Course GOVT 2306.0U2.17U - State & Local Politics Professor Misty Parker Term Summer 2017 Meetings Tues & Thurs 12:30 – 2:45 Classroom GR 3.420 Professor’s Contact Information Office Location GR 3.314 Email Address [email protected] Office Hours Tue 11:30-12:30, Thur 2:45 – 3:45, and by appointment Course Description This course is designed to introduce you to the state and local government and politics of Texas within the wider context of the United States federal system. As an introductory course, an understanding of the broad concepts related to state and local governance is the focus. The information you receive in this course should provide you with the tools and skills necessary to participate in state and local government, think critically about government policies and programs, and appreciate the role state and local government plays in your everyday life. Learning Objectives At the completion of this course, students should be able to: ▪ Think critically about issues related to government and politics–analyze and appreciate historical trends in the development of government institutions (constitutions, branches of government, political parties, elections, etc.), and apply knowledge of government institutions and theoretical and scholarly approaches to understand government behavior and current events ▪ Effectively communicate issues of societal and personal import with others-meaningfully and respectfully express your positions and ideas on political and social issues to fellow students, community members, public officials, and representatives ▪ Engage academically and professionally with a sense of social responsibility-recognize that individual actions can have consequences for society just as government actions can have consequences for individuals, and engage with the world around you with awareness and empathy ▪ Exercise personal responsibility in how government functions-understand how to effectively interact with government to achieve desired outcomes, and begin a lifetime of active engagement with your state and local governments Learning Outcomes 1. Describe the development and importance of the Texas Constitution. 2. Describe state and local political systems and their relationship to the federal government. 3. Understand the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government in Texas. 4. Analyze issues, public policies, and political culture in Texas. 5. Identify, describe, and analyze various mechanisms of citizen political involvement including public opinion, political parties, interest groups, and electoral processes. 6. Apply important theoretical and scholarly approaches to understanding state and local institutions’ behavior, citizen involvement, and interactions between citizens and institutions of government. General Course Information Required Text Anthony Champagne and Edward J. Harpham. Governing Texas. 2nd or 3rd editions are both fine. My suggestion is to choose the cheapest option, as both are essentially the same (published in 2015 and 2017, respectively). Additional Materials The following are excellent resources for keeping up-to-date on local and state politics and noteworthy events. Newspapers/Magazines ▪ Dallas Morning News – http://www.dallasnews.com – Dallas’ only daily ▪ Dallas Observer – http://www.dallasobserver.com – Dallas’ alternative weekly paper (free, available around campus) ▪ Fort Worth Star-Telegram – http://www.star-telegram.com – daily news from Dallas’ neighbor to the west ▪ Austin American-Statesman – http://www.statesman.com – daily news from Texas’ capitol city ▪ Texas Monthly – http://www.texasmonthly.com – monthly magazine covering Texas news, politics, food, festivals, history, and events ▪ UTD Mercury – http://www.utdmercury.com – keep up to date with happenings on campus (free, available around campus) Blogs/Podcasts ▪ The Texas Standard – http://www.npr.org/podcasts/381443479/texas-standard - National Public Radio show focusing on Texas news ▪ Trib Talk – http://www.tribtalk.org – op-ed section of Texas Tribune Official Government Websites ▪ Texas Legislature Online – http://www.capitol.state.tx.us – search for and read legislation, find out who represents you in Texas House and Senate ▪ List of official Texas websites - http://www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/websites-texas-state-agencies- state-funded-institutions Grading Policies Grading There are six graded components to this course: ▪ Exam #1 – June 20 (20%) ▪ Exam #2 – June 18 (20%) ▪ Exam #3 – August 3 (20%) ▪ Take Home Exam – Due August 9 (25%) ▪ Quizzes – highest 4 of 5 quiz grades (10%) ▪ Attendance – (5%) Attendance Attendance will constitute 5% of your grade and will be taken only on days we have guest speakers. Obviously, I want to encourage your attendance when guests take time out of their schedules to speak to you and answer your questions. Aside from this, this is also a very easy way to increase your final grade by 5 points. It could