Government 2306 Course Information Sheet

Spring 2006

Instructor: Alan Lehmann

Office: Old Main #408

Monday and Wednesday	8 to noon
Tuesday and Thursday	8 and 9:15 am	10:45 to noon	2:30 to 4 p.m.
Friday	9 a.m. to noon

And by appointment

Phone Number: (979) 830-4226

Course Description: Government 2306 consists of a study of the organization, functions and administration of state and local government including a thorough study of the state constitution.

Course Prerequisites: Sophomore standing

Core Curriculum: This is a Core Course in the 42-Hour Core of Blinn College. As such, students will develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational Objectives, and Perspectives. The URL for the Blinn College Core Curriculum web site is: http://www.blinncol.edu/corecurriculum/index.htm

Student Learning Objectives: After successfully completing Government 2306, students should have a working knowledge of the organization, functions and administration of the agencies of state and local government, plus an understanding of the Texas Constitution.

Readings: Please read this section very carefully and be aware of the implications for your successful progress in this course. Government 2306 is designed to allow you a successful and enjoyable introduction to the many facets of Government at the college level. It is designed to challenge you as well as keep you stimulated. In spite of this, Government 2306 should not be too difficult for you if YOU KEEP UP WITH THE ASSIGNED READINGS!

Class lectures and discussions will NOT necessarily cover the same material as in the text. Periodically, handouts will be used to present concepts, applications and examination of selected materials to achieve course learning outcomes. However, examinations will be derived from class lectures, handouts, assignments and the text.

Textbook: Brown, et al Practicing Texas Politics. 12th Edition, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 2004.

Required Reader: Franke, Rambo & Franke, Inside Texas Politics.

Examinations: It is the instructor's policy that all students take the exams at the scheduled time. All deviations must be excused in advance. In instances of emergencies, the STUDENT MUST inform the instructor as soon as possible. It is the instructor's decision whether an absence is excused. Failure to take an exam at the scheduled time without an excuse may result in a score of zero (0). Exams (including the comprehensive final) will be primarily multiple choice, true false, matching and fill-in-the-blank. One short essay worth 10 points will be a component on all three majors. If I allow a makeup exam, expect all essays.

Class Calendar:

Date	Lesson	Readings	Topic
1/17-2/7	Units 1,2	Chapters 2,3	Texas Culture/ Constitution
2/9	Exam 1		Multiple Choice/ True-False/Fill in the Blank/Essay
2/14-3/7	Units 3,4	Chapters 4,5	Voting/Parties
3/9	Exam 2		MC/TF/FB/Essay
3/21-4/11	Units 5,6	Chapters 6,7	Legislative/Exec Branches
4/13	Exam 3		MC/TF/FB/Essay
4/18-5/2	Unit 7	Chapters 9,10	Judicial Branch/ Local govt/ State Finances
TBD	Final Exam		MC/TF/FB

Attendance: Required; roll will be taken daily

Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend each class session. Attendance will be taken. Should absences occur, they will be considered unexcused unless the reason falls under the criteria established by Blinn College for unexcused absences.

The Blinn Bulletin and Blinn College Student Handbook state that there are only two forms of excused absences. ALL OTHER ABSENCES ARE CONSIDERED UNEXCUSED. Excused absences are:

1. When representing Blinn College at a college function

2. Religious Holy Days of which the instructor is notified in writing by the 15th day after the first day of class.

Should you decide to stop attending a class, it is your responsibility to drop by April 13, 2006; if you do not, you will stay enrolled and receive a final grade of "F".

Extra Credit: Completion of assigned projects for up to five points applied to a major exam grade.

Cheating: Prohibited and grounds for immediate failure of assignment. There is a possibility of expulsion if the cheating is found to be serious enough.

Administrative Information: Food, Drinks and Tobacco products are NOT allowed in the classroom.

Cell Phones & Pagers: To maintain order, please turn them off or to silent ring while in classroom. During class time, use them only in case of an emergency.

ADA Statement:

Information regarding procedures for documenting disabilities can be obtained from the Counseling Office. Reasonable accommodations will be made for documented disabilities. Students must present documentation as soon as possible for the instructor to arrange accommodations.

Civility Statement:

Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, staff and students, are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. Blinn College holds all members accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in a manner that recognizes personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms of every member of the College community, including respect for College property and the physical and intellectual property of others. If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the student may not return to that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor: it is the student's responsibility to arrange for this conference.

Grading Method:

Three Major Exams (20% each)- 60%

Comprehensive Final 20%

8 chapter quizzes (drop lowest 1) 14%

6 note quizzes 6%

_______________________________________

Total 100%

Track your grades here:

Exam #1: ____

Exam #2: ____

Exam #3: ____

Total ____

Final Exam ____

Chapter Quizzes ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___

Total (keep only top 7) ___

Note Quizzes ___, ___, ___, ___, ___, ___ ___

Extra Credit earned ___

Total (maximum of 500 points) ____

Grading scale:

450 or more: A

400-449: B

350-399: C

300-349: D

Less than 300 points: F