POLS 402 State Government
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Semester: Spring 2007 |
Instructor: Dr. Charles C. Turner |
Scope and Purpose
This class is designed to deepen and expand students' understanding of state
government. Our specific focus will be on the institutional, political,
and procedural aspects of American state governments. We will explore
California state government, and also embark on a broad tour of the role that
federalism and political institutions play in the American states generally,
and throughout we will examine the state policy process with a focus on
contemporary issues and controversies. Our goals are to enhance our
critical thinking skills through reading and evaluation, become better (written
and oral) communicators, and learn to evaluate state government from a variety
of academic perspectives.
The format will be lecture and discussion. I will lecture on materials related to the day's topic and present issues and activities for class discussion and participation. I will not be lecturing on the textbook exclusively. You should take notes on the readings and on class lectures. It is also each student's responsibility to come to each class prepared to discuss the readings. I will call on students to answer questions during every class period. There will be frequent written assignments (sometimes including in-class writings) and quizzes to insure a fruitful discussion of the issues. We will begin many classes with a brief discussion of current events, often on a topic related to the day's reading.
Please note: In order to keep the price of your books reasonable, and to provide you with the best available materials, I do not require you to purchase a California-specific text. That being said, you will be responsible for California-specific information, which will come from class lectures and appear on lecture slides. This material will appear on your quizzes and exams.
We will be discussing a wide range of issues in this class. Sometimes you will have questions: feel free to ask them. Sometimes you will disagree with a classmate. Sometimes you will disagree with me. That's okay! The political process is about deliberation and reasonable people often disagree. As long as we all treat each other with respect, we stand to learn a great deal from our discussions.
Course Readings
The following books are required for the course and are available at the Associated Students Bookstore
(underlined titles are links to publisher web pages--you are welcome to
purchase the books from whatever source you like):
Smith, Kevin B., Alan Greenblatt, and John Buntin. 2005. Governing States and Localities. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 1-56802-789-3
Stinebrickner, Bruce, ed. 2007. Annual Editions: State and Local Government. 13th Edition. Dubuque, IA: McGraw Hill, 0-07-339725-3
These books may be supplemented with reading from other sources. These additional readings are available on the internet (see below). You will need to access this syllabus on the web on a regular basis in order to complete the readings and other class assignments.
Course Requirements and Grading
For the University grading guidelines, consult the University
Catalog.
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Your grade for the course will be based on the following: |
These are the outcomes: |
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Policy Letters: On three of the "starred" dates on the semester schedule (see below, you get to decide which three days you will turn your letters in) you will come to class with a 2-3 page (typed, double-spaced) paper that summarizes and critiques a current event or policy issue in state politics. The audience you are writing for is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. You will want to present the governor with the facts of the case and, more importantly, provide him with political advice--what position should he take on the issue and why? The goal of this writing assignment is to develop your skills at writing a political argument. Your knowledge of the event/policy will be based on a magazine, newspaper, or internet site article, which you will staple to the back of your paper when you turn it in (note: unassigned articles from your AE book are also a great source to use). The article you choose should be about a specific event or controversy in state government. If you are not sure whether you have found an acceptable article, please consult with me in advance of turning it in. In these letters, you should take a clear position (pro, con, or somewhere in between) on an issue. Your paper should demonstrate that you 1) understand and can summarize/describe the issue thoroughly, 2) have thought critically about the issue at hand, and 3) can develop a reasonable plan of action for the governor to take. Your first one should include a printed and signed copy of Chico State's Policy on Academic Integrity. Sign it to indicate that you understand what plagiarism is, staple these two things together and bring them to class. These papers are worth 20 points each, for a total of 60 points. We will participate in a peer-reviewing exercise with one of these briefs.
Midterm Exam: On March 1st we will take our midterm exam. It will cover the readings up to this point thoroughly, as well as lecture topics, and will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. It is worth 60 points.
Final Exam: On May 15th, we will have a final exam. You can expect most of the emphasis to be on material covered since the midterm, but it will be comprehensive in nature . The format will be multiple choice, short answer and short essays. The questions will cover a range of topics discussed in class (including both the film and the state presentations) and in the readings. We will review for this exam during the final regularly scheduled class meeting on May 10th. It is worth 60 points.
