Instructor: D.E. Sosa

Email: sosade@lamarpa.edu

Phone: 409-749-0492

Office Hours: Immediately before and after class or appointment

Additional Contact Information: none

Focus on politics and a comparative approach, with a concern and interest in policy with focus on current conflicts in States and communities and the structure and processes designed to manage conflict.  

For dual credit classes, you will be provided with a textbook by your school that we will use for the course.

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 2305, the link is https://openstax.org/details/books/american-government-3e

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: 

• Describe conflict management.
• Emphasize the sources and nature of conflicts in society.
• Describe how key decision makers in States and communities act in conflict situations. 
• Describe discussion of formal government structures, such as federalism, state constitutions, parties in primaries, legislative organizations, court procedures, non-partnership, mayor and manager government, community power, school boards, tax system, budget making, etc. 
• Analyze the role that States and communities play in the political life of the nation and their function in resolving conflicts in American Society. 

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 2305- American Government
• American Government and Civic Engagement
• The Constitution
• American Federalism
• Civil Liberties
• Civil Rights
• Politics of Public Opinion
• Voters and Elections
• Media
• Political Parties
• Interest Groups and Lobbying
• Congress
• Presidency
• Courts
• State and Local Government
• Bureaucracy
• Domestic Policy
• Foreign Policy

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. All tests will have equal weight.

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 the instructor's 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.