State and Local Politics

Political Science301

Summer 2010

Instructor: Dr. Troy Gibson

Course Website: ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w302011

Office

Location: LAB 418

Phone: 601-266-4277

E-mail:

Hours:

Course Description:

This course examines the American institution of federalism by focusing on the powers of state and local government and the politically diverse characteristics between states. Indeed, much of this course will be a comparative analysis of states and regions highlighting a wide range of topics including election systems, partisan and ideological compositions, constitutions, and public policies.

Course Requirements:

30% Midterm Exam

30% Final Exam

20%State Comparison Paper

10% Daily Grades and Issue Summaries** (Includes quizzes, assignments, presentations, and participation)

Grading:

A 10-point grading system will be used (i.e. 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B… Below 60 = F)

Course Materials:

State and Local Politics: Government by the People, 13th edition. Magleby, O’Brien, and Light.

Attendance:

I consider college students fully capable of making appropriate decisions with respect to class attendance and equally capable of living with the consequences of those decisions. Makeup exams will not be administered without acceptable documentation of a serious health problem requiring medical attention or excused school function (notify me well in advance). No makeup quizzes will be administered for any reason, as I will drop your lowest quiz grade at the semester’s end.

Class Policies:

I strictly follow this institution’s standards with respect to academic dishonesty. Conviction will result in an automatic “F” in the course and may also involve an additional penalty from outside authorities. Consult your Student Handbook for details.

Course Schedule (week of):

June 1 / Organization and Class Introduction; Ch. 1 Who Governs?
June 7 / Chapter 2: State Constitutions and Federalism; Continue and Discussion #1: Federalism in the Arizona – Federal Government dispute over immigration.
June 14 / Continue and discuss #2: Homosexual Marriage: Leave it to the states?(Thursday)
June 21 / Chapter 3: Parties and Elections; Chapter 4: State Legislatures
June 28 / Midterm Exam Monday; Chapter 5: State Governors and Discussion #3: State Abortion Policy(Thursday)
July 5 / Chapter 6: Judges and Justice #4: Death Penalty
July 12 / Chapter 7: Local/Urban Politics
July 19 / Chapter 8: State Policy and Discussion #5: School Choice
July 26 / Presentations
August 2 / Exam Week

State Comparison papers are due when you present them. See website for details.

If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.

**Issue Summaries: You will be expected to turn in “Issue Summaries” during this course. They will be based on current event topics that I provide. They are to be 1-2 single-spaced pages (12 point font). Make sure to cite with superscript numerals all of the references to which you are referring in text. Also, at the bottom or on a separate page, list your references (by corresponding numeral). In doing so, make sure to put the actual web address so that I can revisit that website if desired. You must use at least 2 Think-Tank resources. These can be accessed through my website (see Web links).