Office Hours: 1:30-2:30 Mon, Wed, Fri

or by appointment

Course Objective

This course provides the student with a basic knowledge of how state and local governments operate in the United States. It covers topics such as federalism, state constitutions, political parties, elections, legislatures, governors, the judiciary, the structure of local governments, and of course public budgeting and service delivery. Students will gain knowledge of the various factors that affect state and local politics including population change, economic development, changing attitudes and beliefs, political culture, and globalization. The course also examines contemporary issues such as education and welfare.

Course Requirements, Grading, and Assignments

Text: Smith, Kevin B., Greenblatt, Alan, and Michele Mariani. (2008). Governing States and Localities, 2^nd edition. CQ Press: Washington DC.

Additional reading materials that pertain to the weekly topics are listed by date. These readings will be available on the university blackboard system via http://www.csuohio.edu/elearning/blackboard

Students are expected to have read the assigned chapters and reserves readings prior to class. Reading topics and assignments listed are subject to change. Exam dates will change only in the event of an emergency.
Class attendance is expected. Participation is factored into your grade and you cannot participate if you are not here. In-class projects and assignments cannot be made up without a documented compelling reason.
Late papers will be down-graded 10% per day, including weekends.

Grading Policy:

(100-97) (96-90) A, A-

(89-87)(86-83)(82-80) B+, B, B-

(79-77)(76-70) C+, C (69-60) D

Midterm Exam 25%

Final Exam 25%

In-Class Assignments 20%

Paper Proposal 5%

State Analysis 20%

· This course covers controversial topics that will bring out strong, and varying, opinions. Learning others’ views on things is an excellent way to expand ones knowledge—even when you disagree. While spirited debate and discussion is welcome, disrespectful and rude commentary is not.

Students with Special Needs: “Any student who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services at 216-687-2015 located at UC304.” Students should notify the instructor as soon as possible if they have been granted an accommodation through the Office of Disability Services.

Academic Misconduct

Any form of academic dishonesty, such as cheating on examinations or plagiarism, will NOT be tolerated. Students are expected to know and follow the University rules on academic honesty.
The CSU Student Handbook defines plagiarism as: Stealing and/or using the ideas or writings of another in a paper or report and claiming them as your own. This includes but is not limited to the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. The penalties for plagiarism are found in the Student Handbook under Academic Regulations. (Academic Regulations http://www.csuohio.edu/studentlife/conduct/acadregs.html)

Date Assignment

14, 16, 18 Jan Course Overview & Introduction

Introduction: They Tax Dogs in West Virginia, Don’t They? Ch 1

21 January No Classes: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

23, 25 Jan Federalism: The Power Plan Ch 2

A Difference that Makes a Difference: States Seeing Green

Debating Politics: Decriminalizing Medical Marijuana

28, 30 Jan, 1 Feb Constitutions: Operating Instructions Ch3

A Difference that Makes a Difference: State Const, Educational Equity….

Debating Politics: The Unicameral Legislature

4*, 6, 8 Feb Political Attitudes and Participation Ch 4

A Difference that Makes a Difference: How Some States Discourage Voters

*Project outline Due

11, 13, 15 Feb Parties and Interest Ch 5

Debating Politics: Third Parties: Also-Rans or Real Contenders

Legislatures Ch 6

Policy in Practice: Outwit, Outlast, Outplay

No Classes: President’s Day February 18

20, 22 Feb Governors and Executives Ch 7

A Difference that Makes a Difference: From State House to White House

25, 27, 29 Feb Courts Ch 8

A Difference that Makes a Difference: The New Judicial Federalism

A Difference that Makes a Difference: Indicting Politicians

3 March MIDTERM EXAM

5, 7 March Bureaucracy Ch 9

Debating Politics: Damned if you do

No Classes: Spring Recess March 9-16

17, 19, 21 March Local Government Ch 10

Local focus: Sex and the City…Charter

Debating Politics: Who’s Got the Power?

24, 26, 28 March Metropolitics Ch 11

A Difference that Makes a Difference: Marrying a City with a County

31 Mar, 2, 4 Apr Finance Ch 12

Policy in Practice: California’s Misguided Effort the Equalize School Funding

7, 9, 11 April Education Ch 13

Policy in Practice: Do School Board Races Improve Education

Policy in Practice: How College Tuition Gets Raised

14, 16, 18 April Crime and Punishment Ch 14

A Difference that Makes a Difference: Jury Power

Policy in Practice: Is it time to Admit Defeat in the War on Drugs?

