POLI-102 State and Local Government
This course is an introduction to state and local government and the study of political science. Students who complete this course will be able to critically analyze state and local government and politics including state constitutions, federalism, institutions of state government, state politics, forms of local government, city and county politics, and state and local issues.
Prerequisite
Eligible to enroll in
ENGL-121
Hours Weekly
3 hours weekly
Course Objectives
- 1. Summarize critically the functions of the main parts of state and local government and the
major issues in state and local politics.
- 2. Analyze critically major issues of state and local government and politics, identify their
assumptions, explore contrasting positions, and arrive at their own positions on these issues. - 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving
government and politics. - 4. Apply political theory and research to controversies in government or politics to draw
conclusions about resolving them. - 5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of state constitutions and their impact on the
effectiveness of state government. - 6. Analyze the evolving role of state governors as heads of government, chief executives, and
political leaders. - 7. Investigate the role states paly as “laboratories of democracy” experimenting with new
governmental programs and approaches. - 8. Evaluate the various forms of city and county governing structures.
- 9. Formulate specific, unified, and concise theories through writing that demonstrate an understanding of political science thinking.
Course Objectives
- 1. Summarize critically the functions of the main parts of state and local government and the
major issues in state and local politics.
- 2. Analyze critically major issues of state and local government and politics, identify their
assumptions, explore contrasting positions, and arrive at their own positions on these issues. - 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving
government and politics. - 4. Apply political theory and research to controversies in government or politics to draw
conclusions about resolving them. - 5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of state constitutions and their impact on the
effectiveness of state government. - 6. Analyze the evolving role of state governors as heads of government, chief executives, and
political leaders. - 7. Investigate the role states paly as “laboratories of democracy” experimenting with new
governmental programs and approaches. - 8. Evaluate the various forms of city and county governing structures.
- 9. Formulate specific, unified, and concise theories through writing that demonstrate an understanding of political science thinking.