Faculty

GOVT-2306 Texas State and Local Government

Celeste Rios

Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

GOVT-2306-031 (16970)
LEC MW 12:00pm - 1:20pm HYS HYS1 01217.00

GOVT-2306-037 (16976)
LEC TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am DIL DLS DIL

GOVT-2306-062 (16989)
LEC MW 1:30pm - 2:50pm HYS HYS1 01217.00

GOVT-2306-079 (28772)
LEC TuTh 1:25pm - 2:45pm SAC SAC1 1301

Course Requirements

Texas Government 2306-031 16970 062 16989, 079 28772, 037 16976 Spring 2026 1/20-5/17 Professor Rios Syllabus HYS Rm. 1217 SAC Rm. 1301 Professor: Celeste Rios Office: Text or email HYS Adjunct Office, second-floor MW 10:30 am-12 pm / SAC Adjunct Office 2nd floor TTH noon to 1 pm College policyhttps://www.austincc.edu/offices/academic-outcomes-assessment/master-syllabi/college-ppolicie s Telephone: 512-223-9100 SAC Web Page: www.austincc.edu/govtdept.html Email: crios2@austincc.edu; please use it for all communication ResearchGuides.austincc.edu- ACC provides this website for all students. Resources: Texas Tribune.com TLO- Texas Legislation Online Learning Labs: Labs are available to ACC students. These labs provide tutoring, study rooms, computers, links, and additional resources. Every ACC Campus also has a media center where students can ask for help with recording and editing. Blackboard- Class slides will be available on the Blackboard. Class slides are used as an outline for each chapter. Students need to take his/her notes during lectures and use the slides as an outline. Students must check the blackboard for announcements, emails, grading, lecture slides, and assignments. Course Description: This course aims to introduce students to the Texas State and local Government. It will include a framework for learning about the Government’s politics, constitutional basis, process, institutions, and policies. Text ● Full Version in PDF Format ● https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eW_Izl2M1te67fZ3MCQXpig0_xSf8vpe/view?usp=sharin ● g ● Table of Contents to Individual Chapters ● https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RL3s2OTANGCFCRrSZO_NtZQA55ifGno0/view?usp=sh aring ● Materials: -notebook, laptop -writing material -access to a computer Course Rules- Be curious and courteous. Turn In Assignments: Turn In Assignments: 1. Find the assignment and click 2. Read instructions 3. Start submission and click "Add Content." You can type or upload. 4. submit Student Evaluation There will be four exams during the semester. Exams will be based on class lectures, current events, documentaries, and reading assignments. Students can prepare for these exams by attending class, reading the textbook, and taking notes. The exams will consist of multiple-choice, true-or-false, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer questions. Each exam will be available during a two-hour window and will begin at the scheduled class time. All students take exams on the scheduled dates and times. Make-up exams will be given only with a doctor’s excuse and must be completed within one week of the scheduled test date. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the professor and make the necessary arrangements. Students who wish to take an exam early may do so; however, the exam will differ from the one given on the scheduled test day. All make-up and early exams are given at the discretion of the professor. Current Events At the beginning of each class, we will address a current topic or policy about government and political science. The class will be encouraged to have discussions. Media Project The project's subject matter will be based on a Texas political issue/policy. You will do an informative project using your choice of a media mechanism. For example, you could do a documentary, movie, audio recording, blog, cartoons, animation segment, commercials, PowerPoint, Prezi, original poem, original song, short story, game, original photograph, or Google Docs. All viewing or listening assignments must be at least 5 minutes long. The slide presentations must be 15 slides minimum. Please turn in a reference page using MLA or APA format! You will use four reference sources. This assignment will be sent to me on Blackboard before midnight on the due date. If there is a problem using any media mechanism, notify me before the due date. Be creative and have fun with this assignment!!! Thinking Points- minimum three paragraphs per thinking point. Thinking points will address public policies and government issues. You will think critically and express your thoughts. This assignment will be graded based on content. You must be informed and do research before addressing the subject matter. You will add a works cited page with two resources for each thinking point. 1. How is freedom of speech tested on college campuses in our state? (January) 2. Explain the case of Melissa Lucio (Feb.) 3. How is redistricting and gerrymandering impacting representation in Texas? Explain what happened in August 2025. (March ) 4. What are the political and legal implications of Operation Lone Star? (April) This will be submitted through Blackboard by midnight on the given calendar date. All grades will be placed on Blackboard. If there is a missing assignment, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the professor before the last day of class! Extra Credit 1. 