21*, 23, 25 April Health and Welfare Ch 15

A Difference that Makes a Difference: Waiving Goodbye to Traditional Medicaid

*FINAL PROJECT DUE April 21, 2008

28, 30 Apr, 2 May Public Policies in States and Localities

Economic Development

FINAL EXAM Wednesday, May 7, 2008 8:30am to 10:30am

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STATE ANALYSIS PROJECT

This assignment requires you to choose a state and explore issues and policies affecting that state and all the states in general. The paper must include an analysis of issues that all states are dealing with and how your chosen state is being affected. These include:

Fiscal stress
Increased interjurisdictional conflict within the state
Political corruption

The paper should then address issues that are specific to your chosen state. You must incorporate class material and discussion in your analysis. You must include an analysis of the state’s website and how effectively it communicates this information. The paper should contain outside resources from journals, books, and other scholarly work. Wikipedia is not a scholarly resource accepted in this class.

Papers must be between 5-6 pages, double-spaced and typed, not including title page or references. Papers should conform to standard formatting requirements (Times New Roman, 12 pt font, one-inch margins, and carefully edited). The papers must contain proper grammar, spelling, and organization. Section headings and subheadings should be used where appropriate. A title page and page numbers are also required. Not following the paper guidelines will result in a reduced grade.

You may use any type of citation method you choose (APA, MLA, or Turabian). The most important thing is that you cite within the text of the paper where the information came from whenever you are presenting a fact, statistic, or data. Remember that whenever you use someone else’s exact words you must use quotations, otherwise it is considered plagiarism. When you are not using exact wording but borrowing someone else’s idea, you must still cite the author or source in your paper. See your syllabus for the definition and sanctions regarding plagiarism.

· An outline of the project is due on February 4, 2008. The final project is due on April 21, 2008.

Some other questions to examine about your chosen state: (this list is not exhaustive):

What information did you learn that was expected? Unexpected?
What is the state’s constitution like?
What new state laws were enacted during 2006-2008 that you find particularly interesting?
Compare/contrast issues in the state to Ohio.

Questions to examine about the state’s website:

Are there links to all branches of the state government? The state’s constitution?
Does the website information change often?
What is the overall “image of the state” projected on the website?
What critiques would you offer about the website? What did you find particularly useful or done well?

Additional Resources:

http://www.stateline.org/, http://www.governing.com/, http://www.firstgov.com, http://www.census.gov/ (historical information of every state)


PSC 314 State Analysis Paper


Student Name: ________________________________________			Grade:_________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Amount of Information: 15%	The topic is clearly addressed and state background information is provided in detail.	The topic is fairly clearly addressed and state background information is provided in sufficient detail.	The topic is somewhat addressed and some state background information is provided.	The topic is not well addressed; almost no state background information is provided.
Quality of Information: 20%	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It includes several supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. It provides 1-2 supporting details and/or examples.	Information clearly relates to the main topic. No details and/or examples are given.	Information has little or nothing to do with the main topic.
Analysis: 40%	Required issues and state specific issues are fully addressed. Includes a detailed analysis of the state’s official website.	Required issues and state specific issues are addressed. Includes an analysis of the state’s official website.	Required issues and state specific issues are mostly addressed. Includes some analysis of the state’s official website.	Required issues and state specific issues are not addressed. Doesn’t include analysis of the state’s official website.
Paper Structure: 25%
Organization: 10%	Information is very organized with well-constructed paragraphs and subheadings. Page numbers are included.	Information is mostly organized with well-constructed paragraphs.	Information is not well organized, paragraphs are not well-constructed.	The information appears to be disorganized.
Mechanics: 10%	No grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors. Meets the 5-6 page requirement.	Almost no grammatical, spelling or punctuation errors (2-3). Is just over or under 5-6 pages.	A few grammatical spelling, or punctuation errors. Does not meet pg requirements.	Many grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors. (>6)
Sources: 5%	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented in the desired format. Uses at least 4 outside sources	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but a few are not in the desired format.	All sources (information and graphics) are accurately documented, but many are not in the desired format.	Some sources are not accurately documented.