a window of time that opens at 0800 (8am) on Friday mornings and will end at 2355 (11:55pm) on Sunday nights.  You may access the Exam only once, so plan your effort accordingly.   That means you must limit all distractions from friends, family, the neighbor's dog, or anything else that may get in the way of you doing your very best on these Quizzes.  Each quiz has 20 questions worth 5 points each a total of 100 points with a 40-minute time limit open over the Friday to Sunday period.  This 3-day window allows everyone to take each of the Tests, but although there are 6 Exams scheduled during the Term, you may drop the lowest score from the first 5 that are given.  That means that the Last Quiz must be taken and its grade may not be excluded from your Course Average.  The logic here is that if you were not required to take that last test then you would simply skip the final two weeks of the course, and the whole point is for you to learn, not just get your "ticket punched."  Since you are given the chance to drop the lowest grade from the Test, then I DO NOT allow any Make-Up Assignments -- for any reason so do not ask.  The second reason for not granting Make-Ups is that they tend to be more work for an already over-stressed student, and by allowing the Drop option instead, I feel that everyone benefits while still protecting your opportunity to succeed in this class.  So remember, there will be 6 Quizzes in total given about every second weekend, and you may drop the lowest ONE (1) of the first 5 that are taken, including a quiz you might miss due to illness or some other issue.  But everyone must participate in the Last Quiz and that score will count.  So to summarize, there are 6 scheduled Quizzes and students may drop the lowest ONE (1) of the first 5 Quizzes, BUT everyone must take the last Quiz, scheduled for the last Friday-Sunday period prior to the start of Final Exam week, and the score from that Quiz #6 counts!  The Quizzes comprise a total of 40% of your class average, while the remaining 60% will come from the other Assignments (listed above).

 

To summarize, each student will take 6 Quizzes during the Term and may drop one (1) of those Tests (from the first five) so that 5 Quizzes worth 8% each will count for 40% of the class average.  The Last Quiz is Required for Every Student and May Not be Dropped under any circumstances, so plan accordingly.  It is risky to either ignore one of the earlier Quizzes, or to assume that you will do well on the Last One only to find that you desperately need the points from that Last Quiz and find that you "bombed it" and are stuck with a poor grade instead of a higher one from earlier in the Term that must be "tossed out" because only 5 scores will count, and one of those is that Last Quiz.  Please be forewarned and be prepared as the Semester closes to do your best on that Last Quiz. 

 

GRADE SCALE:
A          90 and above
B          80-89
C         70-79
D         60-69
F          Failing (below 60)

 

MAKE-UP POLICY: There are no make-up Quizzes or Assignments under any circumstances. A missed Quiz will simply become a dropped score-- no exceptions.  There is NO extra credit offered. Remember, everyone must drop two of the first 5 Quizzes but ALL STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE LAST Quiz and the score will count.  The other Assignments must be submitted on the dates listed, with no extensions or exemptions.

 

PRESENTATIONS: 

The Individual Presentation:  Students will select a candidate running in the 2014 Texas Primary for any office (city, county, or state) and from any party and explore the candidate's qualification for the office and determine if they are qualified and why.  Explore the candidate's political platform, does it conform or differ from their party's goals, what do they hope to achieve for the future, have they held office before and if so, what was their record in office, and more.  Bottom line, explore if this candidate is worthy of a person's vote and why or why not. (Worth 25% of your course grade)

 

Honors Expo Group Presentation:  The Presentation and associated community service projects will be coordinated with Professor Powell.  You may request to create your own team, but any particular needs will be handled by Professor Powell.  All projects must be approved, and include a summary, bibliography, and any multi-media requirements.  The group will explore some aspect of Texas Government locally that needs a solution and this is where the "community service" aspect comes into play.  Your group will seek to find a way to benefit the community, organization, person, event, issue, etc. that you chose and use your community service time to make that happen.  Your presentation at the Honors Expo will be how and what your group did and how you went about that goal.  For example, your group may decide to help inform the citizens of Amarillo of the new law "Don't Text and Drive" and the Community Service aspect might be creating a commerial for the 3 local news channels to air.  Another idea may be to attend a local political event and volunteer your time to better organize the voting booths or change a city ordinance.  The goal is to use Texas Government to better serve your community (which includes Amarillo College, your Church, the City of Amarillo, etc.)  There are many avenues from on-campus to online that your project and community service might explore so put on your thinking caps!  You may use any method deemed appropriate, just remember it must be on Texas Government policy or event.  If you are in doubt, then discuss these with Professor Powell.  Your grades on these team presentations will be based upon the originality of the effort, equal participation by all members, the depth of research, and clarity of the finished product.  Again, if you are uncertain, then please contact Professor Powell for guidance. Students will need to be on-time, present, and a full participant with their respective group on the day of the presentation to receive credit. (Worth 35% of your course grade).

