GOVERNMENT 2306: TEXAS GOVERNMENT
CRN 66798 – Fall 2013
South Campus – Willie Gay Hall, Rm 101
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Tue/Thu
3 hour lecture course / 48 hours per semester/ 16 weeks
Instructor:
Dr. Carolyn Lewis
Instructor Contact Information:
E-Mail:
carolyn.lewis@hccs.edu
Voice Mail: 832-795-9057 (cell)
Course Website. Go to the Learning Web at: http://learning.cc.hccs.edu
At the “Find a Faculty Member” field type my name: Carolyn Lewis and it will take you to a
picture of me. Click on my name to the right of the picture, click on American Government
(GOVT 2306), and it will take you to my webpage where you can find the syllabus, copies of
powerpoint presentations and handouts for the course.
Course Description. A study of the Texas Constitution and history, the executive, legislative,
and judicial branches of the state and local governments; the economic, regulatory and social
aspects of public policy in Texas.
Course Prerequisites. Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing.
Course Objectives. The main objective of the course is to broaden and deepen our
understanding of Texas government and politics. This objective has at least three parts. The first
part is to develop a body of shared knowledge about Texas politics. The second part is to become
acquainted with and understand a number of important concepts and theories with which to make
sense of state and local politics. The third part is to develop some of the skills necessary to the
understanding and practice of Texas politics.
Student Learning Objectives. After completing GOVT 2306 students will be able to do the
following:
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Demonstrate the ability to read and evaluate government documents and data critical to
the study of Texas government and politics.

Articulate contrasting points of view on one or more major political issues.

Use online data sources to describe and critically evaluate the budgetary policies of the
state of Texas, and local governments in Harris County.

Demonstrate the political knowledge to understand what is being reported/discussed in
the media.
Student Learning Outcomes. After completing GOVT 2306, students will be able to do the
following:

Describe and evaluate the impact of government on the lives of individuals and society as
a whole.

Understand the institutions of the state of Texas and how they function.