Quizzes: Nine quizzes will be given throughout the semester. The quizzes will cover material assigned to be read for the day they are given and, sometimes, material covered during the previous class. Advance notice will not be given, and there will be no makeup exams, so it is in your best interest to attend class regularly and complete the readings for each class. You may use your own notes, though not the textbooks, while taking the quiz. The quizzes are worth 15 points each, for a total of 120 points. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
State Presentation: As there are 50 American states, and we are only covering one in great detail (California), each of you will have the opportunity to explore another state in greater depth. On February 6th, you will sign up for a presentation date/state. Your assignment is to research the government and politics of this state (using a variety of both library and internet resources) and write a 5-7 page comparative analysis of this state and California. Your paper should briefly (no more than 1 page) address the state's history, political institutions, and political culture. The bulk of your paper should address one or two specific contemporary controversies in state government. Your analysis and assessment of how each state addresses the controversy will form the basis for your comparison. You will also give an oral presentation to the class on the date your paper is due. Appropriate creativity in presentation will be rewarded. You will need to pay attention to the reports of other students in order to complete the "state political facts sheet."
Participation: Come to class; it is hard to participate if you are
not here! 10% (40 points) of your grade is based on participation because I
want to reward you for taking an active role in your education. I also
want to encourage you to come to class, pay attention, answer my questions, and
join in class discussions. More than three absences over the course of
the semester will result in serious damage to your participation grade. I
will call on you to answer questions. I'm not expecting "right"
answers--sometimes there isn't a right answer; I am expecting thoughtful
and intelligent answers that demonstrate you have done the reading and are
paying attention. Additionally, a state "fact sheet," in-class
writing assignments, a film study guide, and other in-class activities will
become part of your participation grade.
Other Details
You must make arrangements with the instructor ahead of time if you cannot
attend a class session or complete an assignment on time. Late assignments
will be assessed a full one letter grade penalty (10%) for each class period
they are late. Students are expected to complete their own work.
Academic dishonesty will result in a zero on the assignment and formal charges
with Student Judicial Affairs. For
questions or concerns about plagiarism, please ask me or consult the University Catalog's section
on Academic
Honesty and the University's Policy on Academic
Integrity. The instructor reserves the right to submit papers turned in for
this class to Turnitin.com to test for
plagiarism. If you are unhappy with a grade you receive on an assignment, do
not understand my comments, or believe that I have mis-interpreted your
writing, come talk to me. It is always possible that I have erred. This
syllabus is subject to change and/or revision during the academic term.
Reasonable alternative assignments will be developed for students with
documented learning disabilities. Turn off cell phones and other distracting
devices during class. If your cell phone rings during class you will be
expected to leave the classroom for the remainder of the period.
Reasonable alternative assignments will be developed for students with
documented learning disabilities. If you have a documented disability
that may require reasonable accommodation, please contact Disability Support
Services (DSS) for coordination of your academic accommodations. DSS is
located in Building E, adjacent to Meriam Library and Bell Memorial Union
(BMU). The DSS phone number is 898-5959 V/TDD or Fax 898-4411.
Visit the DSS Web site at http://www.csuchico.edu/dss/
Since this course requires multiple written assignments, you are encouraged to take advantage of Chico State's University Writing Center, or the Student Learning Center (4th floor of the Meriam Library). I will provide written feedback on your assignments and will discuss general observations about aspects of writing that the class as a whole needs to focus on during class lectures. Writing well is a lifelong learning process, so don't feel like you have to be a "bad" writer to take advantage of student writing services, or that there is no need for help once you are a "good" writer. There is always room for improvement! Also, if you do not already own one, a writing guide/manual is an invaluable tool. Our library has several print examples and several web sites that provide citation guides. Some good print examples are:
Hacker, Diana. A
Writer's Reference. Fourth Edition, St. Martin's Press. 1999.
Lunsford, Andrea, and Robert Connors. EasyWriter:
A Pocket Guide. Bedford/St.Martin's Press. 1998.
Scott, Gregory M., and Stephen M. Garrison. The
Political Science Student Writer's Manual. 5th ed., Prentice Hall. 2006.
Strunk, William, Jr. Elements
of Style.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The faculty union is in the midst of contract negotiations and there is a possibility of a work interruption. Updates on this situation will be provided throughout the course.
Semester Schedule
Readings should be completed before each
class meeting.
