Course Objective

The purpose of this course is to examine the evolution and development that have taken place in the states since the founding of our government. We will focus on the basic institutions as well as a broad spectrum of public policy issues that affect governing in the states. The objective of this course is to acquaint students with the issues and complexities of state and local governments in the United States.

Required Text

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 the posting of discussion questions on Blackboard (http://www.courses.eku.edu). A final project is due at the end of the semester and more information on this will be provided. 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
Final Project 100
Participation 100

A= 368-400; A-=360-367; B+=352-359; B=328-351; B-=320-327; C+=312-319;
C=288-311; C-=280-287; D+=272-279; D=240-271; F=239 and below.

This course will use the Blackboard program to supplement class discourse. You will be able to participate in discussions, check announcements, post websites, and check your grades through this site. If you are unfamiliar with this program, contact academic computing for scheduled training sessions - 622-3000.

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 and "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 there is any individual in this class who is in need of academic accommodations and who is registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an individual appointment with the course instructor to discuss accommodations. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms. If any individual who is not registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities but has need of academic accommodations, please contact the Office directly either in person on the first floor of the Turley House or by telephone at (859) 622-1500 V/TTY.

Course Schedule
Assignments:
June 10 Introduction/Blackboard Training

June 12 New Directions for State and Local Government - Chapter 1
Federalism and the States - Chapter 2

June 17 State Constitutions - Chapter 3

June 19 Participation and Elections - Chapter 4
Beyle pages 10-14; 15-16; 17-21; 36-40

June 24 Political Parties, Interest Groups, Campaigns - Chapter 5
Beyle pages 47-50; 51-56; 57-62

June 26 State Legislatures - Chapter 6
Beyle pages: 85-88; 89-92; 93-95; 96-104
Reserve Reading - Education Reform…

July 1 Governors - Chapter 7
Beyle pages 110-111; 112-117; 118-124
Reserve Reading The Commonwealth's Chief

July 3 Public Administration - Chapter 8
Beyle pages 130-132;133-136; 137-144

July 8 Midterm Exam

July 10 Judiciary - Chapter 9
Beyle pages 150-152; 153-156;157-160; 161-164

July 15 Local Government - Chapter 10
Beyle pages 170-172; 173-175; 176-178; 179-186

July 17 Local Government Structure and Leadership - Chapter 11

July 22 State-Local Relations
Beyle pages 191-195

July 24 Finances - Chapter 13
Final Projects due

July 29 Economic Development and Policy - Chapter 14

July 31 Final Exam