UT Dallas Syllabus For Psci4342.001.09s Taught by Gregory Thielemann (Gregt)

PSCI 4342 Dr.
Greg Thielemann
Legislative Decision Making Gr 3.520
Gr. 3.402 972-883-2048
T 1-3:45 gregt@utdallas.edu
Office Hours: T, 12-1, 3:45-4:45
(or by appointment)
This honors course examines the Texas Legislature and its decision making
The course presents unique learning opportunities for students by providing
them with direct access to the Texas Legislature in two trips to Austin. This
course can be taken for regular credit, as a Government Honors credit or for
upper division CV credit. Any student is eligible to take the course provided
that they are in good standing (GPA) and receive the permission of the
instructor. The small enrollment insures that the student will receive a
unique educational experience with personalized instruction on the course
projects. As you were informed when you registered, we will be taking two
trips to Austin. On Each trip, we will leave Dallas early on Tuesday and
return Wednesday evening. Each trip will include a two full days of activity
that will count as three class periods. Thus we will not hold class on four
days beyond the two that coincide with the trip in order to maintain the
maximum 45 hours of instruction. During these days, I will be holding
group meetings with all groups who wish to discuss the progress of their
work. Although I cannot require you to attend these sessions, it should be
treated as an appointment.
Evaluation:
1. Essay Exam - An in class essay exam (25%) based on the readings

and lectures in the course
2. Participation- 25% based on attendance and participation in the
discussions with state leaders.
3. An individual essay on the legislative experience (10%)
4. A group policy analysis paper (40%)
Required Text:
Practicing Texas Politics, Brown, et.al. Houghton Mifflin: 2008. (13th
edition.)
Internet: You will be required to read four websites each day for coverage
of the Texas Legislature.
http://www.chron.com/
http://www.statesman.com/
http://www.dallasnews.com/
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/
Reserve Readings: As listed on the syllabus. All are available in my office.
Course Outline
1-13 Introduction
1-20 Texas History and the Constitution

Read: Brown Chapters1
R. Kraemer, Texas Politics (1996) Chapter 1
H Davidson, The History of Texas, Chapter 6
Thielemann and Elliott, Texas: Same As It Ever Was? 2005
1-27 The Texas Constitution

Read Brown Chapter 2
W.E. Maxwell, Texas Politics Today (2000) Chapter 2
S.E. Haag, Texas Politics and Government (2001) Chapter 3
2-3 Discussion of Policy Topics
2-10 Group Meetings
2-17 The Legislature

Read Brown Chapter 7
Thielemann, Leadership, Power,… (1998) Chapter 5
Thielemann and Dixon, Explaining Contributions (1994)
Thielemann, Minority Legislators (1992)
2-24 Non Legislative Actors

Read Brown Chapters 5,6 & 8
Beyle, Governors and Hard Times (1992) Chapter 11
Maxwell, The Bureaucracy (2000) Chapter 9
Champagne and Thielemann, Awareness of Trial Court Judges (1991)
Thielemann, Local Advantage ….. (1993)
3-3 through 3-4 Austin Trip 1
3-10 Exam
3-17 Spring Break
3-24 No Class- Group Meetings
3-31 No Class- Group Meetings
4-7 Class Meeting- Discussion of policy issues and policy papers
4-14 Group Meetings
4-15 4-21 through 4-22 Austin Trip 2
4-28 Group Meetings
Group Projects are due on May 7 at 1:00 PM.
UTD disclaimers and policies

Student Conduct and discipline- The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and
regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization
to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student
conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year.
The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process.
Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1,
Chapter VI, Section 3, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available
to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).
A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal,
state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline
for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are
also imposed for such conduct.
Academic Integrity- The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the
value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a
student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award
of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty
involves one of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students suspected of
academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be
dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of
turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.
Email Use- The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and
students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in
an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email
address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows
the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted
information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel.
The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to
other accounts.
Withdrawal from Class-The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses.
These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's
responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do
the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you
are enrolled.
Student Grievance Procedures- Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the
obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee
with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for
assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the
respondent with a copy of the respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the
respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s
decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and
convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals
process will be distributed to all involved parties.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available
to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.
Incomplete Grades- As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the
semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks
from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is
not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.
Disability Services- The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to
those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)
Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments necessary to eliminate discrimination on
the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the
case of dog guides) for students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example, a research
paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes enrolled students with mobility impairments may
have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities. The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration,
note-taking, or mobility assistance.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides
students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals
requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.
Religious Holy Days- The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the
travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section
11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.
The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance
of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time
after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and
completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or
assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.
If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there
is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or
examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her
designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and
instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.

UT Dallas Syllabus For Psci4342.001.09s Taught by Gregory Thielemann (Gregt)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

UT Dallas Syllabus For Psci4342.001.09s Taught by Gregory Thielemann (Gregt)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

UT Dallas Syllabus For Psci4342.001.09s Taught by Gregory Thielemann (Gregt)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PSCI 4342 Dr.

1. Essay Exam - An in class essay exam (25%) based on the readings

Reserve Readings: As listed on the syllabus. All are available in my office.

1-20 Texas History and the Constitution

1-27 The Texas Constitution

2-3 Discussion of Policy Topics

2-10 Group Meetings

2-17 The Legislature

2-24 Non Legislative Actors

3-3 through 3-4 Austin Trip 1

3-17 Spring Break

3-24 No Class- Group Meetings

3-31 No Class- Group Meetings

4-7 Class Meeting- Discussion of policy issues and policy papers

4-14 Group Meetings

4-15 4-21 through 4-22 Austin Trip 2

4-28 Group Meetings

Group Projects are due on May 7 at 1:00 PM.

UTD disclaimers and policies

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

You might also like