 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESENTATION:

1) For Individual Presentations, students should plan approxiately 5-10 minutes.  Group Presentation In-Class:  Each group will give a presentation in which each member will participate equally in the in-class presentation of approximately 20-25 minutes.  Each student will contribute no less than 3 slides or other multimedia (such as YouTube video, etc.) to their appropriate AC Connect location for building the presentation on or before the date due. 

2)  Students MUST submit via the SafeAssign link their accompanying essay of no less than 1000 words and no more than 2000 words.  The essay will be based upon the student's presentation and research using no fewer than three (3) scholarly sources other than their textbook.  Students will cite their sources within their paper as well as submit a bibliography. If you need help with that simply contact the Writer's Corner in the English Department and ask for help. They have created a very useful resource for all of Amarillo College students to gain advice for any written assignment for any class and should be commended and used by all.  In addition, the student's individual slides/multimedia should be included in the submitted paper to the Professor. Remember, this Essay needs to be submitted via the SafeAssign link ONLY and will not be accepted in any other form as mandated by College rules. Failure to submit an associated essay will result in a 50-point deduction.

3) As a part of this essay, students will evaluate the participation and research of their fellow group members and interaction in the Group Presentation.

4)  Students WILL be required to attend at least 1 in-person meeting with their group.  Based upon what your groups decides, this meeting may take place in the 15 minutes before/after class, later in the day/week, or on a weekend but whenever that meeting is set by the majority of members and group leader, you MUST attend at least once.  Group leaders will take a written attendance record to be submitted to the Professor.  Groups may decide to meet more than once but a member MUST attend at least one.

5)  Each group will have a designated area on AC Connect for discussion and submission for their project slides and everyone MUST actively participate.

Attached is a rubric for grading the overall presentation/essay/communication but here are some specific deductions for breaking the rules.  Remember, the point here, everybody plays, and dumping the work off on one or two students in a Group is not going to be tolerated! 

Late submission of essay and/or slides -- For every 24 hours beyond the due date, the student will lose a letter grade deduction. For example, within 24 hours of the due date, a 10 point deduction; 48 hours, 20 points; 72 hours, 30 points, etc.

Late to Class the day of Presentation -- The student will lose a letter grade deduction (10 points). The whole group is depending upon YOU so although we all know that emergencies, car trouble, sickness, etc. can occur, try to plan ahead for any eventuality.  For example, one student in a previous semester who had an excused absence on Presentation Day created a video for her segment.

Failure to attend on day of Presentation and/or Submit an Essay. This is a vital part of your individual and/or group presentation. Failure to submit an essay or failure to attend on any Presentation Day is an automatic 50-point deducation and could result in a zero (0) for the assignment.

 

Rubric for Project   Grade  A Answer 90-100 points B Answer| 80-89 points C Answer 70-79 points D Answer 60-69 points Failing 50 or less pts Presentation   Presentation is communicated clearly, factual, and fits well with the group's project. 3 or more slides/multimedia support the presentation. Student is on-time and dressed appropriately for a presentation. Presentation is communicated effectively, factual, and fits with the group's project. 3 slides/ multimedia support the presentation. Student is on-time and dressed appropriately for a presentation. Presentation is communicated effectively, few facts to support the material and fits with the group's project. 2  slides/multimedia support the presentation. Student is on-time for a presentation. Presentation is communicated ineffectively, material is not well supported with facts, and topic does not fit with the group project. 1-2  slides/multimedia support the presentation. Student is late for a presentation.   Presentation is communicated ineffectively, material is not supported with facts, and topic does not fit with the group project. 1 or no   slides/multimedia support the presentation. Student is late for a presentation. Essay   Thesis statement is specific, clear and determines paper's structure. Student uses citations and has a bibliography with 3 or more scholarly sources and meets the minimum word criteria. The essay includes the student's individual multimedia slides.   Essay is submitted to the appropriate AC Connect on or before the due date/time. Thesis statement is specific but less than clear and determines paper's structure. Student uses citations and has a bibliography with 3 scholarly sources and meets the minimum word criteria. The essay includes the student's individual multimedia slides.   Essay is submitted to the appropriate AC Connect on the due date/time. Thesis statement is unspecific and unclear but it determines paper's structure. Student uses only a few citations and has a bibliography with 2 scholarly sources and does not meet the minimum word criteria. The essay does not include the student's individual multimedia slides.   Essay is submitted to the appropriate AC Connect on the due date/time or late.   Thesis statement is, unspecific and unclear and paper has no focus. Student uses only a no citations and has a bibliography with 1 scholarly sources and does not meet the minimum word criteria. The essay does not include the student's individual multimedia slides.   Essay is submitted to the appropriate AC Connect  late. No thesis statement is given. Student uses only a no citations and has a bibliography with 1 scholarly sources and does not meet the minimum word criteria. The essay does not include the student's individual multimedia slides.   Essay is submitted to the appropriate AC Connect  late. Group Interaction   Student is present at one or more documented in-person meetings. Student participates actively in the AC Connect group discussion and makes 5 or more entries of quality. Student submits 3 or more slides to the appropriate discussion group on or before the due date for creating the presentation. Student is present at one documented in-person meetings. Student participates actively in the AC Connect group discussion and makes 5 entries of quality. Student submits 3 slides to the appropriate discussion group on or before the due date for creating the presentation. Student is present at one documented in-person meetings but is late or does not actively engage. Student participates actively in the AC Connect group discussion and makes 4 entries of quality. Student submits 2 slides to the appropriate discussion group on the due date for creating the presentation. Student is NOT present at the one mandatory meeting in-person meeting. Student participates actively in the AC Connect group discussion and makes 3 entries of quality. Student submits 1 or 2 slides to the appropriate discussion group on the due date or late for creating the presentation. Student is NOT present at the one mandatory meeting in-person meeting. Student participates actively in the AC Connect group discussion and makes 2 or less entries of quality. Student submits 1 slide or less to the appropriate discussion group on the due date or late for creating the presentation.