10 points towards an exam grade if you present your media project. 2. You will research the murders of young females in 1993 in Juarez, Mexico. This has produced a femicide that has not been able to be resolved. Ten points are added to an exam grade. Written report- 3 pages, double-spaced or Slide presentation- 6 slides Works cited page with 3 resources! Attendance: Sign in for attendance for every class period. If the student has good attendance, they will receive their 2%. The student is allowed to miss up to 4 days. Grading Policy Exams Each exam is worth 100 points, as shown below. Four exams will be given; each one is worth 15% of your grade. 20 multiple choice- 2 points each 10 true or false – 2 points each 4 fill in blanks– 5 points each 2 short answers- 10 points each The essay will be graded by content. I will look for factual information and work cited pages. Every day it is late, 5 points will be taken off. Thinking Points Four thinking points, and each will be 25 points. Thinking points not entered by the correct date will not be accepted. The points will be added at the end of the semester. The student’s grade will be determined by the proportion below: 1. Exams are 15% each. 2. The Media Project- 18%. 3. Attendance is worth 2%. 4. Thinking Points- 20% All grades will be placed on Blackboard, so if there is a missing assignment, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the professor before the last day of class! I do not go by points. Please remember when calculating your grade, use the weighted percentage. I will grade by content. Ex. Did the student answer the question fully and provide appropriate examples? A solid essay usually consists of three paragraphs. Preparing for an exam! I will answer any questions you may have about the exam and subject matter a couple of days before. I will recap each chapter, time permitting. I do not use review sheets, but I do try to provide supplements. Grading Scale 90-100=A 80-89=B 70-79=C 60-69=D Below 60=F Grades for the course are A, B, C, D, I, and W. If any student wishes to withdraw, the responsibility is on the student. If the student fails to withdraw, the student will receive an F. The student must withdraw from the Admissions and Records Office by April 2026. A student may receive an incomplete if: a) the student has a valid medical reason, b) agrees to receive an Incomplete, c) the student agrees to complete the course by the given date on the Incomplete Grade Form, d) must have taken an exam and a quiz e) has shown an effort to attend class. I do not use BB points because the assignments are weighed differently. Here is the calculation for grades: running total: Calculation of grades- ex. (90 x .20) + (80 x .20) + (70 x .16) Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating on exams, plagiarism, and collusion. The student's work must result from their own research and thought process. The instructor has the right to seek disciplinary action, which will include an F process assignment or course. Student Accessibility Services: "Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Student Accessibility Services Office on the campus where they expect to take most of their classes. Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester. Student Support Services Resources to support you are available at every campus. Food pantries are available at all campus Student Life offices (https://sites.austincc.edu/sl/programs/foodpantry/). Assistance paying for childcare or utility bills is available at any campus Support Center (http://www.austincc.edu/students/support-center). For sudden, unexpected expenses that may cause you to withdraw from one or more of your courses, go to http://www.austincc.edu/SEF to request emergency assistance through the Student Emergency Fund. Help with budgeting for college and family life is available through the Student Money Management Office (http://sites.austincc.edu/money/). Counselors are available at any campus if you experience a personal or mental health concern (http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling). All services are free and confidential. AI No use of generative AI is permitted. Meaning a student’s paper and paper content should be generated by the student and should reflect the student's own original ideas. Using AI to generate your paper will be considered an act of plagiarism and will be subjected to the Academic Dishonesty Process of ACC. This includes but is not limited to text, audio, visuals, graphics, and artwork. If a professor wishes to allow some generative AI in-class assignments and papers, the professor will provide explicit permission and will require proper citation of all submitted materials that were generated or created by any AI program. Broader use of some AI that is acceptable includes spell and grammar check technology. If you want to use a form of AI not covered explicitly in this policy, you must consult with your professor and have an agreement before submitting any assignment.

