Instructor: D.E. Sosa

Email: sosade@lamarpa.edu

Phone: (409)749-0492

Office Location and Hours: The instructor is available immediately before and after class or by appointment. 

Additional Contact Information: Student Center 409

Origin and development of Texas Constitution, structure and power of state and local government, federalism, and intergovernmental relations, political participation, the election process, public policy, and the political culture of Texas. 

For off campus students, you will be provided with a text book that we will use for this course. For all other students, we will use an online book that is free to use. For Texas Government 2306, the link is https://oercommons.org/courseware/8453

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Articles and supplemental information as provided by the instructor. 

TSIA complete in reading. 

Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 

• Explain the origin and development of the Texas Constitution.
• Describe state and local political systems and their relationships with the federal government. 
• Describe the separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas Government. 
• Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas. 
• Analyze the state and local election process. Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas. 

Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral, and/or visual communication.

Critical Thinking skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts, and constructing solutions.

Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national, and/or global communities.  

Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making.

• Government 2306- Texas Government
• Texas History and Politics
• State Constitution/ American Federal System
• The Legislature
• Executive Departments and Governor
• Court Systems
• Local Governments
• Voting and Political Participation
• Elections and Campaigns
• Political Parties
• Interest Groups and Lobbying
• Public Policy
• Criminal Justice System
• Financing State Government
• Public Opinion and Media

All tests will be given in essay form. Class participation, although not mandatory, will help your grade. In the event of a lockdown, read the next chapter under lecture topics not covered in class period. Do this each time we cannot meet due to a lockdown. 

12/11/26

90 – 100 A 80 – 89 B 70 – 79 C 60 – 69 D 0 – 59 F

Addition of all test grades divided by number of tests.

Makeup of missed assignments and tests at instructor discretion. 

Class attendance is important. However, due to circumstances beyond student/teacher control, we will assume that students will be in class. Assignments will still be done and due upon return to class. 

The goal is not for you to memorize facts and recognize them on a multiple-choice test period; the goal is to analyze, research, discuss, form an opinion, and communicate and defend that opinion as it pertains to government and policy questions and positions, liberal or conservative. 

Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.

Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.

This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.

As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.

LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.

For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.