Assignment 1

Property ownership is considered to be one of the pinnacles of one’s life.  For this assignment, we are going to look at property ownership through a several different lenses: individual home/land ownership, the greater “good” within localities, potential city progress, as well as the overall health of the state economy.  Read the following articles and watch the video within the first article as well.  I am also including some pros and cons underneath the links.  After you have read, watched, and conducted any other research you felt necessary, answer the following questions:

https://www.wfaa.com/article/mobile/news/local/collin-county/public-battle-rages-over-north-texas-couples-right-to-build-on-their-property/444206026 

https://www.ci.boerne.tx.us/1305/Annexation-and-ETJ

Pros:

• Economic viability of the state depends on cities expanding 
• Residents of ETJ work/enjoy benefits of the city–they should pay taxes
• When a city encroaches on nearby areas, events such as fires, loose dogs affect the city.
• They should be able to control these issues.
• Businesses in the ETJ typically pay less in taxes than those in the city. 
• Levels playing field.Being annexed can help with water, waste disposal, etc. that could be problem in rural areas.  

Cons:

• Business interests should not be the state’s priority. 
• Rural farmland should not be gobbled up by nearby cities.
• Residents outside the city choose this life. They should not be forced to be city residents against their will.
• Being annexed will increase taxes. They should have a say in this. 
• Residents of the ETJ may have allegiances to their area and may not be good citizens on the city. 
• Being annexed changes how people can use their land. 
• Zoning issues many ensue.  
• It may be a long time before the city provides services, but will be paying taxes.  Is this fair?

QUESTIONS:

1. Should a city be able to annex an adjacent area without the consent of the residents in that area?
2. What power should the local governments have with regards to annexation with and without consent?
3. Should the state government take steps to protect the rights of home/landowners from this?  Why or why not?
4. How does potential future development impact this issue?  Should this, like the issue in the video, be such a roadblock for landowners?  
5. Lastly, which do you consider more compelling: the pros or the cons?  Why?

This assignment must follow MLA guidelines, be typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and be a minimum of 1000 words with a works cited page.  The works cited are not included in the minimum word count. Any sources provided in the assignment prompt MUST be used within your paper and cited in your works cited.  Other sources used must be cited as well.

assignment 2

Property ownership is considered to be one of the pinnacles of one’s life.  For this assignment, we are going to look at property ownership through a several different lenses: individual home/land ownership, the greater “good” within localities, potential city progress, as well as the overall health of the state economy.  Read the following articles and watch the video within the first article as well.  I am also including some pros and cons underneath the links.  After you have read, watched, and conducted any other research you felt necessary, answer the following questions:

https://www.wfaa.com/article/mobile/news/local/collin-county/public-battle-rages-over-north-texas-couples-right-to-build-on-their-property/444206026 

https://www.ci.boerne.tx.us/1305/Annexation-and-ETJ

Pros:

• Economic viability of the state depends on cities expanding 
• Residents of ETJ work/enjoy benefits of the city–they should pay taxes
• When a city encroaches on nearby areas, events such as fires, loose dogs affect the city.
• They should be able to control these issues.
• Businesses in the ETJ typically pay less in taxes than those in the city. 
• Levels playing field.Being annexed can help with water, waste disposal, etc. that could be problem in rural areas.  

Cons:

• Business interests should not be the state’s priority. 
• Rural farmland should not be gobbled up by nearby cities.
• Residents outside the city choose this life. They should not be forced to be city residents against their will.
• Being annexed will increase taxes. They should have a say in this. 
• Residents of the ETJ may have allegiances to their area and may not be good citizens on the city. 
• Being annexed changes how people can use their land. 
• Zoning issues many ensue.  
• It may be a long time before the city provides services, but will be paying taxes.  Is this fair?

QUESTIONS:

1. Should a city be able to annex an adjacent area without the consent of the residents in that area?
2. What power should the local governments have with regards to annexation with and without consent?
3. Should the state government take steps to protect the rights of home/landowners from this?  Why or why not?
4. How does potential future development impact this issue?  Should this, like the issue in the video, be such a roadblock for landowners?  
5. Lastly, which do you consider more compelling: the pros or the cons?  Why?

This assignment must follow MLA guidelines, be typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and be a minimum of 1000 words with a works cited page.  The works cited are not included in the minimum word count. Any sources provided in the assignment prompt MUST be used within your paper and cited in your works cited.  Other sources used must be cited as well.

assignment 3

For this assignment, we are going to learn more about the topic of fracking, the oil and gas interest groups as well as some of the environmental concerns surrounding this industry.  Start by reading p. 429–Federalism in Action: Fracking.  Once you’ve read this, read the following articles, and conduct any other research to be able to properly answer the questions below.

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2019/05/17/congress_look_at_texas_for_the_facts_on_fracking.html

http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/2018/11/where-water-goes-after-fracking-is-tied-to-earthquake-risk/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-happened-denton-war-local-democracy-n620926

https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/06/13/why-oil-and-gas-lobbyists-were-big-spenders-this-session/  (dated, but relates to the Denton-TX Legislature article) 

Once you’ve fully read and researched, answer the following questions:

• Is the federal government’s approach regarding fracking-related pollution an “overreach” of its powers?
• Should there be tighter regulations on fracking? Why or why not?
• Should local governments be allowed to adopt laws designed to protect air and water quality?
  • For example, explain what happened in Denton and why the Texas Legislature was able to override their collective vote to stop fracking in their area? Should the state government be able to override voters in local communties?
• Based on the articles:
  • Why is the U.S. Congress looking at Texas as an example?  
  • What potential environmental concerns are there with regards to fracking?
  • Is there any potential tie between the oil and gas industries and the increase in fracking in Texas?
  • How is the U.S. and Texas economy linked to fracking?
• Overall, what are your feelings on the topic of fracking?  Do the positives outweigh the negatives? 

This assignment must follow MLA guidelines, be typed in Times New Roman, 12 pt. font, and be a minimum of 1000 words with a works cited page.  The works cited are not included in the minimum word count. Any sources provided in the assignment prompt MUST be used within your paper and cited in your works cited.  Other sources used must be cited as well.