(Student’s Name)
Professor John Ben Sutter
GOVT 2306
Date
MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS I STUDIED IN GOVT 2305 THIS SEMESTER
I consider study of how the election process works with regard to my right to vote significant. I could effectively understand how I have a say in how our government works through the election process, how I can become involved in that process. The location of the polling place is important information. It is important to me to be at the correct place, informed of all my voting rights, and to vote where my family will be there as well. The time at which the polls open and close is also important. This information directs me in what time I would like to be able to cast my vote. I think that the knowledge of not only who will be running for office but also their background and experience, provides an accurate picture of what I could expect from that politician’s performance as a leader for my state or country.
Studying the role of members of the Texas Legislature—both in the Senate and House of Representatives was also significant to me since I learned their role in making laws for the country and providing services to the citizens of Texas. — The Legislator serves as the voice of constituents. One of the most important thing a legislator can do is to represent the people and their concerns. A legislator must work hard to understand all sides of an issue. The more knowledge you have about a topic, the smarter your vote will be. I learned a lot about this by taking the Texas House and Senate tour with my classmates (in fact it was one of my favorite classes this semester). We got to go behind-the-scenes in both chambers of the Texas legislature to see how bills are made into laws and to learn about laws that are currently being debated or amended in both bodies. The study of local government issues was also significant to me since I learned that even though state or federal issues could be devastating, it is our local governments that will provide services during those times of difficulty.
I also consider studying the bill of rights as a key topic or area of study since it is one of the most important origins of our judicial laws in the United States and an essential component to understanding U.S. government. The Bill of Rights is often noted for its significance to the government of the United States and its role in American society today. It contains precisely enumerated guarantees that protect the rights of citizens from infringement by the federal government, listing limits on what it can do. It establishes basic individual rights that apply to all people, including criminal procedure, freedom of speech and religion, as well as a prohibition against establishing a state religion. It also prohibits Congress from infringing on states’ rights.
Another important topic that I learned this semester was studying Texas Criminal Justice and its impact on Texas citizens. Political corruption in the state of Texas affects the economic and political life of each one of the citizens. A lack of accountability or transparency is seriously jeopardizing our ability to trust and rely on government officials, which has worsened in recent years. This is an issue that deserve to be studied in order to understand how to deal with it because this matter impacts everybody, directly or indirectly.
Another important topic that I studied this semester was studying the media and its role in the Texas government, specifically the Texas Criminal Justice System. This is an essential topic for study because good communication between the criminal justice system and the community is absolutely necessary in order to gain public support and trust. The criminal justice system can work only with the help of our community, not against them, so I consider this topic a very significant one that should be properly understood and studied by all citizens who wish to participate in our legislative process and live peacefully in our democratic society.
Another important topic that I learned this semester was studying what a democracy is, how it works and what are its main characteristics. Democracy is the form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect them. The purpose of a democratic society is to establish governmental policies that are carried out by elected leaders. In order to effectively carry out public policy, democratic principles must be applied to procedures for developing public policy and to personal rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
All the topics studied this semester are important in some way. I have chosen the ones listed above because they have significant impact on our lives and I believe they should be understood by each citizen who wishes to live or just travel through Texas safely.
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