GOVT-2306 Texas State and Local Government

Wajma Nasher

Credit Fall 2025

Section(s)

GOVT-2306-026 (21620)
LEC DIL ONL DIL

Course Requirements

For complete syllabus please visit the class blackboard page.

All exams will be taken online through blackboard at home.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to Texas state and local government. The course includes an introduction to a framework for analyzing Texas government and politics, the constitutional basis for Texas government and politics, the processes of Texas government and politics, the institutions of Texas government and politics, and the policies of Texas government and politics.

Course Requirements

1. Examinations: Four examinations will be issued during the course. The examinations will consist of 50 multiple choice & true/false questions worth 2 points each for a total of 100 points per exam. Altogether, the four examinations are worth up to 400 points of a student’s final course grade.

2. Quizzes: There will be some quizzes you will have to take.  Altogether, the quizzes are worth up to 100 points of a student’s final course grade.

3.  Discussion Board: There will be some discussion board postings that you will have to write. Each posting is worth 50 points.

There will be due dates but students may work ahead and complete the required work early.

Final Grade Calculation:  Student’s final grades will be calculated using the following 600 point scale:  

A:  600 - 540

B:  539 - 480

C:  479 - 420

D:  419 - 360

F:  359 and below 

 

 

Readings

  • The required textbook for this course is Practicing Texas Politics by Brown, Langenegger, Garcia, Biles, Rynbrandt, Reyna, and Huerta.
  • The publisher is Cengage
  • You may use the current or the older versions of the textbook going back no later than the year 2015.
  • No other supplemental material (MindTap or online access) is required with the textbook. 

 

Course Subjects

Unit One:

  • The Environment of Texas Politics

  • The Texas Constitution

  • Local Governments

Unit Two:

  • Interest Groups

  • Political Parties

  • Voting, Campaigns, Elections, and Media

Unit Three:

  • The Legislative Branch

  • The Executive Branch

Unit Four:

  • The Administration                          

  • The Judicial Branch         

  • Financing of State Government                             

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Common Course Objectives

This course will emphasize teaching students the following general learning outcomes that the Government Department of Austin Community College has adopted for all of its GOVT 2306 courses:

Constitutional Foundations: 

The student will understand the foundations, development, and features on the Texas Constitution of 1876.

Linkage Institutions: 

The student will understand how media, interest groups, and political parties serve as institutions to connect people to Texas state and local governments.

Political Learning: 

The student will understand how political values, attitudes, and behaviors are learned, organized, and expressed.

Campaigns and Elections: 

The student will understand the operation of a political campaign, types of elections, and the factors that affect election outcomes in the Texas political system.

Institutions of State Government: 

The student will understand the structure, functions, and operations of the institutions of state government in Texas.

Institutions of Local Government:

The student will understand the structure, functions, and operations of the institutions of local government in Texas.

Public Policy in Texas:

The student will understand the development and implementation of public policy in Texas.

Office Hours

Office Hours

Published: 06/02/2025 14:01:25