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Date |
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Topics |
Readings (underlined means hypertext) |
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Jan. |
23 |
none |
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25 |
What Are States For? |
AE 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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30 |
The Basics: California vs. the Rest of the States; guest speaker(s): internships/fellowships |
GSL chapter 1 |
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Feb. |
1 |
State Constitutions |
GSL chapter 3 |
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6 |
California Constitution (pick one article to read and come prepared to discuss it in class); we will sign up for state presentations today |
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8* |
The Theory of Federalism |
GSL chapter 2 |
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13 |
AE 5, 6, 7, 8 |
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15 |
Political Culture and Participation |
GSL chapter 4 |
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20* |
AE 9, 10, 14, 15 |
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22 |
Parties and Interest Groups |
GSL chapter 5, AE 12, 13 |
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27* |
review all readings up to this point |
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Mar. |
1 |
Midterm Exam |
study, study, study! Don’t forget to take advantage of the textbooks’ web sites. |
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6 |
State Government and Film: The Strange Case of Willie Stark |
print out study guide and bring to class; view All the King's Men and work on study guide |
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8* |
State Government and Film: The Strange Case of Willie Stark |
view All the King's Men, finish study guide, and turn in |
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13 |
GSL chapter 6 |
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15 |
Legislatures and Sausage |
AE 19, 21, 22, 23 |
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19-23 |
SPRING
BREAK—NO CLASS |
reflect on the importance of state government in your life |
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27* |
GSL chapter 7; register to vote! |
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29 |
Governors, Governators, and Others |
AE 16, 27, 28, 26 |
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Apr. |
3 |
GSL chapter 8 |
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5 |
State Court Issues |
AE 11, 30, 31, 32 |
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10* |
GSL chapter 9 |
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12 |
State Presentations: Day 1 |
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17* |
AE 44, 47, 48, 49 |
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19 |
State Presentations: Day 2 |
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24 |
GSL chapter 11 |
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26* |
State Presentations: Day 3 |
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May |
1 |
AE 37, 39, 40, 41 |
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3 |
State Presentations: Day 4 |
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8* |
State Presentations: Day 5 |
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10 |
review readings and notes from the semester |
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15 |
Final Exam--Tuesday, 10:00-11:50am |
study the readings and collect your thoughts! |
Some Sources for Information on State Government
Your Textbooks’ Web Resources
· http://www.governing.com/textbook/gsl.htm --Governing States and Localities
· http://www.dushkin.com/catalog/0073397253.mhtml –Annual Editions: State and Local Government
California Specific Sites
- http://www.ca.gov/state/portal/myca_homepage.jsp --official California home page.
- http://www.calpday.com/ --California Political Daily.
- http://www.chicoer.com/ --the Chico Enterprise-Record.
- http://www.norcalblogs.com/bullfight/ --a local political blog written by a former Chico City Council member.
- http://www.latimes.com/ --the Los Angeles Times.
- http://www.ocregister.com/ --the Orange County Register.
- http://www.sacbee.com/ --the Sacramento Bee.
- http://www.uniontribune.com/ --the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- http://www.sjmercury.com/ --the San Jose Mercury.
- http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ --the San Francisco Chronicle.
- http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm --California Secretary of State's elections and voter information page.
- http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_f.htm --information on California political parties.
- http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm --provides a form to register to vote by mail.
- http://www.vote-smart.org/ --find out who your elected officials are.
- http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/defaulttext.asp --the California State Assembly.
- http://www.senate.ca.gov/ --the California State Senate.
- http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp --California governor's page.
- http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ --the California court system.
- http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/BUD_DOCS/Bud_link.htm --the California budget.
General Sites
- http://www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm --official state and local pages for all of the states.
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/50states/front.htm --Washington Post links to state news.
- http://www.governing.com/ --Governing Magazine (which focuses on state and local government).
- http://www.csg.org/ --Council of State Governments site.
- http://www.commoncause.org/states/states.htm --Common Cause's state politics page.
- http://www.ncsl.org/ --National Conference of State Legislatures.
- http://www.nga.org/ --National Governors' Association.
- http://www.ncsconline.org/ --National Center for State Courts.
- http://www.narc.org/ --National Association of Regional Councils.
- http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/nrdp/ --National Rural Development Partnership.
- http://www.icma.org/ --International City/County Management Association.
page last updated 10 January 2007.