Identify and evaluate information sources for political news, data, and opinion.
Instructional Methods. This class will consist of lectures, class discussions and group activities.
Course Requirements. The course requirements are:
First Midterm Examination
Second Midterm Examination
Final Examination
Short Term Paper Assignment
Group Debate Presentation
Attendance
20% of the course grade
20% of the course grade
20% of the course grade
20% of the course grade
10% of the course grade
10% of the course grade
Grading Scale. The grading scale for all exams, the class presentation, and the course is:
A (Excellent)
B (Good)
C (Average)
D (Poor)
F (Unacceptable)
= 100 - 90 %
= 89 - 80 %
= 79 - 70 %
= 69 - 60 %
= 59 and below %
The following scale will be used for establishing your grades. If your accumulated percentage is
on or near the margin between grades, regular attendance and participation in class can help you
to achieve the better grade. In addition, I will allow one extra credit activity such as a movie
review that may count for up to 5% of your total accumulated percentage or ½ a letter grade. This
can be enough to make the difference between a higher and lower grade. So, take the time to take
advantage of this opportunity to make some extra percentage points.
Short Term Paper
This semester I am requiring that each student write a term paper on a topic from the material
that we will be covering in class. I will provide you with a selection of topics for the paper and
some guidelines (4-6 pages double-spaced) on how the paper should be written, e.g., how to
avoid plagiarism. If you wish to write on a topic other than the ones that I provide, then you will
need to talk with me about it and clearly explain how and why it relates to the class and why you
want to write on that topic. This portion of the class will count for 20% of the grade. This
semester I will also be using the “turnitin.com” utility for checking papers; more on this later.
Midterm Exams and Final
The midterm exams will be multiple choice exams with essay questions. The exams will be
based on the readings and our class discussions. The final exam will cover material from the last
third of the class. The exams are equally weighted (20% each) and will count for 60% of the total
grade and the remainder will be comprised of other elements such as a short term paper, regular
attendance, in class activities and extra credit.
Group Debate Presentations
During this semester, to make our discussions more fun and interesting, I will divide the class
into several groups. Each group will be responsible for leading an in-class debate over a
controversial topic that is currently being debated in American politics and culture. For example,
current topics might include: gun control, abortion rights, gay marriage, and capital punishment. I
will assign topics to each group and the group members should prepare to present a debate over
the controversial aspects of their topic. Some groups members should argue from one side of the
debate, while other group members should argue from the opposing side of the debate. The
objective for this activity is to discuss the debate topic and involve the class, as much as possible,
in the debate discussion. This activity will be graded on a pass/fail basis; if you come and
participate on the day of your debate, you will receive full credit, if you do not come and
participate, then you will not receive any credit. There will be no make-up debates, so plan to be
present when your group is scheduled to debate. Groups are encouraged, but not required to use
powerpoint presentations or other media.
Participation and Attendance
During the semester it will be essential to do the course reading and to come to class on a regular
basis. Attendance will be taken every day and your presence will count as an important portion of
the grade. In general, your participation in activities during class will also count as part of this
grade. This portion of the grade will be somewhat subjective on my part, but putting your head
down and sleeping during class would be a good example of poor participation. Please pay
attention during class, share your views with other students when the time comes for discussion.
Read a newspaper or other news sources such as online newspapers. Keep informed on what is
going on in the world! Doing these will also help you to become a better global citizen.
Make-Up Policy. In order to be eligible for a make-up exam on ONE of the two midterm exams
you must notify me before the exam that you will be absent, or no later than 24 hours after the exam
in the case of an accident or an emergency. You will be required to provide documentation that
validates your claim for reasonable absence. The make-up exam will be administered at the time of
the final exam, so be prepared to stay an extra hour after the final for the make-up. Only ONE
make-up exam will be allowed and there will be no make-up exams for the final.
General Conduct
We all need to be respectful of each other. There will be no fighting or foul language in the
classroom or foul writing on exams or other written assignments. Students need to turn off their
cell phones and DO NOT use notebook computers or cell phones during class. Please use these
only after class. Do not expect to walk around the classroom or leave the classroom and come
back. Use the restrooms before coming to class. You may not use cell phones in the middle of
class or during an exam! The main point is simply to treat others with the care and respect you
would hope to receive from them.
Extra Credit Opportunities
If you are doing poorly on one or more of the midterm exams then I will allow you to do an extra
credit activity to boost your grade. You may rent and watch a “political” movie such as “The
Special Relationship,” “Recount,” “John Adams,” “W,” “Milk,” “The Great Debaters,” “You
Don’t know Jack,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “The Help,” “The Ides of March,” “The Iron Lady”
or “Lincoln” and write a short paper about it. The paper should be three pages, double-spaced.
You should answer the following three questions in the paper: (1) what is the film about, (2) how
does the film relate to the class, and (3) what did you get out of watching it? This can count for
up to 5% of the total grade or ½ of a letter grade. So, it could make a big difference at the time of
the final grade calculation. If there are other political movies you are interested in watching for
extra credit, just check with me to make sure it is okay.
Course Attendance and Withdrawal Policy.
Attendance will be taken on a daily basis. A student may officially drop at the registrar's office
anytime up to and including April 1. Students who stop attending (five or more absences) or never
attended class prior to the drop deadline may be dropped; students who have four absences prior to
the official date of record will be dropped by the instructor. Students who attend class after the drop
deadline cannot receive a W.
Students who take a course for the third time or more face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC
and other Texas public colleges and universities. If you are considering course withdrawal because
you are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor or a counselor as early as possible
about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course
participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
Beginning Fall 2007, the State of Texas imposes penalties on students who withdraw/drop
courses excessively. Students are limited to no more than SIX total course withdrawals
throughout their educational career at a Texas public college or university. Students are
encouraged to review the HCC 6 Drop Policy.
To help you avoid having to withdraw from any class, contact your professor regarding your
academic performance. You may also want to contact your counselor to learn about helpful HCC
resources (e.g. online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.).
How to Drop: If a student decides to withdraw from a class upon careful review of other options,
the student can withdraw online prior to the deadline through their HCC Student Center.
HCC and/or professors may withdraw students for excessive absences without notification (see
course attendance policy above).
AskOnline. All government students are encouraged to use HCC’s online tutoring system for help
with any GOVT class. Questions submitted to the ASK queue will be answered within 24 hours –
and usually much before that. Tutors are on duty 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Online tutors will
not do homework for you, but they will guide you in the right direction. To maximize the
effectiveness of the system, be specific when you ask questions, and let the tutor know what class
you are taking. You will receive two responses – one from an English tutor and one from a
government tutor.
Registering for online tutoring is easy. Go to www.hccs.askonline.net. Select a user name and
password that you will remember. Use any e-mail address, and add your student ID number (W
number). It will probably take five minutes to set up your askonline account. After that, you can
submit questions in seconds. Tutor responses are not e-mailed to you. To see the answers, log back
in to the system and click the bright yellow NEW button.
Students with Disabilities. Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are
encouraged to report to LHSB 106, or call 713-718-6164 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty
is only authorized to provide accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
International Students. Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your student Visa.
Once a W is given for the course, it will not be changed to an F because of the visa consideration.
Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about
your visa status and other transfer issues.
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty. A student who is academically dishonest is, by
definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned, and that student is claiming an
advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each
student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level
playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles.
You are expected to be familiar with the University's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the
catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules
will not help you. Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in
fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by
College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. "Scholastic
dishonesty": includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:





