"I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." -- Will Rogers, early 20 th century comedian

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1 DOUGLAS D. JONES Office: B.238 Phone: (979) BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE GOVT 2306 Texas Government 3 credit hours "I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts." -- Will Rogers, early 20 th century comedian COURSE DESCRIPTION Origin and development of the TX constitution, structure and powers of state and local government, federalism and intergovernmental relations, political participation, the election process, public policy, and the political culture of TX. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. Identify and understand basic elements and historical development of the constitutions of Texas. 2. Identify and understand how interest groups, the mass media, public opinion, and political parties shape and influence Texas politics. 3. Identify and understand the basic structure of the legislative and executive branches of the Texas government. 4. Identify and understand basic elements of the Texas criminal justice system. 5. Identify and understand basic elements of local government in Texas. REQUIRED BOOKS Texas Politics is a multimedia textbook project of Liberal Arts Instructional Technology Services (LAITS) at the University of Texas at Austin and is available for reading on the internet for free. Murdock, Steve H., et al Changing Texas: Implications of Addressing or Ignoring the Texas Challenge. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN: State textbook policy - "A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a universityaffiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer." OTHER READING MATERIAL The Texas Tribune ( is a good website for keeping up with Texas political news. COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Students can access course material by clicking on the Virtual Campus/D2L button at the bottom of the BC webpage or type into your internet web browser. User name is first initial of first name, last name, and last 4 digits of your Student ID number (ex: jdoe1234). Initial password is lowercase letters bc followed by your six digit PIN number (ex: bc123456). (Your PIN number is the number issued by the registrar that you use to register online through mybc.) Once logged into D2L, the course is listed as GOVT2306-DJONES-Supplemental. Students who have difficulty logging in for the first time or have other technical issues such as browser problems can contact the Brazosport College Information Technology Center by ing helpdesk@brazosport.edu or by phoning the IT Helpdesk at COURSE PROCEDURES The basic format for the course will be lecture but discussion is encouraged. Students should follow national and state political news stories on a regular basis, as current events will be incorporated into class lectures where appropriate. The

2 student is responsible for all materials presented in class and in the textbook, including illustrations. The reading assignments coincide with appropriate lecture materials. However, the student should recognize that information given in lectures is not intended to solely duplicate the information discussed in the textbook although some overlap will occur. Student understanding and comprehension will be enhanced by completing the reading assignments prior to the lecture. EXAMINATIONS There will be four exams and an optional comprehensive final exam. If a student takes five exams, the four highest scores will be used in calculating course grade. The exams could be a combination of multiple choice, true-false, matching, and short answer. NO MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN TO ANYONE WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL. Turn off all electronic devices (cell phone, ipad, etc.) and keep them off your desk during exams. QUIZZES AND ASSIGNMENTS There will be many quizzes/assignments over the duration of the semester. Late work will receive reduced credit. TOPIC PAPERS There will be two short papers addressing an assigned topic of relevance to government. The primary purpose of the first paper is to demonstrate critical thinking and communication skills. The primary purpose of the second paper is to explore social and personal responsibility with regard to an issue of broad concern to society at large. Further information about these papers will be discussed at a later date. DISCUSSION One of the features of D2L is the ability to share perspectives through use of the discussions tool. Several topics for discussion will be listed that students should post responses to by the date specified. Course participants should respond to one another with respect at all times. Differing viewpoints are likely to be expressed and are welcome as long as each posting is stated in appropriate, respectful language. If you disagree with an idea stated in a classmate s posting, your response should focus on the substance of the idea without attacking or insulting the person who expressed the thought you take issue with. In short, we should be able to disagree without being disagreeable. ATTENDANCE Each student is expected to attend all lectures. While the basic format is lecture, discussion is encouraged. Active participation in the learning process within the classroom will enhance performance on exams and will greatly assist in retaining knowledge long after the successful completion of this course. Be respectful of your classmates and instructor by listening attentively to whoever is addressing the class. Disruptive behavior will result in a lower class participation grade. Continued disruptive behavior can result a student being administratively withdrawn from the course. EXTRA CREDIT GATOR (Gaining Achievement Through Organized Reading) is a campus-wide program designed to get faculty, staff, students, and community members to discuss important issues related to student success. Students wishing to take part in the GATOR program will be required to participate in all three on-campus (outside of class) discussion sessions as well as write a short reflective assessment of the experience. Extra credit will be added to the attendance portion of course grade.

