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-2306-017 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

Supplies

Access to reliable internet and a device to access the course through the internet.

Notebook and writing utensil

Student Performance

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

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

Expected Student Behavior: 

Because this is a hybrid course and we have in-class activities, I will not fully lecture over all chapters covered. You will need to read your textbook (online or physical copy) to get the best grade.

You only need to purchase the print book – we do NOT use an access code for online content. You can find the book at the AC bookstore or online through vendors like Chegg, Amazon, etc. If you want to buy an electronic copy, the first week of class you can sign up for free digital access to the book. This free access will expire before the course is over though, so at some point, you will need to buy either the book or the access code. The first assignment requiring you to read is within the first few days of class, so please sign up for access or get a book within the first two days, even if you are waiting on financial aid or for your order to be delivered.

During course discussions, please be aware that no one ever knows who is in the room with them and what life experiences they've had. Therefore, it is incredibly important to be respectful and kind during discussions, and speak in a manner that will always protect the safety of the learning environment for ALL students.

Amarillo College expects all students to engage in academic honesty and refrain from cheating and/or plagiarism.  I expect each student to complete their own work independently, when required, or collaboratively when required. Exams should be completed independently, as should assignments unless otherwise noted. Participation activities are expected to be conducted collaboratively. Penalties for cheating as well as plagiarism are outlined in the Amarillo College Student Handbook.

In our course calendar, I list due dates for all assignments. All work must be turned in on time to receive full credit. Calendar all due dates, use phone reminders, take advantage of the time you have, and plan ahead. 

You are responsible for your assignments in this course.

If need be, you will need to contact me to develop arrangements for homework submissions that will be turned in late. What is a reasonable or acceptable reason for turning in work late and what the timeline will be for turning in a late assignment is at my discretion.  As soon as you know you must miss an assignment, please contact me. If work is submitted late, it is subject to point or percentage deductions unless you and I have discussed your need for more time and I have granted an extension.

Further, to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to learn, cell phones must be silenced and stored out of sight when not in use for course related activities (absent emergency or “good cause” at my discretion). Air Pods or headphones of any type are not permitted in class unless the student receives accommodations from the institution or permission from me. 

Food and drinks are allowed so long as they are not disruptive to other students (i.e. noisy or stinky). 

Course Recording Policy:

Class Recording Policy: Students without approved accommodations are not permitted to record lectures in any format, including audio, video, or any other method, nor may they use speech-to-text or text-to-speech software to capture or transcribe the lecture. This policy also applies to recording the professor or fellow students. 

This policy is a deliberate instructional effort to provide students with a protected learning environment that is trustworthy and engaging. 

Grading Criteria

Type	Percentage
Exams (3; each worth 15%)	45%
Chapter Homework (7; lowest dropped; each worth 2.5%)	15%
Common Assessment	20%
Letter to TX Government Official	15%
Syllabus Affirmation & Video Quiz	5%

Grades in this course are not given, they are earned.  As a student, you will be required to complete the necessary work to earn your grade.

Overall Course Grades are broken down in this manner:

Letter Grade	Numerical Grade
A	89.5-100
B	79.5-89.4
C	69.5-79.4
D	59.5-69.4
F	59.4 and below

Exams: There will be 3 exams in this course. Two will be taken in-person and Exam #3 will be taken online through Blackboard.  The in-person exams will be held during class time as specified in the course schedule below.  Exams are NOT cumulative, meaning each exam will cover specific content (more information is on course schedule below). The exams will include assigned reading material from your textbook and content presented and discussed in class.

Second Chance Exam Policy: Students who fail an exam may take a different version of the exam to recover up to half of the points they missed. To be eligible, students must contact me within one week of taking the exam to arrange a retake. This opportunity is designed to support student learning while maintaining accountability.

Make-up Policy: All make-up exams must be arranged with the instructor.  If the student misses an exam, the student must arrange to take the exam within one week of the scheduled test date. There will be a 10% percent reduction of the overall grade on the exam for any student who does not have a documented, excused reason for missing the exam on the exam date. Make up exams will be taken in the Testing Center.

Physical notes and printed powerpoints will be allowed for exams, but no textbooks or electronic materials. Students with accommodations are required to take the exam at the Testing Center on the day of the exam, either before, during or after class time.

 

Chapter Homework:

Chapter readings are part of the homework in this course; reading is required. Additionally, there are several short Chapter Homework assignments throughout the course.

Chapter Homework assignments are all open book/open note. In fact, you are expected to read along in the chapter to properly complete the assignments.

Due dates are listed in the calendar below.

Common Assessment & Letter to TX Government Official:

Detailed instructions and grading information for these assessments can be found in our Blackboard course.

Attendance

Regular student engagement is absolutely necessary to realize success in an in-person class. When you miss class, you miss out not only on the lecture content delivered, but on the activities, which allow you develop practical skills and the interaction with your classmates that can aid comprehension. You are expected to regularly attend class and be prepared for the lesson as we will have participation activities every class day that relate the assigned material. 

 Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class, and excessive tardiness or leaving early may count as an absence. While attendance will be monitored through Watermark, it will not be factored into your course grade. Instead, questions from daily class activities will be included on the exams. 

In hybrid courses, attendance is particularly crucial to your success, as we only meet approximately 15 times during the semester. This makes it even more important that you prioritize attending class. 

ETIQUETTE: Students are expected to conduct themselves and exchange ideas, opinions and information in a respectful manner.  Good etiquette also includes respectful practices like not sleeping, not scrolling social media or texting, and not talking excessively to one's neighbor or friend when class activities are going on. If warnings are disregarded, I reserve the right to count the student as non-participatory and penalize the current assignment for which the behavior is continuing to occur.     

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING ILLNESS: If you are feeling ill, I strongly encourage you to please stay home. Accommodations will be made.

KEY DATES: You must physically attend class by the Census date on Monday, March 24 (03/24/2025) to avoid an automatic withdrawal from the course.
Final Date to Withdraw from the Course without a Failing Grade: Tuesday, April 29 (04/29/2025).

Calendar

Additional Information

DEPARTMENT POLICY: If a student scores below 70% on an exam or writing assignment, they will be required to attend tutoring per the instructor’s directions before being allowed to complete the next assigned work.

Please contact me if you have questions or problems that are impacting your performance in this class. My contact information is at the top of this document. 

Exceptions to the above course policies:

Exceptions to course policies can be granted unless a student is experiencing significant hardship or bereavement and the student communicates with their instructor in a timely fashion. Technical problems are not an acceptable excuse for late work unless there was a problem with Amarillo College's systems or services used by the school.

Your instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus, calendar, or assignments if needed.

Please contact me if you have questions or problems that are impacting your performance in this class. As much as possible, I will be happy to help you. My contact information is at the top of this document.