Readings

Full Version in PDF Format ● https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eW_Izl2M1te67fZ3MCQXpig0_xSf8vpe/view?usp=sharin ● g ● Table of Contents to Individual Chapters ● https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RL3s2OTANGCFCRrSZO_NtZQA55ifGno0/view?usp=sh aring

Course Subjects

TX Government

Spring 2026

TTH Calendar

It is advised to read each chapter before the lecture.

The calendar is subject to change if needed.

This class will have time to discuss the thinking points.

Assignments are due before midnight.

Two hours will be allocated for online exams, which will begin at the scheduled class time.

DATES TOPICS CHAPTERS

January 20 Review syllabus

Introductions

Jan. 22 Demographics and History Unit 1

Review- Thinking Point

Jan. 27 Demographics

Jan. 29 Constitution Unit 2

Feb. 3 Constitution & Review Media/Visual Project Unit 2

Assignment

1st Thinking Point is due

Feb. 5 Constitution and Federal System Unit 2

Review- 2nd pnt.

Feb. 10 Federal System Unit 2

Review-Exam 1

Feb. 12 Online Exam 1

Units 1 and 2

The 2nd Thinking Point is due

Feb. 17 Legislative Branch 3

Feb. 19 Legislative Branch 3

Feb. 24 Executive 4

Review- essays

Feb. 26 Judicial 5

March 3 Exam 2 -online Units 3-5

March 5 Local Governments 6

Review-extra credit Juarez Femicide

Media Projects are due

March 10 Local Governments 6

Thinking Point -review

March 12 Voting/Participation 7

March 17-19 Spring Break

March 24 Documentary

March 26 Elections/Campaigning 8

Review- essays

March 31 Political Parties 9

The 3rd Thinking Point is due

April 2 Interest Groups 10

April 7 Online- Exam 3 Units 6-9

April 9 Extra Credit presentations

April 14 Extra Credit presentations

April 16 Human Trafficking

April 21 Crime 11

Review- 4th Thinking Point

April 23 Crime 11

April 28 Public Policy

4th Thinking Point is due

April 30 Public Policy 12

May 5 Finance/Immigration 13

May 7 Media Lecture 14

Review- exam 4

May 12 Texas Civil Liberties

May 14 Exam 4- online units 10-14

Extra Credit Due

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Texas State and Local Government Online Learning Objectives Unit 1 Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas . Explain the roots of Texas politics and government. . Explain Texas ideological context. . Describe separation of powers and checks and balances. . Describe Texas’s political cultures. . Examine the history of the Texas economy. . Define the political socialization found in Texas. . Define public opinion and how it is measured. Unit 2 Texas Constitution . Explain the foundations of the Texas Constitution. . Define democracy . Describe the main provisions and criticisms in the 1876 Constitution. . Describe the importance of the first six constitutions. . Describe the amending process. . Define federalism and the effects in the Texas government. Unit 2 Federal system . Describe the socio economic theory . Federalism (dual and cooperative) . Public Opinion and polling . Grants- block and categorical Unit 3 Legislature . Know the roots of the Texas Legislative Branch. . Explain how the Texas Legislature is organized. . Explain how legislators make decisions. . Describe the legislative process in Texas. . Describe redistricting and gerrymandering. . Describe the elections found in Texas and factors that affect the elections . Describe the main interest groups found in Texas. . Explain the election process and political campaigning in Texas. Unit 4 Executive Branch . Qualifications for being Texas Governor . Informal powers . Plural Executive . Relations with other branches Unit 5 Judicial Branch . Know the roots of the Texas Judiciary. . Explain the structure of the Texas Judiciary. . Describe the judicial process in Texas. . Describe the criticisms of the judiciary process in Texas. . Explain the process and qualifications for Texas judges. Unit 6 Local Governments . Describe the structure of county governments. . Describe the structure of city governments. . Know the different forms of city governments . Explain the special districts found in Texas. . Know the difference between general law and home rule cities. . Describe various types of special districts. Unit 7 Voting and Participation . Describe redistricting and gerrymandering. . Describe what is voting turnout . Explain the requirements to vote in Texas . what is conventional and unconventional participation . types of participation Unit 8 Elections and Campaigning . describe the elections in Texas and factors that affect the elections . What are PACs . types of campaigning . What is needed for a successful campaign? Unit 9 Political Parties .Analyze the evolution and functions of political parties . Explain the campaign finance regulations . Describe the party identification in Texas Unit 10 Interest Groups . Describe the main interest groups found in Texas . Explain the election process and political campaigning . Explain lobbying Unit 11 and 12 Public Policy/ Crime System . Describe the public policy process . Describe health and welfare policies. . Describe the policy process of education in Texas. . Know the organization and process of law enforcement in Texas. . Describe the policy process of emergency policies. Unit 13 Finance . Explain the Texas finance system . Know the different types of taxes . Describe the fiscal policy in Texas . Explain how budgets are developed . Explain the sources of revenue and expenditures for state and local governments. Ch. 14 Media . Influence of the media . filtered news . What is the gatekeeper . explain newsworthiness