GOVT-2306 Texas State and Local Government
Jonathan Buckstead
Credit Fall 2025
Section(s)
GOVT-2306-023 (21618)
LEC DIL ONL DIL
Course Requirements
PACE OF THE CLASS
Most of the work required for this class will be done at your own pace when it is convenient for you. YOU will determine when to do the reading during the week, and when you feel ready to enter the class discussion online. However, you must strive to complete and submit all Discussion Board postings by Sunday of each week or of the week that the assignment is due. The dates for all work to be completed are included in the "Homework Schedule" section of the course homepage. The due dates for other class assignments are also indicated in the “Homework Schedule" section. The key is not to fall behind.
EXAMS
There will be a total of four (4) exams. Each exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions covering three (3) chapters from our text. Each exam will be worth up to 50 points. You will be able to take the same exam twice with your highest score between the two attempts being recorded. There is a time limit of 60 minutes for each exam and each attempt. There will be no “mid-term” exam or comprehensive final exam. There will be no additional attempts, re-takes of any attempts, or any make-up exams, except in the event of a confirmed technical issue (screen capture required) and/or serious emergency. All exams will be taken online through the course in Blackboard using the Respondus Lockdown Browser. Make every attempt to complete each exam no later than the date specified in the course schedule. If you cannot complete an exam by the due date, be sure to let me know in advance. You are certainly welcome to take them earlier if you feel prepared to do so. After completing exams online, you will receive your score immediately. (Course max. of up to 200 points for 4 exams).
WEEKLY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS/DISCUSSION BOARDS
There will be one (1) question per chapter to think about as you read each of the chapters of the textbook and complete each lesson. After having read the appropriate chapter/s, your next step will be to answer the question for that chapter as you engage in a class discussion using the appropriate discussion board. You will be required to add one (1) answer/comment per chapter question, to the class discussions taking place on the appropriate discussion board. The questions for each chapter are located in the "Discussion Board" section of the course homepage. (Of course, more than one answer/comment is encouraged - some of you will find that you have a lot of input to give - that's great!) (Course maximum of up to 60 points for 12 answers).
WEBSITE CRITIQUE REPORT
There will be one (1) website critique report due during the semester. The length of the report should be between 500-750 words. The format of the report should be in a bulleted pros/cons format as in the sample report. The report can be submitted either directly in the text of a message sent via the message tool in the course or it can be attached as a .PDF file to an email and emailed directly to me. Basically, I would like you to find a state government-related website and review it critically, kind of like you would do with a book review. By "state government", I mean any site that originates from the Texas state government or interacts with the government of Texas. For example, sites dealing with interest groups, political parties, think tanks, political organizations, or other governmental entities would be fine as long as they are not directed at the "federal level".
As part of your critique, let me know if the site has good information, if you found it useful, if you would recommend it, etc. Pay particular attention to the content of the site and make any comparisons to its content to that of other related content that you have discovered in our textbook. This assignment will exercise your "surfing" skills and ask you to research and evaluate information available on a Texas government-related website. The website critique report will be worth up to 25 points (see the “Grading Policy” below for specific grading criteria). Check out the "Website Critique Report" section of the course homepage for a link to website evaluation criteria that you should use as you critique your website. There is also a link to a sample critique here for you to review. (Course maximum of up to 25 points for 1 report).
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Analyze the context of Texas Politics
- Analyze separation of powers in Texas government
- Describe the legacy of the Texas Constitution
- Describe the nature and characteristics of the 1876 Constitution.
- Discuss the nature of the relationship between national and state government
- Analyze the political and policy making impact of the media in Texas
- Analyze the political and policy making impact of interest groups in Texas.
- Analyze the political and policy making impact of political parties in Texas.
- Analyze the process and impact of elections and campaigns in Texas.
- Evaluate how political values, attitudes, and behaviors are learned.
- Describe elections and voting in Texas Government.
- Analyze the functions and operations of the legislative branch and its role in policy making today.
- Analyze the functions and operations of the executive branch and its role in policy making today.
- Analyze the functions and operations of the judicial branch and its role in policy making today.
- Analyze the structure, functions, and operations of local government.
- Describe education policy in Texas.
- Describe health and human services policy implementation in Texas.
- Describe environmental policy implementation in Texas.
- Describe criminal justice policy in Texas.
- Describe emergency management and border security policy implementation in Texas.
- Describe fiscal policy in Texas Government
- Describe how budgets are developed and managed in Texas government.
Office Hours
M 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM Online via Zoom
NOTE Zoom link to office hour: https://austincc.zoom.us/my/zoomjonathanPublished: 07/08/2025 08:21:28