Copying from another students' test paper;
Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of a test that has not been administered;
Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of
that work in one's own written work offered for credit.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in
the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or
dismissal from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)
Course Textbooks and Readings. The two textbooks for the course can be purchased at the
bookstore at HCCS Central College, 1300 Holman. Take this syllabus with you to make sure you
get the correct books.
The text for the course is:
Newell, Charldean, David F. Prindle, and James W. Riddlesperger, Jr., Texas Politics, 12th
Edition (Wadsworth 2013) ISBN 13: 978-1-111-83306-0.
Course Topics and Schedule of Readings.
Date
Topics and Readings
Week 1. Aug 27 and Aug 29
Introduction and Course Overview
The Context of Texas Politics, Chp. 1
Week 2. Sep 3 and Sep 5
The History and Constitution of Texas
The Constitutional Setting, Chp. 2
Week 3. Sep 10 and Sep 12
Texas Interest Groups
Interest Groups, Chp. 3
Week 4. Sep 17 and Sep 19
Texas Parties
Political Parties, Chp. 4
Debate 1: Abortion politics in Texas
Week 5. Sep 24 and Sep 26
Voting and Elections in Texas
Voting, Campaigns and Elections, Chp. 5
Week 6. Oct 1 and Oct 3
Review Session and Midterm Exam 1
Week 7. Oct 8 and Oct 10
The Texas State Legislature
The Texas Legislature, Chp. 6
Week 8. Oct 15 and Oct 17
The Texas Governor
The Governor, Chp. 7
Debate 2: The death penalty in Texas
Week 9. Oct 22 and Oct 24
The Texas Bureaucracy
The Administrative State, Chp. 8
Week 10. Oct 29 and Oct 31
The Texas Courts
The Judiciary, Chp. 9
Week 11. Nov 5 and Nov 7
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
The Substance of Justice, Chp. 10
Debate 3: Gay marriage
Week 12. Nov 12 and Nov 14
Review Session and Midterm Exam 2
Week 13. Nov 19 and Nov 21
Local Government
Local Government, Chp. 11
Week 14. Nov 26 and Thanksgiving
State Economic Policy
The State Economy, Chp. 12
Short Paper Due, Tuesday, Nov. 26th
Week 15. Dec 3 and Dec 5
Public Policies
Public Policies – People and Resources, Chps. 13, 14
Week 16. Final Exams
Final Exam is Tuesday, Dec 10 at 11:00 a.m.
As the instructor, I reserve the right to make any changes in the schedule as are necessary to stay on
track and cover all the appropriate material.