Internet Assignment Paper.
Students will complete an internet assignment on a Texas Governor’s veto/pocket veto. Students will demonstrate
sophomore level research skills in getting the story and sophomore level writing skills in telling the story of the
veto/pocket veto chosen.
_____________________________________________________________________________
As defined, here is a required outline of the paper. Again, this is a required outline that must be followed.
Use as many paragraphs as necessary within each heading (Intro etc) of the outline.
(SEE AN OUTLINE OF AN ALTERNATE PAPER ON PAGE 8)
Intro:
-Begin by casting a wide net.
-Describe the Governor’s constitutional veto/line item veto authority.
-How may a Governor veto/line item veto a bill?
-Give general reasons why Governors veto/line item veto bills.
-Say how often Governors attempt vetoes/line item vetoes and how often they are successful.
-Which Governor attempted the most vetoes/line item vetoes, which the least? Why?
-Which Governor was the most successful and which the least? Why?
Body:
-Read or re-read relevant parts of chaps 3 and 4 of the text.
-Google “list of Texas Governors’ vetoes” and/or go to: http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legis/vetoes/
-Choose any veto/line-item veto from Henderson to Abbott.
-State why you chose the particular veto/line item veto.
-Introduce and describe the bill that was vetoed/line item vetoed. What was the bill intended to do?
-Talk about its passage
-What were the Governor’s reasons for the veto/line item veto?
-Tell the story of the veto override if an override was attempted.
-A description and analysis of one or two related vetoes/line item vetoes or overrides may be included.
Conclusion:
-Describe the impact/consequences of the veto/line item veto in terms of public policy etc.
-State your reaction to the veto/line item veto.
-Take issue with or laud the Governor’s rationale for the veto/line item veto with sound reasoning.
-Do you agree with the veto/line item veto as a concept? If you agree, would you make any modifications? Such as? -If none, why not? If you disagree with the veto/line item veto as a concept, do you prefer that Governors register their disapproval of a bill some other way? What would that be and why?
-What did you learn? What questions do you have about the veto/line item veto, the veto process or the issue in question?
Students are advised to seek the help of tutors at the writing lab as all the rules of common writing are expected
to be kept-paragraphing, punctuations, spelling, grammar etc. Students should not be verbose and should pretend
that the reader is a very bright 9th grader. Great writing aims to communicate with the readers, not impress them.
Internet Assignment Requirements
Students must use at least two (2) internet sources and must document direct quotes or paraphrased
information that are/is included in the papers in the Modern Language Association (MLA) style except DO
NOT USE HEADERS or page numbering. For information about the MLA style or how to cite internet sources,
consult the ACC Learning Resource Service’s MLA Documentation Guide at
http://library.austincc.edu/help/MLA/.
The paper must be at least 3 whole pages in length counting neither the cover page (name, course & class time)
nor the works cited page both of which are required. It must have one-inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right)
and must utilize the Times New Roman font size 12 ONLY. Papers must be double-spaced. Papers that
violate any of the above requirements will earn no more than 60/100.