Office:                                        Business Administration Bldg. #118-A
Office Phone#:                           (910) 521-6637 or 521-6531
Email:                                         barbee@sassette.uncp.edu or dbarbee@ac.net

Class Meeting:                           12:30- 1:45 TR

Location:                                    Room 238 DIAL Building

Administrative Contact:               Mrs. Amelia Elk - email: elka@sassette.uncp.edu
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1.    To acquaint you with the social, economic, cultural, and political context of American states,
2.    To acquaint you with the evolving functions and actions of American states,
3.    To help you to better understand state institutions, policy processes, and important areas of policy content,
4.    To strengthen your analytical, research, and critical thinking skills with emphasis on state institutions, policy                content, and processes.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:

The states are an integral part of the continuing development of American democracy and American federalism. Although they are alike in many ways, the states also are enormously varied, and consequently provide and offer rich opportunities for productive comparative analysis of foundations, political institutions and processes, and policy arenas and content. Moreover, the variations are enormous, ranging from California with one of the top ten economies in the world, to North Dakota, a state which undertakes statewide initiatives as if the state were a single community (also consider Vermont).

Regardless of their similarities and variations, the states-- the laboratories of democracy-- are constitutionally and politically central to American political life. States are the primary jurisdictions for dealing with many, perhaps most, some would argue, of the public policies that influence our daily lives.

My philosophy is that serious students of politics can gain much of value through specific study of the states. Students can learn much about our federal system of government and how it works. They can learn much about many important political issues. Students also can, by study of states, learn much about the probable future of American NATIONAL government and politics, particularly in areas of political turbulence and conflict, and innovation, including health care, welfare reform productivity improvement, environmental protection, criminal justice, and information technology, to name a few.

Furthermore, students can learn that states can restrain progressive policies and processes, sometimes setting back needed changes in both content and dynamics in American politics and society. This course will only return maximum value to you if you approach the study of state government in an unbiased and objective manner, seeking to learn from both history and changes, and present actions in the states. It is useful to recall that the American states comprise a dynamic element of federalism-- some present states only gained statehood within the past few decades, and others only within the past 100 years. The United States is a youthful nation still!

COURSE PLAN:

I hope to make this course exciting, challenging, and valuable-- a sound academic experience. We will emphasize history, the present, and the future in our exploration of states. Moreover, we will rely heavily on information technology for much of the critical course content and research. You will be expected to contribute in this process!

I also plan to use our class sessions productively, and will try to facilitate good discussions and research reviews. Lectures will be used to develop key concepts and for added depth and breadth on key issues. Multiple other activities will be used depending on enrollment, and on your combined efforts. I expect high quality participation from each student. We will be in very close communication via email, and you will be expected to work with your classmates on most of the assignments in the course. Sharing your daily findings is essential. I expect you to begin to maintain diligence in scrutinizing state government and politics via the media and personal discussions.

TEXT: Virginia Gray, Russel Hanson, Herbert Jacob,. eds. POLITICS IN THE AMERICAN STATES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, 7^th edition. Washington: CQ Press, 1999.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1.    Two exams will be given. These tests may include short essays, case analyses, and interpretation of current events and policies.

2.    One final exam will be given using the same general format as the shorter tests. Some of the material for this exam may be drawn from the two earlier exams and the remainder will focus on new material.

3.    Each student will prepare two brief research papers, corresponding generally to the material under consideration in each portion of the course. Assignments, eligible topics, and working protocols will be discussed in class.

4.    Each student will be expected to keep course notes and journal entries in a 3-ring binder. Materials will be reviewed and graded. You must submit materials in a manila folder-- no plastic covers, notebooks, or binders of any kind.

SUMMARY OF GRADING:

1. Two exams at 15% each:                     30

2. One final at 20%:                                 20

3. Two research papers @ 20% each:     40

4. Notes/Journals:                                    10

Total for course:                                     100%

In addition to these requirements, class participation is expected and is a factor in grading. To participate in an acceptable manner you need to keep abreast of current political events and activities. Come to every class prepared by having read text assignments, and by having a good awareness of current political actions and events.

GRADES

A      92-100
A-    90-91
B+    88-89
B      82-87
B-    80-81
C+   78-79
C     72-77
C-    70-71
D+   68-69
D     62-67
D-    60-61
F      59 AND BELOW

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

This publication is available in alternative formats upon requests.

Please contact:
Mary Helen Walker
Disability Support Services
(910) 521-6270

Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak with Disability Support Services and the instructor as early in the semester as possible (preferably within the first week of class). All discussions will remain confidential.

Sometimes note takers are requested for classes. Your professor will announce the need for a note taker. Contact Disability Support Services at (910) 521-6270 if you wish to be a note taker.

INSTRUCTOR’S POLICIES

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is expected. A substantial amount of exam material will be from lectures, class discussions and activities. Unexcused absences will result in a reduction of points from your overall score per absence. The remainder of my attendance policy is consistent with the information found in the current university catalog.

MISSED AND MAKE-UP EXAMS: Take exams when they are given. Prior permission, physician certification, and emergencies ( I make the determination after-the-fact) are reasons to request a make-up exam. A zero grade is given for exams not taken. As a general rule, do not expect to take make-up exams.

INCOMPLETE: My policy is the same as stated in the current university catalog.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: My policy is consistent with the policy stated in the university catalog. You are responsible for knowing this policy.

NOTE: As a general rule, you should plan to read one chapter per week. This will leave the class with an adequate amount of time for working with the research papers, class discussions, and exams.

Jan

9/11 COURSE INTRODUCTION

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

PERSONAL DATA FORMS

CONTEXTUAL ISSUES FOR AMERICAN STATES HANDOUTS,
GRAY, Et.al,

CH, 1 1

16/18 FEDERALISM AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS G, CH 2

EMAIL ACCOUNTS DUE 18 JAN

23/25 PARTIES AND ELECTIONS G, CH 3

PAPER #1 TOPICS DUE

30/
Feb1 INTEREST GROUPS IN THE STATES G, CH 4

6/8 LEGISLATIVE POLITICS IN THE STATES G, CH 5

PAPER #1 WORKING DRAFTS

13/15 THE GOVERNORS G, CH 6

EXAM#1

20/22 COURTS: POLITICS AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS G, CH 7

PAPER #1 DUE

27/ ADMINISTERING STATE PROGRAMS : PERFORMANCE G, CH 8

Mar 1 AND POLITICS

March 5-10 SPRING BREAK

13/15 CLASS ASSIGNMENT

PAPER #2 DISCUSSED AND ASSIGNED

20/22 THE POLITICS OF TAXING AND SPENDING G, CH 9

PAPER #2: TOPICS DUE

27/29 TRANSFORMING STATE HEALTH AND WELFARE

PROGRAMS G, CH 10

Apr 3/

5 THE POLITICS OF EDUCATION G, CH 11

PAPER 2: WORKING DRAFTS DUE

10/12 ECONOMIC REGULATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION G, CH 12

EXAM 2: CHAPTERS 7-12

17/19 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE G, CH 13

24/26 THE POLITICS OF FAMILY POLICY

PAPER #2: DUE

31  POLICY ISSUES

FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY MAY 3, 2001, 1-3 PM