POLITICAL SCIENCE 778-105
State and Local Politics
Semester 1 Fall 2014 Dennis Hatch
M/W 11:00-12:15 p.m.Office: Bolton 6th Floor (MPA) Office
Merrill Hall Rm. 131 Office hours: 1:00-2:00M/W or by
appointment
e-mail:
Required texts: State and Local Politics, Donovan, Mooney and Smith.
Wadsworth Cengage, 2015 (4th edition) ISBN 978-1-285-44140-5 $122.35 (new) / $84.40 (used) or e-book .& Crane/Haggensick’s :Wisconsin Government And
Politics 11thEd.,Thomas Holbrook editor,2013,ISBN 13:978-1-259-20343-5,McGraw Hill.
Course Description and Objectives:
This course is intended to provide students with an introduction to the study of state and local political institutions. A majority of the semester will be to examine the politics and public policies and the various institutions, which are responsible for the implementation of those public policies whether they are at federal, state or local level of government. Emphasis will be placed on how state and local government influence policy at all levels. We will examine the institutions and representatives of state government such as governors, legislatures and courts. We will also examine the role of the voters, lobbyists and interest groups in setting policy in Wisconsin and other states. During the last part of the semester, we will provide a more in-depth focus on local government and the issues and policies which affect us directly, such as morality, social welfare, health care and educational policy.
Course Organization:
Although this course is primarily lecture-oriented, students are expected to attend class. Students are also expected to read the weekly text assignments prior to the lectures. The grade for this semester will be based on the following criteria:
1. Mid-term exam: 50%- combination multiple-choice and true/false questions.
2. Final exam: 50%- combination multiple-choice, true/false questions, with primary (90%) on the balance of the course from the mid-term to the end of the semester.
3. Optional extra-credit paper assignment: Maximum credit 12 points
Grading scale used to determine final course grade:
A 93-100A- 90-92.9
B+ 87-89.9 B 83-86.6 B- 80-82.9
C+ 77-79.9 C 73-76.9 C- 70-72.9
D+ 67-69.9 D 63-66.9 D- 60-62.9 F 0-59.5
Attendance:
Please note that some of the material on the exams may be presented only in my lecture and not in the textbooks. I do not give out my lecture notes, overheads or Powerpoint disc for any reason, so if you miss a class, it is up to you to make arrangements to obtain the notes from another student. While I expect to stick to the course outline on the syllabus, the order in which I cover the topics in the readings may not necessarily follow the order in the chapter. I will not be taking attendance for each class, however, it is up to you regarding your participation. Chronic absenteeism may not excuse you from being familiar with course materials, requirements and exam dates.
Academic misconduct:
Students are responsible for honest and ethical conduct. The University has a responsibility to promote academic honesty and integrity. You are responsible for the honest completion and representation of your work, for the correct citation of sources and respect of others. Any instances of cheating will be referred to the appropriate university sources. For further explanation of student conduct, penalties and correct process, please refer to the UWM student handbook.
Guidelines for course effort : The following is only a guideline to do well in this course. Students who have some knowledge of the subject, may need less time to read and prepare course material, study for exams, where others may require additional time beyond what is indicated. This is only a guide to assist you for the semesters work.
Class time (Lectures 34, total hrs.)
Time spent reading course material, lecture notes (60 hrs.)
Prep study for Midterm & Final exams (20 hrs.)
Taking exams, Midterm 1.5 hrs., Final 2 hrs. (3.5hrs.)
Extra credit (optional) research 22hrs., paper composition 8 hrs. (30hrs.)
Total 114hrs. without extra credit /with extra credit assignment (30hrs.) =144 hrs.
State and Local PoliticsPolitical Science 778-105
Course Outline (Fall 2014)
9/3Introduction to the courseReadings: none
9/8Introduction to State and Local Politics
Readings: Donovan, Chapter 1, p.3-36, Holbrook,Chapter 1.
9/8Federalism: State Politics within a federal system
9/10Readings: Donovan, Chapter 2, p. 40-69, Holbrook, Chapter 3
9/15Participation, Elections and Representation
9/17Readings: Donovan, Chapter 3, p. 74-104, Holbrook, Chapter 5
9/22State and Local Direct Democracy
9/24Readings: Donovan, Chapter 4, p. 108-140
9/29Political Parties
10/1Readings: Donovan, Chapter 5, p. 144-174, Holbrook, Chapter 5
10/6Interest Groups
10/8Readings: Donovan, Chapter 6, p.178-209, Holbrook, Chapter 6
10/13State Legislatures
10/15Readings: Donovan, Chapter 7, p. 212-251, Holbrook, Chapter 8
10/20Mid-term Review
10/22Mid-term Exam
10/27Governors
10/29Readings: Donovan, Chapter 8, p. 255-293, Holbrook, Chapter 7
11/3The Court System
11/5Readings: Donovan, Chapter 9, p. 298-341, Holbrook, Chapter 9
Political Science 105Course Outline Continued
11/10Fiscal Policy
11/12 Readings: Donovan, Chapter 10, p. 346-378, Holbrook,
(“Wisconsin taxes”) Chapter 10, (“ Budget and Finance”)
11/17The Structure of Local Governments
Readings: Donovan, Chapter 11, p. 383-411, Holbrook, Chapter 4
11/19 The Politics of Place
Readings: Donovan, Chapter 12, p. 416-446
11/24Morality Policy
Readings: Donovan, Chapter 13, p. 450-483
Extra credit paper assignment due
11/26 Thanksgiving break- No Class
12/1Social Welfare and Health Care Policy
Readings: Donovan, Chapter 14, p.489-520, Holbrook, Chapter 11
(“Social Welfare-Wisconsin Among the States”)
12/3Education Policy
Readings: Donovan, Chapter 15, p. 525-555, Holbrook Chapter 11
12/8Guest Speaker
12/10Last class day - Final Review
12/15Final Exam - Monday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00noon