3 GRAMMAR This is an academic course at an institution of higher education. Ensure that all written course communications (including ) are grammatically correct. This includes but is not limited to capitalization, punctuation, sentence structure and spelling. Assignments that are to be typewritten should be written with a word processor, utilizing the spelling and grammar checking function of the program. Lastly, take the time to proof read your assignment or before submitting. GRADING All course assignments must be turned in on or before the due date in order to receive full credit. Course grades will be determined as follows: Exam 1 16 % Exam 2 16 % Exam 3 16 % Exam 4 16 % Quizzes/Assignments 16 % Topic Papers 10 % Virtual Campus (D2L) Discussions 5 % Attendance 5 % Note: There is almost always a relationship between attendance and course grade earned. Enrolled students are expected to attend every lecture. Attendance does not guarantee a good grade, but it makes it far more likely. Grade scale is as follows: A C B D < 60 F STANDARDS OF STUDENT CONDUCT Honesty is the cornerstone of academic integrity of any educational institution. It is the foundation upon which the student builds personal integrity and establishes a standard of personal behavior. Scholastic dishonesty is a violation of the Brazosport College Standards of Student Conduct and is punishable as prescribed by Board of Regents policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to, cheating on a test or assignment, plagiarism and collusion. Students guilty of scholastic dishonesty shall receive a grade of zero for that course component and could possibly be subject to dismissal from the class with a failing grade by the Dean of Student Services. The full policy regarding the Brazosport College Standards of Student Conduct can be found in the BC Student Guide and Calendar. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Student responsibilities include: Reading and understanding the course syllabus Upholding the Brazosport College Standards of Student Conduct Attending class Completing assignments Communicating with the instructor STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Brazosport College is committed to providing equal education opportunities to every student. BC offers services for individuals with special needs and capabilities including counseling, tutoring, equipment, and software to assist students with special needs. Please contact the Special Populations Counselor at for further information.

4 WRITING CENTER The Brazosport College Writing Center provides drop-in tutoring Monday Thursday 9 am 8 pm and Friday 9 am noon. Online tutoring and other times are available by appointment. Located within the Student Success Center (E200 - second floor of the main building above the counseling and registration office), the BC Writing Center can assist with brainstorming, organizing and developing paragraphs, understanding professors directions, learning about MLA or other styles, learning how to avoid plagiarism, improving mechanics, and using Microsoft Word. For more information, drop by the Writing Center or give them a call at COURSE OUTLINE The following outline is tentative. Some adjustments may be during the semester. Date Topic Textbook Reading Week 1 Week 2 Class Introductions and Course Mechanics Texas Introduction Texas Introduction Texas Political Environment ebook: chapter 01 - Political Culture Week 3 Texas Political Environment ebook: chapter 01 - Political Culture Projected Population Change in Texas Murdock: chapter 2 Projected Household Change in Texas Murdock: chapter 3 Week 4 Texas Constitution ebook: chapter 02 - The Texas Constitution Texas Constitution ebook: chapter 02 - The Texas Constitution Week 5 Exam 1 Texas Legislature ebook: chapter 03 - The Legislature Week 6 Texas Legislature ebook: chapter 04 - The Legislative Process Texas Executive ebook: chapter 05 - The Executive Branch Week 7 Texas Executive ebook: chapter 05 - The Executive Branch Texas Governor ebook: chapter 06 - The Governor of Texas Week 8 Exam 2 Interest Groups in Texas ebook: chapter 10 - Interest Groups Week 9 Interest Groups in Texas ebook: chapter 10 - Interest Groups Political Parties in Texas ebook: chapter 09 - Political Parties Week 10 Political Parties in Texas ebook: chapter 09 - Political Parties Elections, Voting & Campaigns in Texas ebook: chapter 08 Elections, Voting, & Campaigns Week 11 Exam 3 Texas Justice System ebook: chapter 07 - The Justice System Week 12 Texas Justice System ebook: chapter 07 - The Justice System Texas Government and Economics ebook: chapter 11 Public Policy Week 13 Labor Force Change in Texas Murdock: chapter 4 Economic Change in Texas Murdock: chapter 5 Education in Texas Murdock: chapter 6 Health and Human Services in Texas Murdock: chapter 7

5 Week 14 Transportation in Texas Murdock: chapter 8 Implications for the Future of Texas Murdock: chapter 9 Week 15 Local Government in Texas ebook: chapter 11 Local Government Exam 4 Week 16 Optional Comprehensive Final Exam

Grading Policy/Evaluation: The grades will be counted in the following way: Quizzes 30% Tests 40% Final Exam: 30%

Grading Policy/Evaluation: The grades will be counted in the following way: Quizzes 30% Tests 40% Final Exam: 30% COURSE SYLLABUS FALL 2010 MATH 0408 INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA Course # 0408.06 Course Schedule/Location: TT 09:35 11:40, A-228 Instructor: Dr. Calin Agut, Office: J-202, Department of Mathematics, Brazosport