just as easily decrease your grade by 5 points, however, but that is up to you. Speakers are scheduled in advance, so plan accordingly. Assignments Quizzes (10%) – There will be five quizzes given randomly throughout the semester. They are open-book, open-note quizzes taken at the beginning of the second half of class. They will each consist of questions taken from the most recent lecture, the assigned reading for the day, and current events. These are not designed to be tricky. The lowest grade will be dropped. Exams (20% x 3 exams) – Exams will be closed book, no notes, and taken during the first half of class (50-minute time limit). Exams will consist of 50 multiple choice questions covering readings and lectures, plus 5 bonus questions covering current events. On these days, all students are expected to return for the second half of class, which will begin at 1:45 p.m. Take Home Exam (25%) – The take home exam instructions will be posted on eLearning following our final class on August 3. You will have one week to complete the exam, which will need to be turned in via the Turnitin module on eLearning by midnight on August 9. This exam will test your ability to synthesize knowledge gained throughout the course and apply it to real world challenges. It will be in essay-form, and further details will be given as class proceeds. Academic Calendar Course Outline: Week 1: May 30 Introduction to the course June 1 Ch. 1 The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas Week 2: June 6 Ch. 2 The Texas Constitution June 8 Ch. 3 Texas in the Federal System Week 3: June 13 Ch. 4 Political Parties in Texas June 15 Ch. 5 Elections in Texas Week 4: June 20 EXAM #1 // Ch. 6 Interest Groups & Lobbying June 22 Ch. 6 Interest Groups and Lobbying // Guest Speaker: Theresa Flores, Lobbyist for Mary Kay Inc. Week 5: June 27 Ch. 7 The Texas Legislature June 29 Guest Speaker: Jay Barksdale, EVP of The Davis Advocates // Ch. 8 The Texas Executive Branch Week 6: July 4 HOLIDAY – NO CLASS July 6 Ch. 8 (cont.) // Ch. 9 The Texas Judiciary Week 7: July 11 Ch. 9 (cont.) // Ch. 10 Local Government in Texas July 13 Guest Speaker: Michael Miles, VP of Dallas Area Rapid Transit // Ch. 10 (cont.) Week 8: July 18 EXAM #2 // Ch. 11 Public Finance in Texas July 20 Ch. 11 (cont.) // Ch. 12 Public Policy in Texas Week 9: July 25 Guest Speaker: TBD // Ch. 12 (cont.) July 27 Ch. 13 Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas Week 10: August 1 Catch-up/wrap-up day August 3 EXAM #3 Week 11: August 7 NO CLASS August 9 Take Home Exam Due @ midnight EXAMS: June 20 July 18 August 3 August 9 (Take Home Exam) Course Policies Please contact me by visiting me during office hours or by emailing me. Note Contact that campus policy requires that any email correspondence between us must Preferences be sent from your UTD email address. I am strictly prohibited from responding to student emails that do not originate from UTD. My preference is not to give make-up exams, but should circumstances arise Make-up where you cannot attend on exam day, advance notice, either via email or in Exams person, of your absence is required to schedule a make-up. On each exam (except for the take-home exam), there will be 5 bonus questions which can serve to increase your exam grade by 10 points. In Extra Credit addition, the attendance policy is designed to give you an additional 5 points onto your final grade. This class is a great opportunity to practice engaging politically with people from diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and opinions. Democracy cannot work if we are unwilling to listen to one another or unable to exchange ideas Classroom respectfully. This course will cover some topics that may prove controversial. Citizenship It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to maintain civil discourse in the classroom. If at any time you do not feel this standard is being upheld in class, come talk to me. We are all adults and can prioritize our time and attention however we want, but be aware that if you prioritize internet or cell phone usage over paying Laptops and attention in class, your grade will almost surely reflect that decision. If at any Cell Phones point your computer or cell phone usage becomes disruptive to others (including myself), your privilege to use them in class will be revoked at my discretion. This creed was voted on by the UT Dallas student body in 2014. It is a standard that Comets choose to live by and encourage others to do the same: Comet Creed “As a Comet, I pledge honesty, integrity, and service in all that I do.” The information contained in the following link constitutes the University’s UT Dallas policies and procedures segment of the course syllabus. Syllabus Policies and Please go to http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies for these policies. Procedures The descriptions and timelines contained in this syllabus are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.