GOVERNMENT 2306
TEXAS GOVERNMENT
SPRING SEMESTER, 2015
James O. Ellis, Instructor
E-mail: James.O.Ellis@hccs.edu
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Telephone 281-852-3052 (home)
713-718-5700 (campus)
TEXTBOOKS: Charldean Newell, David F. Prindle, and James W. Riddlesperger, Jr., Texas Politics, Twelfth
Edition (2013)
TESTS:
Six tests will be given, each of which will be made up of thirty objective questions and a
ten point essay. The final examination is NOT comprehensive.
PROJECT:
Each student will also complete a written project in addition to other reading assignments.
Additional information on this project accompanies. The grade for the is project counts as
one test grade.
GRADE:
The course grade is an average of eight items: six tests, total points on the quizzes, and the
project. The grading scale is as follows:
A = 90 – 100
D = 60 – 69
B = 80 - 89
F = 0 – 59
C = 70 - 79
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend class regularly. Students are responsible for material
covered during their absences, and it is the student’s responsibility to consult with
instructors for makeup work. Class attendance will be checked at every meeting.
Although it is the responsibility of the student to drop a course for nonattendance, the
instructor has full authority to drop a student after four absences anytime before
Tuesday, April 14.
INDIVIDUAL HELP: Please feel free to ask me for extra help outside of class. I am available before and
after class and otherwise by appointment. You are also encouraged to e-mail me or call
me at the number listed and leave a message if I am not there.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE: Adult behavior is expected. Disruptive behavior or activities which interfere
with teaching or learning may result in an administrative withdrawal without refund.
DIABILITIES: Any student with a documented disability (e. g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing,
etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Service Office (713-718-5422) at
the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the
Disability Support Services Office.
GOVERNMENT 2306 COURSE OUTLINE
Section 44207 – TTh 2:00 – 4:00
Section 49977 – TTh 5:00 – 7:00
Unit I
Explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution.
Describe state and local political systems and their relationship to the federal government.
Monday, February 23
No class
Wednesday, February 25
QUIZ, chapter 1
Monday, March 2
QUIZ, chapter 2
Wednesday, March 4
TEST I
Unit II
Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups and political parties in Texas.
Analyze the state and local election process.
Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
Monday, March 9
QUIZ, chapter 3
Wednesday, March 11
QUIZ, chapters 4 and 5
Spring Break
Monday, March 23
TEST II
Unit III
Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas
Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative branch in Texas government.
Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
Wednesday, March 25
QUIZ, chapter 6
Monday, March 30
QUIZ, chapters 12 and 13
Wednesday, April 1
TEST III
Unit IV
Describe the separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
Demonstrate knowledge of the executive branch of Texas government.
Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
Monday, April 6
PROJECT DUE
Wednesday, April 8
QUIZ, chapter 7
Monday, April 13
QUIZ, chapter 8
Wednesday, April 15
TEST IV
Unit V
Describe the separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.
Demonstrate knowledge of the judicial branch of Texas government.
Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Monday, April 20
QUIZ, chapter 9
Wednesday, April 22
QUIZ, chapter 10
Wednesday, April 29
TEST V
Wednesday, May 6
Monday, May 11
Wednesday, May 13
Unit VI
Describe local political systems.
Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.
QUIZ, chapter 11
TEST VI – 5:00 class
TEST VI – 2:00 class
RESEARCH REPORT
This semester each student is required to prepare a written research report on one of the following topics:
Are Members of Congress Underpaid?
The Rise and Fall of the Equal Rights Amendment
The Changing Role of the Vice President
Missile Defense – Pros and Cons
Is the Texas Prison System Cruel and Unusual?
Is the Energy Crisis Over?
Is the United Nations Irrelevant?
Is the Cold War Over?
The Animal Rights Movement
Immigration Reform
Abortion: Freedom of Choice or Right to Life?
Cloning – A New Legal Issue
AIDS, Public Health, and Civil Liberties
Politics and the Space Program
Evolution and Creation Science in the Classroom
The Prayer in Schools Controversy
Should the President Have One Six-Year Term?
Should Texas Judges Be Appointed?
Bilingual Education
Zoning in Houston – Pro and Con
The American Civil Liberties Union – Defending the Constitution or the Criminals?
Should the President Have a Line-Item Veto?
Is the Volunteer Army a Success?
The War on Drugs
Gun Control – Liberty vs. Order
Homelessness – Does Public Policy Help or Hurt?
Affirmative Action or Reverse Discrimination?
The Death Penalty and Crime
USA PATRIOT Act - Fighting Terrorism or Violating Civil Liberties?
“Victimless” Crimes
Welfare Reform
The report should be 1,000 to 1,500 words long. Please include a bibliography of all sources consulted, and use end notes whenever appropriate
(for direct quotes, data, the ideas of others, etc.). A good way to do this project is to follow these steps:
1.Choose a topic.
Pick something that interests you. No more than one student may work on the same topic.
2.Research the topic.
You may use the library here at the campus, or any public library; librarians will guide you to sources for
books, periodical articles, and Internet search engines. Another good source of information is the personal interview.
Remember this is a research paper. I will look for at least three sources and want more than your opinion.
3.Study the information you have gathered.
Think about what you have learned.
4.Write down the major points you want to discuss in your report.
5.Write a rough draft of your paper.
6.Type the final draft.
Then use those to make an outline.
Then go over it, checking for mistakes. Do not be afraid to rewrite all or part of it.
If you cannot get it typed, write it out legibly on good paper.
Your paper will be graded on the basis of the following criteria: 1) manner of presentation – grammar, spelling, sentence construction, neatness,
etc.; 2) quality of research; 3) quality of analysis; 4) originality of thought.