1
2
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Texas Government
POLS 202-020: Spring 2014
MWF – 9:00 am – 9:50 am Humanities (Grant) 116
Dr. Eric V. Morrow
Office: Grant 347
[email protected]
Office Phone: 254-968-9626
Office Hours: MW – 11:00 am – 12:00 noon; 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Mobile Phone: 325-642-1340
R – 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
F – 11:00 am – 12:00 noon; 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
(Other times by appointment)
Welcome to State and Local Government!
This course explores the structure and
function of Texas government by providing
a broad-based introduction to the political
and governmental systems of the state. In
addition, the course provides a framework
for analyzing Texas state and local
government, the constitutional basis for it,
and the processes, institutions and policies
of state and local government. The course
will compare the realities of Texas government and politics with the democratic
ideals of participation, majority rule,
minority rights, and equality. It will also
introduce you to current political issues
such as the growth of conservatism,
economic crisis and conflict, border issues,
poverty, education, and ethnic and
ideological conflict. You will also engage
with analysis of contemporary policy issues
that reflect current challenges related to the
Continued on
3
Texts and Objectives
Coursework
Schedule
What books do I need and what
can I accomplish over the term
by taking this course?
What kind of assignments will I
be asked to complete?
Page 2
Page 4
What topics are covered, when
are the exams, and what
assignments do I have due each
week?
Page 6
1
2
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Learning Outcomes
This course will enable you to…
Texts
The two books below are
required for the course.
They are both available as
ebooks. Also, the Tannahill
book has been out for over a
year, and used copies should
be available. You might also
check into rental textbooks
to save a little money!
Depending upon the content
of a scheduled class,
additional readings may be
assigned and will be made
available on Blackboard.
Texas Government:
Policy and Politics, 12th edition
by Neal Tannahill
Pearson-Longman, 2012.
Lone Star Tarnished:
A Critical Look at Texas
Politics and Public Policy
by Cal Jillson
Routledge, 2012.
You will also need to know
how to use Blackboard 9.
On our Blackboard section
you will see a tab for
Blackboard Help. You can
also contact the Helpdesk at
1-866-744-8900 – Option 3
or by email at
[email protected].
Understand and evaluate the
role of Texas political culture
in the function of state
government and politics;
Understand federalism and the
complex and fluid relationship between the national and
state governments;
Develop an understanding of
the forces that shape Texas
government and politics;
Know the strategies, roles and
limitations of both
governmental elites and
ordinary citizens;
Acquire a greater level of
discernment and become a
more informed and reflective
participant in civic life;
Identify and intelligently
discuss the form, substance,
and inner-workings of state
and local government in
Texas;
Evaluate the needs and
performance of government at
the state and local levels;
Know the major political
issues in Texas that are
challenging the function and
structure of government;
Compare policies and
programs of other states
with issues and public policy
in Texas;
Learn a basic methodology for
analyzing and evaluating
major policy issues.
Blackboard - Clickers
We will use Blackboard
extensively in this course, so
you need to be sure you are
familiar with it. Assignments
will be due the first week of
classes, and some of these will
ensure that you can submit
them properly. If you need
assistance, click on the
Blackboard Help tab or
contact the Helpdesk at the
number listed to the left.
We will also be using
Clickers in class to take
surveys and quizzes.
The
information for ordering a
clicker is listed under Course
Texts and Resources on
Blackboard. Be sure to order
your clicker by the first day of
classes. Your first few quizzes
will be online, but by the third
week of class, you should have
a clicker and be prepared to
take quizzes in class each
Monday for the remainder of
the semester.
2
2
1
2
Course Syllabus
Continued from Page 1
political culture of the state and the function of
government
Following an introduction to Texas
political and civic culture, the course will focus
on four major areas: (1) an introduction to
state policymaking, constitutional development
and federalism; (2) the structure and institutions
of Texas government, budget policy and local
government; (3) Texas electoral politics, with
Spring 2014
attention given to public opinion, the media
and social media, religion and politics, voting,
political parties, and interest groups; and (4)
current major policy areas including health
care, education, poverty and criminal justice.
