Events
- Annual Convention
- Great Teaching round-up
- Leading from the middle
- fall conference for faculty leaders
- Webinars
"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."
Events: 2008 Government Schedule
Government Summary
Friday, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
"Religion and the 2008 Presidential Election"
Speaker: Ken Dautrich,
Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Connecticut, and David Yalof,
Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Connecticut
Friday, 2:30-3:45 p.m.
"Group Discussion: The Impact of Government Teachers on Student Political Attitudes and Opinions"
Speaker: Paul Blakelock,
Professor of Government, Kingwood College
Saturday, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
"Councils of Governments - The Unknown Actors"
Speaker: Mike Eastland,
Executive Director, North Central Texas Council of Governments
Friday, February 22nd, 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Friday morning's Government Section meeting explores the relationship between religion and politics.
"Religion and the 2008 Presidential Election," will be presented by two noted scholars on the subject, Ken Dautrich and David Yalof.
Religion played a prominent role in President George W. Bush's winning coalitions in 2000 and 2004. The strong support he received from evangelicals, born-again Christians, frequent church attendees, and those who identify themselves as "religious" people provided an important political base for these victories. What role is religion playing in the lead up to the 2008 presidential election? How important is it to voters this time around? Are any of the candidates capturing the interest of voters for whom religion is especially important? What sort of influence might religion have on the outcome in November?
The group will consider the impact the 2008 presidential election may have on religion in America, whether as a matter of symbolism (the nation could elect a second Catholic or the first Mormon to the White House), or in terms of its impact on the Supreme Court.
Professors Ken Dautrich and David Yalof, both at the University of Connecticut, have conducted numerous surveys on the role that religion plays in offering cues to voting, as well as of voter attitudes about the role of religion in American governance. In 2004 and 2007, their polling provided the basis for Time Magazine's coverage of the impact of religion in voting.
They have co-authored a textbook published by Wadsworth in January, American Government: Historical, Popular and Global Perspectives. Together they have also authored The Future of the First Amendment (Rowman and Littlefield) and The First Amendment and the Media in the Court of Public Opinion (Cambridge University Press). Dr. Dautrich teaches public opinion and voting, while Yalof teaches constitutional law, judicial politics, and the presidency.
Friday, February 22nd, 2:30-3:45 p.m.
Friday afternoon will feature a group discussion on "The Impact of Government Teachers on Student Political Attitudes and Opinions." Presenting will be Paul Blakelock, professor of government at Kingwood College.
Government teachers often wonder about the impact they have on their students in terms of their
political beliefs and party affiliation.
To what degree do students modify their own assessments of political trust as their level of knowledge increases? Do they modify their views to more closely match that of the instructor or do they cling more tightly to a belief system that was largely inherited from their parents?
To answer these questions, the presenter conducted a survey of college students throughout the Houston metropolitan area. He finds that students indeed respond to instructor ideology and that, for many, this manifests itself in changing attitudes of political trust. Moreover, political trust is an important component of civic society as students who display higher levels of trust are less supportive of unconventional and illegal forms of political participation. Participants are welcome to share their experiences and opinions.
Dr. Blakelock holds a degree in economics from Lamar University and a doctorate in political science from the University of Houston.
Saturday, February 23rd, 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Saturday morning the group will learn about "Councils of Governments: The Unknown Actors" from Mike Eastland, executive director of the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
This session affords an opportunity to learn more about the roles that COGs play by conducting comprehensive planning activities, assisting local governments to be more efficient through cooperative delivery systems, and by facilitating sustainability through better growth and environmental practices.
Mr. Eastland's public management career spans 39 years. Prior to joining NCTCOG, he was city manager of Carrollton for eight years. Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips appointed him to the Judicial Committee on Information Technology.
He has a bachelors degree from the University of North Texas and an MPA degree from Texas State University.
Government Section Chair: M. Theron Waddell, Galveston College