POLS 202 American State & Local Government

This course surveys the sources of state, municipal, and county government in the United States. Some emphasis is placed on government in Idaho.

Credits

Semester Contact Hours Lecture

General Education Competency

[GE Core type]

POLS 202American State & Local Government

Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.

I. General Information

Department

Social Science

II. Course Specification

Course Type

Program Requirement

General Education Competency

[GE Core type]

Credit Hours Narrative

Semester Contact Hours Lecture

Grading Method

Letter grade

Repeatable

III. Catalog Course Description

This course surveys the sources of state, municipal, and county government in the United States. Some emphasis is placed on government in Idaho.

IV. Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

Demonstrate comprehension of the basic principles, powers, processes, and institutions of state and local government in the US broadly and in Idaho specifically.
Analyze the roles of the 10th amendment, Dillon’s Rule, local charters, and court rulings in the relationship between national, state, and local government.
Demonstrate the ability to think, integrate, and logically organize, not just memorize, political information.
Be able to gather knowledge from other disciplines to interpret political situations and put it to use in class work.
Demonstrate the ability to apply insights from the study of political science to understand local, state, national and international developments.

V. Topical Outline (Course Content)

Why state and local governments? Constitutional foundations of state and local government, Federalism Intergovernmental relations, comparative systems, Dillon’s Rule, local charters State constitutions and extent of state power Types of local governments, extent of powers and sources of authority Political participation at state and local level Elections, voting, electoral systems, interest groups Institutions of state and local government Legislatures Governors/executive branch State judiciary systems Municipal/County/special-purpose local government Major, current policy areas of state and local government Financing state and local government Public Education Health and Welfare Crime and Punishment Environmental Leadership

VI. Delivery Methodologies

Required Assignments

None

Required Exams

Final Exam

Required Text

Smith, Greenblatt "Governing States and Localities; The Essentials" Smith, Neiman "State and Local Government" Putnam "Better Together: Restoring the American Community"

Specific Course Activity Assignment or Assessment Requirements

None Final Exam