Texas Government Syllabus for 2024-2025
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. <strong>The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. </strong>

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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-2306-014 Texas Government

Prerequisites

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Texas Government (Teas, Jefferies, Shomaker, Watson and Gilmour)

LibreText Social Sciences

This is an online textbook that will be free for you to use. There will be a link in Blackboard you will use to access to the text. There are no other books you need to purchase for this course.

Supplies

Access to a reliable computer and reliable internet. Smartphones have numerous problems with the Exams and Quizzes in this course. All students should have access to a desktop or laptop computer with a reliable internet access when taking Exams and Quizzes.

Student Performance

This course provides students with an overview of Texas government, both at the state and local level, and the political workings of both. Students will gain a better understanding of political parties, processes, structures, issues, and institutions at both the state and local level while at the same time becoming better citizens that are able to contribute to their local governments in a meaningful way. In addition to understanding the basics of state government and politics, we will take a look at why political action at the local level is so important. We will also study current events in both Texas and local governments during the course of the semester and how they impact us. 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Define and describe federalism and other ways of organizing government and know the status of the American states within the federal system and the changing character and development of the Federal relationship.
2. List and describe three branches of government in Texas.
3. Know the Constitutional powers and limitations of political actors in Texas.
4. Identify and define the rights of Texas Citizens.
5. Evaluate the public policies of the government of Texas in comparison to ideals.
6. Explain the protection of the individual through the limitations on government power through federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, the Bill of Rights, and democracy.
7. Explain the structures and functions of political participation including parties, interest groups, and elections.
8. Explain the historical development of constitutionalism as a basis for political society and the historical development of the Texas Constitution and the Political system that has developed under that Constitution.
9. Explain local government structures, functions, and organization in Texas.

Students 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

Students are expected to follow all Amarillo College policies and procedures.

This course is designed as an online course that will not meet at any specific time of the week. In order to be successful in this course it is very important that you keep up with weekly assignments and readings. This course is not designed to have a weekly meeting time, therefore, it is on you to be mindful of the readings and work that is required for this course each week. This course is NOT self-paced – there WILL be weekly due dates that you are required to keep up and meet.  Each week will be organized with a folder in Blackboard. Clicking on that week's folder will take you to what coursework is expected for that week along with due dates for that work. You can also find those due dates in this syllabus and in the course schedule in Blackboard. You will have one week to complete everything before we move on to the next week's chapters and corresponding assignments.  This is how we will work the entire 8 weeks as we learn about our state and local systems of government. Self-motivation and discipline will be key for this course! Students are expected to stay up to date on deadlines and due dates. I do not accept late work without an approved, written excuse from Amarillo College or a doctor.

During discussion boards in the course, students are expected to be professional and follow common courtesy. The discussions in this class are meant to bring up various positions and sometimes the debate can be heated; however, it is expected that students will treat each other and the opinions of others with respect. It's ok to disagree, but we will practice civil discourse when doing so.

This course will follow the definition given by the Amarillo College Department of English:  Plagiarism is defined as the following:  the use of someone else’s exact words that are neither quoted nor cited; paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them; or using someone else’s research without citing it.  

Any plagiarized work submitted as your own without following the criteria listed above will not be accepted and the submitting student will receive a zero for that particular assignment.  

Any work copied and pasted from another student will likewise not be accepted.  In this case, both students will receive a zero for that particular assignment and will be referred to the Department Chair for possible academic discipline. 

In addition, the use of AI sources such a ChatGpt or Grammarly (or any others not named here) are NOT allowed to be used in this course and will constitute plagiarism. I am interested in what you the student think, not what you can coerce out of a computer or copy/paste from the internet. 

Grading Criteria

A = 90 - 100
B = 80 - 89
C = 70 - 79
D = 60 - 69
F = 0 - 59

Quiz Average  –  40%

Discussions Average  –  30%

Common Assessment Paper  –  10%

Local Government Project - 20%

I do not drop any grades. I do not accept late work of any sort. And I do not round any grades. The grade you earn is the grade you get.

Attendance

Students are expected to log in to the course each week and complete all coursework by the due date. It is the student's responsibility to log in each week and to keep up with due dates.

Calendar

Additional Information