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.

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.
9. 9. Formulate specific, unified, and concise theories through writing that demonstrate an understanding of political science thinking.

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.
9. 9. Formulate specific, unified, and concise theories through writing that demonstrate an understanding of political science thinking.