The analysis will include the textbooks as a
basic topical guide, but it will also draw from
other sources and from ideas and perspectives
presented by contemporary analysts and
scholars of Texas government and politics.
This class is about good citizenship.
How do I engage with democratic government at the state and local level
in an informed and beneficial way?
Student Success Services
University Statement on
Academic Honesty
It is the policy of Tarleton State University to
comply with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (www.ada.gov) and other applicable laws.
If you are a student with a disability seeking
accommodations for this course, please contact
the Center for Access and Academic Testing, at
254.968.9400 or [email protected]. The
office is located in Math 201. More information
can be found at www.tarleton.edu/sds or in the
University Catalog.
Tarleton State University expects its students
to maintain high standards of personal and
scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic
dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, cheating on an examination or
other academic work, plagiarism, collusion,
and the abuse of resource materials. The
faculty member is responsible for initiating
action for each case of academic dishonesty
that occurs in his or her class.
3
3
4
3
5
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Course Requirements
The components of this
course are described below
and listed in the schedule.
You will have the following
types of assignments:
-assigned chapters to read
from your textbooks
-class discussion topics
-reading quizzes
-policy/issue/research reports
-notes, websites, and online
videos to review
All assignments will be
posted in advance on
Blackboard in the folder for
the week.
We will use Blackboard extensively. Please
be sure your software,
especially your web browser, is up-to-date. Also be
sure you have an adequate
Internet connection.
You will need to be sure
you can submit assignments
as Microsoft Word documents, PDF files or in
RTF (rich text format).
Assignments submitted in
any other format will not
be accepted.
It will be your responsibility to note all due dates
and times. The course is
designed to help you get your
work completed and turned
in on time. Late work will
not be accepted, so be sure to
structure your week to have
adequate time for your work.
Do not wait until the last
minute and try to complete
all of your work.
At the beginning of
each week, we will review
the assignments for the
week in class. Be sure you
attend class and follow the
directions. We will also
confirm due dates and other
important information to
help you stay on track for
the term.
Participation
(15%)
Attendance is critical for this
course, as the presentations
and class discussions will
offer some explanation of the
assigned readings but will
primarily focus on additional
material that enhances the
topics covered in the readings. Class material that is
not covered in the textbook
will be included on the
exams.
Students will be allowed
3 unexcused absences for the
semester.
After the third
absence, 3 points will be
deducted from the class
participation grade for each
unexcused
absence
(10
points per week of class
missed). For an absence to
be excused, you must
provide an official notice
(copy of an email or letter)
from a department of the
University. If the absence is
a medical or family emergency, please contact me as
soon as you are able. Since
you have 3 absences to use,
minor illness will not be
excused.
If you have a
prolonged illness or issue
during the semester, please
contact me. This requirement is meant to encourage
class attendance and can
affect the outcome of your
grade. Please be advised that
if you receive a failing
Participation grade due to
excessive
absences,
you
automatically fail the course.
Participation is also
related to class decorum.
Since we will be discussing
many issues during the
course of the semester, each
student should show respect
for the instructor and fellow
students by addressing any
issues or concerns in a polite
and orderly manner. If a
student is unable to do this,
he or she will be asked to
leave the classroom and will
not receive credit for class
participation on that day.
Students will also be asked
to leave class for incessant
talking, texting, or working
on other coursework during
the class session and will be
given an absence.
Continued…
4
4
6
7
1
2
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Students are not permitted to leave class
during the class session. If you need to leave
early for any reason, please speak with me
before class. If an emergency arises during
class, please raise your hand and ask to be
excused. Any student who leaves class during
the session will be counted absent for the day
and dropped one letter grade (10 pts) on the
next exam.
Quizzes (15%). Each student is required to
take a reading quiz for each chapter assigned
from the textbooks. Most of the quizzes will be
taken in class using the Clickers. It is to your
benefit to do the quizzes so that you are
familiar with the content needed to answer the
exam questions and for participation in class
discussions.
Examinations (30%). Four examinations will
be given as scheduled below. If you will be
absent the day of any exam, you must inform
me in advance to be able to take a make-up.
