PS 255-State Government

 

Course Description:

An introduction to the institutions, political processes and policies of state governments, and the relationships of state governments with other levels of government in the United States.

 

Prerequisites/Co-requisites: None

Course Objectives:

  1.   The student should be familiar with the everyday workings of State and  Local Political Systems.

  2.   The student should know how to design and conduct a survey of  public opinion on state and local issues.

  3.   The students should know how to become more involved in state and local politics, as a voter, worker, or as an actual

        candidate for office.

  4.   The student should form a habit of keeping up with state and  local issues through regularly reading a newspaper.

  5.   Each student should learn how to access information on the World Wide Web.

 

Course Outline:

  I.  The setting of State and Local Government

 

 

 II.  Intergovernmental Relations

 

 

III.  Political Parties and Interest Groups

 

 

IV.  Political Participation and Elections

 

 

 V.  State and Local Legislatures

 

 

 VI.  Governors, Bureaucrats and Mayors

 

 

 VII. Courts, Police, and Corrections

 

 

VIII. Financing State and Local Governments

 

 

 IX.   State Policy Making

 

 

 X.    Suburbs, metropolitan Areas, and Rural Communities

 

 

Alternate Assignments:

 

#1   Trip to the Legislature and other offices

 

      Anyone failing to go to Frankfort to the Legislature must write a paper

     of at least five typed (double spaced) pages on the Kentucky State

     Legislature.  Footnotes and a bibliography from at least five printed

     sources must be used.  They must be in correct format and in accordance

     with an acceptable standard.  (Due by one week prior to the last class.)                        

 

 

 Posted: June 18, 2003

http://www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu/LCC/HIS/255