POLS 206: State and Local Politics

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Class Program

Political Science

Credits

Weekly Contact Hours

Course ID

091939

Meets Degree Requirements For

Diversity,

Social Science

Description

Close examination of people and institutions that shape policies as well as their outcomes in state and local communities. Local and state politics will be discussed and contextualized within the federal distribution of powers delineated by Constitution of the United States.

Grading Basis

Graded

Course Learning Outcomes

Understand the separation of powers between the national and states’ governments and differentiate public policies within the context of Constitutional jurisdictions.

Gain understanding of philosophical influences in the formation of American democracy including the enlightenment, classical liberalism, traditional conservatism and the renaissance.

Recognize the impacts policies passed at state and local levels have had and continue to have in the exclusion of minority groups in American society.

Gain an understanding of the struggles and social movements that fought for legal equality and full participation in the American democracy.

Recognize the historical patterns of local and state governments of using their “Reserved Powers” under the Constitution to deny based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national origins, religion, and class, full participation and citizenship in American democracy and political process.

Core Topics

Constitutional separation of powers between the federal and state governments and policy making.
Historical understanding of democracy, particularly the direct democracy of the ancient Athenians.
Direct democracy (initiatives, propositions, referenda, recalls).
Universal Suffrage.
Indirect democracy (legislative, executive/governors, city councils, and the courts).
Equality under the law and full citizenship:
- Race
- Gender
- Class
- Religion
- National origins
- Sexual Orientation