All make-up exams for unexcused absences
will be essay and short answer. The final
exam is not comprehensive.
Policy/Research Reports (20%). We will give
attention to current policy issues in Texas
government and in comparison with policy in
other states. Reports will be assigned and
posted to Blackboard. You will be required to
submit five, 600 word (approx. 2 pages
double-spaced) reports over the course of the
semester as scheduled below. Each report will
be on Blackboard in the assignment folder for
the week and should be submitted as a
Turnitin assignment. Each report should
include a short statement of the issue (1-2
paragraphs) followed by your views and/or
dialog with the arguments for and against the
issue. Each prompt offers questions, other
resources, and links to related websites. You
can use all of these and other related resources
in preparing your report. Be sure to note the
due dates, as late assignments will not be
accepted. It is your responsibility to confirm
that an assignment has been submitted. If
you have technical issues, you have the
option of turning in a hardcopy of the
assignment at the beginning of the class
session and sending a digital copy by email.
Current Issue Project (20%). Students will be
asked to choose a current policy issue related
to Texas state or local government. During the
course of the semester, each student will
submit different types of articles on the issue.
Each assignment will be discussed in class so
that you know what type of information to
find. Before the conclusion of the semester,
each student will submit a 4-5 page, doublespaced report that describes the issue, discusses
the history of the issue, explains why and how
government is addressing the issue, and
concludes with at least two different
“qualified” opinions on the issue. Before the
report is due, a guide will be provided to assist
you with the outline of your paper and
formatting endnotes.
Current Issue Project – Group Work
The goal of this project is to give you
a basic methodology for analyzing
and evaluating the information
sources for any policy issue. With
this approach and research model,
you will be able to access the
information you need to develop
informed opinions on a wide range
of issues that impact your life,
community, occupation, etc.
You will be assigned to a group at
the beginning of the term, and the
group will choose a topic. After
each group member has found an
article, the group will review all of
the articles and select the article that
best meets the assignment criteria.
The articles selected by the group
will be used for the current issue
5
report.
5
1
Course Syllabus
Grades
Grades will be posted
throughout the semester
on Blackboard under the
“My Grades” tab. One
column will be titled
Course Average. This
grade will be your current
average in the course. If
at any point during the
term you have a question
about your grades, please
feel free to contact me.
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
F
0-59
If you start falling behind
in the course, I will be
contacting you so that we
can chat about any
challenges you may be
having. Be sure to make
the commitment to
getting your work done
each week!
Summer
Spring 2014
2013
Course Schedule
Week 1 – January 13 - 19
Monday - Review Syllabus – Course Introduction – Review
Blackboard Resources
Read Online Etiquette Guidelines
Complete and submit Student information questionnaire
SECTION I: TEXAS POLITICAL CONTEXT
Wednesday - Policymaking in Texas – Why study Texas
Government?
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Introduction
Selection of Current Issue Topics
Friday - Texas History and the Development of Texas Political
Culture
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 1; Jillson Chapter 1
Week 2 – January 20 - 26
Monday – MLK Holiday (no classes)
Wednesday – Who are we as Texans?
Online Reading quiz on Tannahill/Jillson Chapter 1
Friday – Discussion on Texan Identity and Political Culture
Week 3 – January 27 – February 2
SECTION II: THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND THE
RELATIONSHIPS OF NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
Monday - Constitutional Development and Structure
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 2; Jillson Chapter 2
Online Reading quiz on Tannahill/Jillson Chapter 2
Wednesday - Constitutional Criticisms and Challenges
Current Issue Article 1 is due
Friday – Discussion on Gay Marriage
Policy/Research Report 1 is due – “Gay Marriage in
Massachusetts,” Tannahill – p. 51
6
2
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Week 4 – February 3 - 9
Monday - American Federalism and State Policymaking
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 3; Jillson Chapter 3
Reading quiz on Tannahill/Jillson Chapter 3 – in class with clickers
Wednesday - Intergovernmental Relations / Texas as a Border State
Discussion on Immigration and Border Security
Friday – EXAM 1
Week 5 – February 10 - 16
SECTION III: STRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONS OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT
Monday - The State Legislature – Organization and Functions
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 8
Reading quiz on Tannahill Chapter 8 – in class
Wednesday - Legislative Process/Challenges and Issues
Complete Assignment – “Who Represents Me?”
