Instructor:Hughes, Aaron

Email:hughesab@lamarpa.edu

Phone:

Office Location and Hours:

Additional Contact Information:

In this course, we will review and analyze:

●      The origin and development of The Declaration Of Independence, The United States Constitution, and the first ten articles of The Texas Constitution Of 1876

●      The structure and powers of state and local government

●      Federalism and intergovernmental relations

●      Political participation

●      The election process

●      Public policy

●      The political culture of Texas

Required Textbook: Texas Government 2.0, OER Commons, 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.

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Upon completion of this course, the student will be bgle to:

●      Explain the origin and development of The Texas Constitution Of 1876

●      Describe state local political systems and their relationship with the federal government

●      Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas

●      Demonstrate knowledge of he legislative executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

●      Evaluate the role or 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 the political culture of Texas 

Upon completion of this course, the student will beagle to:

●      Explain the origin and development of The Texas Constitution Of 1876

●      Describe state local political systems and their relationship with the federal government

●      Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas

●      Demonstrate knowledge of he legislative executive, and judicial branches of Texas government

●      Evaluate the role or 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 the political culture of Texas 

Reading/Review/Examination Units:

Block I:

Readings:

The Declaration Of Independence, The United States Constitution, and the first ten articles of The Texas Constitution Of 1876

Unit I-Introduction To Texas History And Politics

Unit II-The Texas State Constitution And The American Federal System

Unit III-The Texas Legislature

EXAMINATION I/PAPER I

Block II:

Readings:

Unit IV-The Executive Department And The Office Of The Governor Or Texas

Unit V-The Court System In Texas

Unit VI-Local Government In Texas

Unit VII-Voting And Political Participation In Texas

EXAMINATION II/PAPER II

Block III:

Readings:

Unit VIII-Elections And Campaigns In Texas

Unit IX-Political Parties In Texas

Unit X-Interest Groups and Lobbying In Texas

Unit XI-Public Policy In Texas

EXAMINATION III/PAPER III

Block IV

Unit XII-The Criminal Justice System In Texas

Unit XIII-Financing State Government

Unit XIV-Public Opinion And The Media In Texas

EXAMINATION IV (THE FINAL EXAMINATION)/PAPER IV

To be determined

According to the college's posted schedule

Your course grade will be the average of the scores that you earn on these 8 written products.

The grading scale is as follows:

90-100=A

80-89=B

70-79=C

60-69=D

Below 60=F

The Road To Success:

To earn a passing grade in this class, you must:

●      Pass all four of the examinations, the content of which will be based on a block of material as outlined below;

●      Submit the four writing assignments that you will be given over the course of the semester. Each assignment will be based on a unit of the reading material.

Make-up work and examinations are given at the discretion of the professor. In cases of personal illness or emergency, with documentation, the professor may allow make-up work, but only if the student requests such immediately upon return to class.

Using AI to complete any assignment is strictly prohibited, including the use of Grammarly and other wordsmith websites. Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (to wit, the Section On Academic Dishonesty in the Student Handbook) for the severe consequences if you are caught cheating in any way. If you are found to cheat, you will receive an “F” for the course and will be reported to my department chairman, my dean, and the university president.

Please check your campus email and Course Homepage using the MYLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grade, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MYLSCPA. 

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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.