State Politics

Time and Location

M W F 10:30-11:30, Turlington Hall 2342

 

Syllabus

For the full syllabus click on: State Politics Syllabus

 

Description and Goals

This course is an investigation of major problems and issues in American State Politics. The emphasis is on political institutions and organizations, political behavior in state politics and the impact of state politics on policy making at national, state and local levels. This course seeks to understand how state politics operates and influences the development of public policy. It focuses on political institutions and political behavior to explain political outcomes.

 

State politics is an exciting field of study. While most states look and function similar to federal government, there are differences across the states that can dramatically alter the power dynamics of political actors, such as powers given to the governor, the strength of political parties within states, and whether or not judges are elected. This course takes advantage of the variation across the states to understand how political institutions influence politics and public policy.

 

The primary learning objectives are for students to:

  • Understand the ways in which political institutions can vary across the states, and how this influences politics.
  • Develop a solid foundation of how state governments operates and influences their lives.
  • Use the comparative method to think critically about how politics functions across the United States

 

Final Grades

Final grades are posted on E-learning.

 

Grading Scale

Overall course percent Grade
90% – 100% A
88% – 89.9% A-
86% – 87.9% B+
80% – 85.9% B
78% – 79.9% B-
76% – 77.9% C+
70% – 75.9% C
68% – 69.9% C-
66% – 67.9% D+
60% – 65.9% D
58% – 59.9% D-
57.9% or less E

Attendance and Late Policy

Students are expected to attend classes. No formal attendance record will be kept, but participation accounts for 10% of the overall grade and can only be earned while in attendance. Exceptions are only made for students that have university excused absences.