Texas Government. POLS : Spring MWF 9:00 am 9:50 am Humanities (Grant) 116. Dr. Eric V. Morrow

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1 1 2 Course Syllabus Spring 2014 Texas Government POLS : Spring 2014 MWF 9:00 am 9:50 am Humanities (Grant) 116 Dr. Eric V. Morrow Office: Grant 347 morrow@tarleton.edu Office Phone: Office Hours: MW 11:00 am 12:00 noon; 2:30 pm 4:00 pm Mobile Phone: 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

2 Learning Outcomes This course will enable you to 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; 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, 12 th edition by Neal Tannahill Pearson-Longman, Lone Star Tarnished: A Critical Look at Texas Politics and Public Policy by Cal Jillson Routledge, 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 Option 3 or by at support.citde@tarleton.edu. Develop an understanding of the forces that shape Texas government and politics; 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; 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 Know the strategies, roles and limitations of both governmental elites and ordinary citizens; 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. 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

3 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 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 It is the policy of Tarleton State University to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act ( 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 or disability@tarleton.edu. The office is located in Math 201. More information can be found at or in the University Catalog. University Statement on Academic Honesty 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 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 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

5 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 . 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 report. 5 5

6 Course Syllabus Summer Spring Grades Course Schedule 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 B C D 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! Week 1 January 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 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

7 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 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 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

8 Friday - Issues in Texas Local Government Discussion on City and County Services Online Reading quiz on Tannahill Chapters 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 Week 9 March 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 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

9 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 Monday - Current Issue Report Orientation Wednesday Discussion Poverty and Health Care Friday No classes for Easter Holiday Week 14 April 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 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