Texas Government Syllabus for 2025-2026
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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. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

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-MCC2 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 Resources Student 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

Tech Supported

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

The State of Texas, Govt, Politics, and Policy by Mora latest edition from the Bookstore

You will also need to purchase a McGrawHill Connect subscription with this textbook.

The Bookstore clerks can help you with this purchase. 

Be Sure And Let the Clerk Know You Need A CONNECT SUBSCRIPTION WITH THE TEXTBOOK!

Supplies

A computer with a Hardwired Internet connection, with high speed internet service.

You will also need a camera and microphone.

Student Performance

Log in at least 5 minutes before class starts and be in a quiet place with low background noise.

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

Just act like an adult.

Grading Criteria

Grading

Each Chapter quiz is 5% of your grade           (14 X 5)   = 70%

Each PragerU video quiz is 3% of your grade  (5 X 3)    = 15%

Common Assessment Research Paper 7% of grade       =  7%

The Final Exam is 8% of your grade                                  =  8%

                                                                                               100%

Attendance

If you log to class at least 5 minutes early and have perfect attendance, 3 points will be added to your final grade.

Roll will be taken at the start of each class session.

Calendar

Additional Information

Texas Government (2306-MCC2) Fall II, 2025

David Green, instructor,  806-421-6171

Email – D0235165@actx.edu

Required textbook - The State of Texas, Govt, Politics, and Policy by Mora

Introductory Class Information

Welcome Texas Government Students!

My name is David Green, and I will be your instructor for this course.

This course will be taught entirely online. A class schedule and explanation of the grading schema is posted in the “Content” section of Blackboard and is also included in the course syllabus on the AC website. Please download it and keep it where you will have access to it for this class.

This class will meet over Blackboard Collaborate each Thursday evening at 7 PM for the class lecture. You will receive a Blackboard Collaborate class meeting invite and link in your Amarillo College email each week before the day of class.

The textbook you will need is The State of Texas, Government, Politics, and Policy, latest edition by Sherri Mora. It is available at the Amarillo College Bookstore, and I recommend if you have not already purchased it that you buy it immediately because class is going to move extremely fast.

You will also need to purchase a McGrawHill Connect subscription with the textbook to be able to access the chapters’ tests. Be sure to tell the bookstore clerks at the AC book store you need a McGrawHill Connect subscription with the textbook!!! The bookstore clerks will help you purchase your McGrawHill Connect subscription.

There is also a Common Assessment Research paper required for this course by the State of Texas, which will be 7% of your total grade. You will find detailed information on the research and writing of this paper on the “Content” section of Blackboard and we will go over this in class.

There will be 14-chapter quizzes out of the textbook, 5 PragerU video quizzes and a comprehensive final exam. The 14-chapter quizzes will comprise 70% of your grade ( 5% each), the PragerU quizzes will comprise 15% of your grade (3% each), the Final Exam will be 8% of your grade, and the Common Assessment Research Paper will be 7% of your grade for a total of 100%.

The textbook chapter quizzes and the PragerU video quizzes will be each Tuesday and be available all-day Tuesday in the “Content” section of Blackboard.

You will only have ONE ATTEMPT at each Chapter’s quiz and each Prager U quiz. Once you start a quiz, YOU MUST FINISH IT. You will not be able to close out and reopen the quiz, even if you still have time remaining!!!! ALL QUIZZES HAVE A TIME LIMIT! This will be just like taking a quiz or exam in an in-person class.

Each quiz is also timed. If you do not finish the quiz or test in the time allotted, Blackboard will close you out of the quiz or test and unanswered questions will be counted wrong.

Please take all quizzes on a computer which has high speed internet service and is hard wired into your internet router. Taking the quiz on your cell phone, tablet, or other wireless device greatly increases the likelihood you could be kicked off or disconnected from the AC/Blackboard website and you will not be allowed to reopen the quiz. This applies to the Final Exam also!!!

If you do not have a computer which is hard-wired and has high speed internet service, you can take the quiz on one of the computers at the Moore County campus building or any of the other AC campuses’ computer centers. The staff at these locations will be happy to help you with this.

It is not an excuse that your internet connection failed or was interrupted!!!

It is not an excuse that you had to work!!!!

It is not an excuse that you forgot about the test!!!

If you have any problems with Blackboard or taking any quizzes, CONTACT ME BY CALLING ME IMMEDIATELY!!! 806-421-6171

I will be available to answer any questions you may have by emailing me at d0235165@actx.edu or by calling me at 806-421-6171 between 9 AM and 8 PM each day. Please make sure to include your name, phone number and that you are in the Texas Government class in your phone message.

I really do prefer that you call me!!!  806-421-6171

The Census report is due on November 3, 2025, after the first Blackboard Collaborate Class Meeting. Since this is an online class, each student will need to attend the First Blackboard Collaborate Class Meeting. If you do not attend this Blackboard Collaborate meeting, you will be reported absent and dropped from the class by the AC administration. This is particularly important if you are a Quest student or receiving financial aid. You will receive a Blackboard Collaborate Meeting and link invite through your AC email address for EACH class meeting.

Do not miss this First Blackboard Collaborate Class Meeting!!!!

Check the Class Schedule for the date and time of the First Blackboard Collaborate Meeting!

I hope you will find Texas Government interesting and informative.

If you have any questions, please contact me as stated above. 806-421-6171

Good luck!!!

David Green