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-2306-001 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Texas Government 2.0

Summary

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. This course covers the development of the Texas political system of political science terminology, the teaching of the structures of the Texas political system, the impact of media, campaigns, elections, interest groups, and political parties on the political system, and some discussion of public policies and how they made the Texas political system. Topics include the foundations of Texas government and its political system, political socialization and public opinion, the judiciary, and bureaucracy. 

Supplies

Required Materials include Online Access to GOVT2306 Texas Government 2.0

The online resource for this course has been designed by online learning experts. It incorporates the best practices of online learning and is meant to be a structure through which you can present your own course. The benefit of using this model is that it adheres to internationally recognized standards of quality. Select GOVT2306 Texas Government 2.0 to access the online text resource.

Student Performance

Welcome to this 8-week course which begins on Monday, June 8, 2026 and ends on Thursday, July 30, 2026.  Final grades will be posted by noon on July 31, 2026; therefore Week 8 will open at the same time as Week 7. Once you complete Week 7 assignments, start on Week 8 assignments. Please review the course outline closely.

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

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. All outside resources must be cited and referenced in the document. “Plagiarism” shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work. “Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.

The term “Plagiarism” includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic material. 

Both the use of AI or a plagiarism document will result in a zero grade. Taken from the "Students Rights and Responsibilities"

Artificial Intelligence and Chat GPT

Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity and ethics in their use of technology. Tools that use artificial intelligence (AI) to generate written, visual, or other communications are not allowed when developing discussion forums or research papers. 

These are the guidelines for this course:

1) Students should not use AI tools on any graded work. The instructor may use an AI detector tool to analyze student work and if AI is detected, the grade for the assignment will be zero. 

2) When the instructor encourages use of an AI, students should still cite that information as coming from the AI. There should be a clear mark in any work of what was completed through the use of an AI tool and what was original student work.

3) Using an AI tool that is not intended for the assignment is considered academic dishonesty. The Scholastic Dishonesty policy will apply. The instructor may use an AI detector tool to analyze student work.

Grading Criteria

This is what you are graded on:

Grade Components

 This is how your course grade will be determined:

Course Grade Calculation

Attendance

No attendance information available

Calendar

Additional Information

Preferred Method of Contact

If you have a question or need clarification, the preferred method of contact is through the Message tool in Blackboard.  I normally respond within 24 hours Monday - Thursday with the exception of weekends and holidays.

Late Work Policy

1. If interested in completing past assignments, ALL CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETE (Example: all of Week 5 assignments), then contact your professor regarding the missed coursework: quiz, discussion, writing assignment, exam, etc...
2. Submit an email request as early in the week as possible and include the name of the assignment(s) wanting to have reopened. 
3. Email requests must be submitted by Friday evening. Requests sent Saturday and Sunday may not be honored per the Preferred Method of Contact. 
4. Only one Module will be reopened per email request and for a limited period of time (12 – 36 hours). 
5. Late work, if accepted will have points deducted for tardiness. 
6. Also, late work will not be permitted during the last full week of the course.
7. Students must contact the instructor if they will miss a due date for an assignment and make agreeable arrangements. Documentation of an excused absence may also be required.
8. Once an assignment has been graded, it will not be reopened to increase grade.

Technical Support

Amarillo College - ITS Division

Need help with something IT related? 

Below are some options to give you the quickest time to resolution. We aim to take care of any issue as fast as we can and want to provide you a way to submit your issues without trying to figure out where to go. 

1. Call 806-371-5100 during normal business hours to get help and open a ticket.
2. Send an email to Technology Information Center <tic@actx.edu>. In the email please put what your issue is and any error or explanation of what is happening. You can attach screenshots or anything else you think may help us figure out your problem quicker.
3. Open a ticket directly in Service Now. You can login to our self service ticketing system to open and track your IT requests directly through this portal. Need instructions for this? Click here.
4. For questions about Duo Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) the instructions are here: https://www.actx.edu/its/duo-multi-factor-authentication-mfa If you continue to have difficulties, please enter a ticket in Service Now.