Assignment Introduction
In a democratic government system like the US and the state of Texas, We the People are responsible for the not only making the laws but abiding by them as well. Because of this we have a stake in what happens in the Texas legislature. The legislative branch of Texas creates the state laws that we have to abide by and the public policies that benefit society. The laws protect us from being taken advantage of, they keep us safe in society, and benefit all of us society. These laws and policies are not just created, implemented, and enforced by a faceless entity of “government”, but by the people whom we elect to create, implement, and enforce the laws and policies of the state of Texas. We the people decide public policy/laws, not directly but by electing representatives to the legislative branch to create the laws and policies that reflect the citizens of Texas. Unlike the US president, the governor of Texas is not the sole executive in charge. We elect several executive branch members of state government that would be appointed by a governor in a single executive system to implement the laws. Unlike US federal court judges, our judges in Texas are elected. This means that judges and justices apply and enforce the law as representatives of the people who elected them. Local governments also play a major role in our daily lives. There is a saying that the government that is closest to you, is the government that has the most control over your daily life. This is where local government plays a role. Cities and towns can elect their own members of government and create laws, but all must comply with the Texas Constitution and the laws of the state. County governments are the local administrative and enforcement arm of state government and provided many state services and most all public officials are elected. The one thing in common with the state legislative branch, the plural executive, the judicial branch, and local governments is that those who make the decisions that affect our daily lives are ultimately answerable to the we the people of Texas through elections. We have a stake in what happens in government and a responsibility to make sure our laws and policies reflect our beliefs. It is our role and responsibility to speak up when we see people being taken advantage of, when our laws and policies do not reflect our interests or wishes; to not only elect the people to create the laws, but to be aware of and pay attention to the laws and polices created.
Assignment Basics
Overview
This assignment requires you to write an essay of at least 850 words that demonstrates your knowledge of how members of the Texas legislature represent those who elected them, identifies the structural and procedural differences between the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, identifies the qualifications and terms of office of the members of all three branches of Texas government, and the jurisdiction of local governments and the relationship between local governments and the state government.
Preparation and Format
(This section is the same in all Mastery Assessments for this course)
This paper should be prepared in Microsoft Word according to MLA formatting guidelines; a template has been provided for you. If you choose not to utilize the template, information on MLA formatting is posted in the course. You will be graded on the content of your paper, of course, but a portion of the grade will be assigned based on correctly naming the file that you submit, submitting the paper correctly, formatting the paper correctly, citing sources correctly, and writing mechanics.
Template
A template Download templateis provided for your use on this assignment. This is a Microsoft Word document in which all of the MLA formatting has been set. To utilize this template, you will download it to your computer, adjust the heading on the first page (entering your name on the first line and the date of submission on the fourth line), and entering your content and source references. You will then name the file appropriately (see below) before submitting.
File Name
When you are preparing your paper, you will assign a file name when you save it on your computer. The file name needs to be correct—so that when you upload your paper, it will be distinguishable from the papers submitted by the other students. The correct file name is:
M3_LastName_FirstName
where “LastName” is replaced by your last name and “FirstName” is replaced by your first name (this should be your first name as it appears on my class roster—and this should match the first name that you put on the first line of the heading within the paper itself).
Grading
(This section is the same in all Mastery Assessments for this course)
As noted above, a portion of the grade for this assignment will be based on following the instructions: correctly submitting a Word document that is appropriately named and which is correctly formatted according to MLA standards, correctly citing and referencing your sources, and the mechanics of writing (since this is a writing-intensive college-level course).
The bulk of your grade will be determined based on the content. There are specific questions that you are asked to respond to. Additionally, your submission will be used to assess your ability with regard to social responsibility (one of the Core Competency Objectives identified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board).
A grading rubric has been posted with the assignment, to help you better understand exactly how your submission will be graded.
The Content of Your Submission
Overall Goal
You have four sections in this assignment. Be sure to follow the prompts in the last section of the instructions.
Content
Section 1
LO3.1.1 Evaluate how members of Congress represent their constituents
The legislative branch is the most representative branch of Texas government. We the people directly elect our representatives to create the laws and policies. Describe the various ways members of the Texas Legislature represent the people who elect them.
Section 2
LO3.1.2 Identify differences between Texas Representatives and Senators in the legislative branch
Like the US government, Texas has a bicameral legislature, meaning there are two chambers, or representative bodies. Members of the two different chambers have different constituents. Identify the differences in the representative legislative process between the Texas House and Texas Senate.
Section 3
LO3.1.3 Identify the difference between legislative, executive, and judicial terms, salaries, and qualifications to hold public office in Texas
There are several differences in the qualifications for governor, senator, House member, or judge in Texas state government. Identify and describe the differences of terms and qualifications for holding office in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Section 4
LO3.1.4 Describe the jurisdiction of local governments
While local government like counties and municipal governments (cities, towns) have a more direct role in your daily life, these governments are limited in what laws and policies that can be enacted. Describe the jurisdictions of county and municipal governments.
