Course Purpose: In a federal system like the United States, state governments have major independent roles in making public policy. Local governments implement policies made at both the national and state levels, and are significant policy makers on their own behalf. Besides studying the structures and processes of state and local governments, we will look at some of the successes and challenges in those policy areas for which states have a major role.
Objectives: The student should enhance his or her general proficiencies in:
Texts
The textbook is Dresang & Gosling Politics and Policy in American States and Communities Fourth Edition
Additional required materials from the Internet and elsewhere are assigned and available through our course website.
We will be using Ucompass Educator for our course management system. You will have additional assignments, reading material, exercises and the like that will be accessed from our Ucompass course site. You access Ucompass Educator at https://ucompass.mnsu.edu/secure.html
Course Requirements
Grades will be determined by a modified contract.
To receive an A you must earn 255 points
B = 225 points
C = 190 points
D = 140 points
There are some restrictions.
You must earn at least 75 points from the weekly quizzes. These are timed quizzes over the weeks reading usually given on Thursdays in class. There are no make-ups. Anyone not earning the 75 points will fail the course regardless of other points earned.
You earn two points for being in class and for participating in the class activities. You must earn at least 40 points. For each point under 40, 5 points will be subtracted from your total points.
A minimum of 25 maximum of 140 points can be earned from out-of-class projects.
Possible points
Exams 75-140
Attendance and participation -40-60
Projects 25-140
Some projects have specific due dates. Others do not. However you may not turn in more than one project in any week after Nov. In other words, you need to be working on projects throughout the semester. You can not do them all at the last moment.
Any student needing special arrangements is encouraged to visit with me at your earliest convenience. If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disability Services Office at 507-389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY).
All students are welcome to contact me throughout the semester with questions or observations about the class, or with any concerns or with any difficulties about the class. I do my best to be available during office hours. You may contact me in my office whether I am having formal office hours. E-mail is also an efficient way to reach me.
Some items we take for granted, but are worth repeating; All work that you submit must be your own. By remaining in this class, you certify that you will not engage in academic dishonesty in this class.
Cellular phones and pagers are to be turned off during class unless you are an emergency responder. Do not use cellular phones in the classroom.
Schedule: This is a partial listing. I will be adding exercises and internet assignments and additional readings. Check our course site before you prepare each class.
You may want to check the State and Local resource page I have prepared that provides links to some of the materials you'll find useful for this course.
Week 1
Aug. 26 Introductions
Aug. 28 No class today - instructor at a conference, But
Read: Ch 1 Face to Face Governance
Week 2
Sept. 2 Read Ch 2 State diversity
Sept. 4 Miore on diversity and demographics.
Read Shrewsbury Minnesota A Decade of Demographic Change available in Ucompass.
Week 3
Sept. 9 Federalism and intergovernmental relations
Read Ch 3 Federalism
Sept. 11 Constitutions and charters
Read Ch 4 Constitutions and Charters
Week 4
Sept. 16 The Policy making process
Read Ch 5 Policy making processes
Sept. 18 Participation
Read Ch 6 Grassroots participation.
Week 5
Sept. 23 Interest groups
Read Ch 7 Interest groups
Sept. 25 Parties and elections
Read Ch 8 Political parties
Week 6
Sept. 30 rethinking participation
Oct. 2 Governors
Read Ch 9 Governors
Week 7
Oct. 7 more on governors
Oct. 9 Legislatures
Read Ch 10 State Legislatures
Week 8
Oct. 14 more on legislatures
Oct. 16 Bureaucracies and public service
Read Ch 12 Bureaucracies
Because of the hiring freeze, its not a very good time to be looking for employment with the state of Minnesota, but check out http://www.doer.state.mn.us/ for information about careers in Minnesota government and to search for job opportunities.
Week 9
Oct. 21 Courts
Read Ch 13 Courts
Oct23 .Checks and balances or gidlock
Week 10
Oct. 28 Local governments \
Read Ch. 11 Local government executives and legislatures
Oct. 30 more on local government
Week 11
Nov. 4 Crime and corrections
Read Ch 14 Crime and corrections
Nov. 6
Week 12
Bov. 11Educational policy
Read Ch 15 Educational policy
Nov. 13 Social Welfare
Read Ch 16 to p 394 Social welfare
Week 13
Nov. 18Health policy
Read; remainder of Ch 16 Health policy
Nov. 20 Environmental policy
Read Ch. 17 to p 422
Week 14
Nov. 25 Economic development
read the rest of ch. 17 Economic development
Nov. 27 No Class Thanksgiving
Week 15
Dec. 2 Fiscal policy
Read Ch 18 Fiscal policy and financial management
Dec. 4 Complexities of the system
Read Ch 19 Responding to pressing public problems
last revised: 8/18/03
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