POLI-102 State and Local Government

The student will evaluate, debate, and critically analyze the public policies which emerge from the political processes of state and local government by examining the following: (1) the constraints on state and local governments in making and implementing policy; (2) the policy roles of the legislative, executive, judicial, and administrative branches; (3) the successes and failures of state and local governments in dealing with the following public policy areas - criminal justice, welfare, education, housing, transportation, and the environment; (4) the role of citizen influence on public policy and an examination of some alternatives to the conventional channels of state and local government.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL-121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. 1. Summarize critically the functions of the main parts of state and local government and the
   major issues in state and local politics.
   
2. 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. 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving
   government and politics.
4. 4. Apply political theory and research to controversies in government or politics to draw
   conclusions about resolving them.
5. 5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of state constitutions and their impact on the
   effectiveness of state government.
6. 6. Analyze the evolving role of state governors as heads of government, chief executives, and
   political leaders.
7. 7. Investigate the role states paly as “laboratories of democracy” experimenting with new
   governmental programs and approaches.
8. 8. Evaluate the various forms of city and county governing structures.

Course Objectives

1. 1. Summarize critically the functions of the main parts of state and local government and the
   major issues in state and local politics.
   
2. 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. 3. Use and evaluate the methods of political science to assess evidence on issues involving
   government and politics.
4. 4. Apply political theory and research to controversies in government or politics to draw
   conclusions about resolving them.
5. 5. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of state constitutions and their impact on the
   effectiveness of state government.
6. 6. Analyze the evolving role of state governors as heads of government, chief executives, and
   political leaders.
7. 7. Investigate the role states paly as “laboratories of democracy” experimenting with new
   governmental programs and approaches.
8. 8. Evaluate the various forms of city and county governing structures.