Friday – Discussion on the Texas Legislature and Policymaking
Policy/Research Report 2 is due – “Repealing Term Limits in Idaho,” Tannahill – p. 181
Week 6 – February 17 - 23
Monday - The Executive Branch – Organization / The Governor/Bureaucracy
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 9, 13; Jillson Chapter 4
Reading quiz on Tannahill Chapters 9,13/Jillson Chapter 4 – in class
Wednesday - State Budget Policy - Budgeting / Appropriations / Revenues / Tax Systems
Friday – Discussion on the Plural Executive and Funding State Government
Current Issue Article 2 is due
Week 7 – February 24 – March 2
Monday - The Judicial System – Organization/Challenges
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 10
Reading quiz on Tannahill Chapter 10 – in class
Wednesday - City Government, Counties, School Districts, and Special Districts
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 11-12
7
7
3
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Friday - Issues in Texas Local Government – Discussion on City and County Services
Online Reading quiz on Tannahill Chapters 11-12
Week 8 – March 3 - 9
Monday - EXAM 2
Wednesday – Government Documents Orientation
SECTION IV: TEXAS ELECTORAL POLITICS
Friday - Political Participation – Voting and Political Ideology
Spring Break – March 10 – 14
Week 9 – March 17 - 23
Monday – Political Ideology and Public Opinion
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 4
Reading quiz on Tannahill Chapter 4 – in class
Wednesday – Social/Mass Media and Religion
Current Issue Article 3 is due
Friday – Discussion on Political Participation and Voting
Policy/Research Report 3 is due – “Mail Voting in Oregon,” Tannahill – p. 87
Week 10 – March 24 - 30
Monday - Interest Groups
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapters 5 and 6
Complete online quiz on Tannahill Chapters 5 and 6 – in class
Wednesday – Political Parties
Friday – Discussion on the Role of Interest Groups and Political Parties
Policy /Research Report 4 is due – “Political Parties in Texas”
Week 11 – March 31 – April 6
Monday - Elections – Types of Elections
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 7
Reading quiz for Tannahill Chapter 7 – in class
Wednesday - Redistricting and Campaigns/ Current Issues and Challenges
Current Issue Article 4 is due
8
8
4
Course Syllabus
Spring 2014
Friday - EXAM 3
Week 12 – April 7 - 13
SECTION V: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN TEXAS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Monday - Criminal Justice
Reading Assignment: Tannahill Chapter 14; Jillson Chapter 7
Reading quiz for Tannahill Chapter 14/Jillson Chapter 7 – in class
Wednesday - Poverty in Texas
Reading Assignment: Texas Poverty 101; Jillson Chapter 6
Friday – Health Care in Texas
Policy/Research Report 5 is due – “Health Care Reform in Texas”
Week 13 – April 14 - 20
Monday - Current Issue Report Orientation
Wednesday – Discussion – Poverty and Health Care
Friday – No classes for Easter Holiday
Week 14 – April 21 - 27
Monday – Public Education – Funding
Reading Assignment: Jillson Chapter 5
Reading quiz for Jillson Chapters 5-6 – in class
Wednesday - Public Education – Curriculum and Testing
Friday – Discussion – Economic Growth vs. Quality of Life?
Week 15 – April 28 - 30
Monday - Transportation/Energy and the Environment
Reading Assignment: Jillson Chapters 8 and 9
Reading quiz for Jillson Chapters 8-9 – in class
Policy/Research Report EC is due – “Reflection on Citizenship and Political Participation”
Wednesday – Discussion – “The Way Forward”
Reading Assignment: Jillson Chapter 10
Current Issue Report is due (Extra Credit Articles also due)
FINAL EXAM – Monday, May 5 – 8:00 am – 10:30 am
9
9