Course Objective

The purpose of this course is to examine the evolution and development that has taken place in the states since the founding of our government. We will focus on the basic institutions and processes as well as a broad spectrum of current policy issues that affect governing in the states and localities.
Upon completion of this course, students should:
· Be acquainted with the complexities of state and local governments in the United States and their relationships with the federal government
· Be able to identify problems and issues being faced by state and local governments
· Have an understanding of the structures and players in state and local governments
· Be familiar with the services, officials, and regulations in their local government
· Be able to apply course concepts to real life situations
· Have improved team skills through work on group projects
· Have enhanced their oral and written communication skills
· Have an understanding of planning an event
· Developed some practical skills based on class exercises

Required Texts

Ann Bowman and Richard Kearney. State and Local Government, 5th Edition Houghton and Mifflin, 2002.

Thad Beyle, editor. State and Local Government 2001-2002. Congressional Quarterly Press, 2001.

Assignments and Grading

Students are expected to read all assignments prior to class and participate in discussions. Class participation will be graded based on attendance, participation and the posting of discussion questions on Blackboard. Two projects and a series of assignments will be due throughout the semester. There will also be a midterm and final exam. Make-up exams are not given unless prior permission is granted or a documented emergency arises.

The course grade will break down as follows:
Midterm 100
Final Exam 100
Project s (2 at 100 each) 200
Participation/Assignments 200

TOTAL 600

A=540-600; B=480-539; C=420-479; D=360-419; F=359 and below

This course will use the Blackboard program to supplement class discourse. You will be able to participate in discussions, check announcements, and check your grades through this site. If you are unfamiliar with this program, contact academic computing for scheduled training sessions – 622-8400.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism, or presenting another’s works or ideas as one’s own, is a form of stealing. The instructor reserves the right to examine any source used by the student before giving a grade on a paper, and to give an “incomplete” in the course if necessary, to allow time to obtain sources. Students should be prepared to show source material to the instructor for the purpose of verifying information. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes the following offenses:
1) Claiming as your own work a paper written by another student.
2) Turning in a paper that contains paraphrases of someone else’s ideas but does not give proper credit to that person for those ideas.
3) Turning in a paper that is largely a restatement in your own words of a paper written by someone else, even if you give credit to that person for those ideas. The thesis and organizing principles of a paper must be your own.
4) Turning in a paper that uses the exact words of another author without using quotation marks, even if proper credit is given in a citation, or that changes the words only slightly and claims them to be paraphrases.
5) Turning in the same paper, even in a different version, for two different courses without the permission of both professors involved.
6) Using any external source (notes, books, other students, etc.) for assistance during an in-class exam, unless given permission to do so by the professor.

If a student is found to have committed one of the above offenses, he/she will receive a failing grade on the assignment or exam. The case may also be sent to the Academic Practices Committee of the Department of Government, or ultimately to the University’s Student Disciplinary Board (see Student Handbook).

Disability Statement

If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment with me to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you need academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the office on the third floor of the Student Services Building, by email at disabilities@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) 622-2933 V/TDD. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms.

Course Schedule

August 19 Introduction

August 21 New Directions for State and Local Government - Chapter 1

August 23 Blackboard Training

August 26 Federalism and the States - Chapter 2

September 2 Labor Day - No Class

September 5 State Constitutions - Chapter 3

September 9 Participation and Elections - Chapter 4
Beyle pages 10-14; 15-16; 17-21; 36-40

September 16 Political Parties, Interest Groups, Campaigns - Chapter 5
Beyle pages 47-50; 51-56; 57-62

September 23 State Legislatures - Chapter 6
Beyle pages: 85-88; 89-92; 93-95; 96-104

September 30 Midterm Exam

October 7 Governors - Chapter 7
Beyle pages 110-111; 112-117; 118-124

October 11 Last day to withdraw from classes without failing

October 14 Columbus Day - No class

October 16 Public Administration - Chapter 8
Beyle pages 130-132;133-136; 137-144

October 21 Judiciary - Chapter 9
Beyle pages 150-152; 153-156;157-160; 161-164

October 28 Local Government - Chapter 10
Beyle pages 170-172; 173-175; 176-178; 179-186

November 4 Local Government Structure and Leadership - Chapter 11

November 11 State-Local Relations - Chapter 12

November 18 Finances & Economic Development- Chapter 13 & 14
Beyle pages 198-199

November 25 State Policy - Chapters 15 & 16
Beyle pages 191-195; 196-197; 200-205; 206-210

November 27-29 No class - Thanksgiving Holiday

December 13 Final Exam - 8:00-10:00 am