 

Attendance

Attendance is necessary to successfully complete this course.  See AC Student Handbook for guidelines. 

ATTENDANCE POLICY
As Honor Students, you have shown that success is important to you and as your Professor, I want to assist each student putting forth their best effort in this course towards that goal.  This course is a hybrid, meeting only once a week to discuss the readings, group or individual projects and/or for students to meet with their respective group.  This makes attendance a MUST, not an option.  Therefore, every student will be permitted 2 absences (for any reason).  After the two (2) allowed absences, any missed class will result in a 5-point deduction from student's Final Course Average.  Remember, for each missed class (after the 2 allowed absences), a 5-point deduction will occur from your Final Course Average.  For Example, if a student misses an additional 2 classes, then 10 points will be deducted, 3 classes -- 15 points, and so on. 

Attendance is being on-time for class.  Any student who arrives later than 15 minutes for class will be counted as absent for that day.

NOTE:  This is a hybrid course which meets once a week for lecture requiring student attendance. This is NOT an online course.

QUIZ SCHEDULE:  Quizzes will, on average, be administered at the end of every two to three weeks the class meets during the 15 weeks of the Regular term.  This means that a great deal of material will be covered in lecture/discussion in the period between the Quizzes.   Therefore, it is imperative that students be in attendance each day, since most of the content that will be tested will come from the Professor's lecture/Discussion with the class.  I cannot be emphasize strongly enough just how important being part of that interaction between the class and the Professor is when learning Government.  This is not a subject that is bound by formulas or learned by memorizing the names of bones or atomic tables.  The foundation of Government is the story of the foundation of the State, and the only proven way to learn that story well is to participate in a discussion of what happened and why.  So please make every effort to attend all classes, and seriously consider forming Study Groups with your classmates to spread the workload out among several people and to learn from their interpretations of the events we are all studying.  Also, ask the Professor to cover anything you do not understand. I hold an Advanced Degree in this field of study, spending years of study and thousands of dollars to be able to teach you in the best way possible.  So please take advantage of that while I am learning from you as well.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

AC Connect for Course Webpage:  Students can access the associated course webpage on the Internet through the AC Connect Server at https://acconnect.actx.edu or through the AC Homepage http://www.actx.edu/.   Students will be able to access and complete the quizzes on the associated calendar dates, view their quiz scores, review the Course Syllabus, and more.  All electronic correspondence between student and Professor must to be conducted through the AC Connect -- Course Home Page – Send E-mail link.

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE:  It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before APRIL 24, 2014.

COPYRIGHT OF COURSE:  The course presentations/materials shall not be reproduced, distributed, re-used, or revised without prior knowledge and consent of the professor. The content of this class is copyrighted and protected under laws similar to those governing more traditional materials such as books or articles.   Therefore, audio recorders must have PRIOR approval of the instructor and cannot be disseminated beyond personal use and no visual reproductions or photographs are allowed under any circumstances.

HOLIDAYS:  No class will be held on the following dates:
Monday - Friday, March 10-14, 2014 - Spring Break Holiday
Thursday, March 20, 2014 - No Class (Prof. Powell's Class ONLY)
Friday - April 18, 2014 - Easter Friday Holiday

**Changes or adjustments in course material, or other parts of this syllabus may be made during the semester if circumstances warrant.