MSO 173 State and Local Government The Catholic University of America Spring 2006 Dr. Roy Littlefield (h) 301-249-1529 (w) 301-430-7280, Ext. 108

SYLLABUS

This course will survey the breadth and depth of state politics. We will consider the varied challenges facing the states as well as their responses to the shifting balance of federalism, concentrating on the devolution revolution and its consequences for public policy on the city and state levels. We will take field trips to the D.C. City Council and to the Maryland State Legislature in Annapolis. Students will also have the option of visiting Harrisburg, Richmond, and/or Dover.

FORMAT

We will meet once a week on Tuesday evenings. In most classes I will lecture, discussing the "issue” at hand as I see it making reference to one or more of the major works or scholars in the area being considered. It will be here that you are given a synopsis of the literature and of the historical way of conceptualizing or studying the problem.

On various occasions one or more of you will present a summary and critique of a chapter from the required text. Summaries should be typed and distributed to each member of the class. Summaries should be 2-3 single-spaced pages. They should include: (1) a recitation of the theory postulated or tested in the chapter: (2) a brief description of the “methodology" (if any) used to test the theory: (3) a discussion of the importance of the work for the topic for which it was written: and (4) a critique of the theory, method, style, significance, etc.

Summaries should he presented orally for approximately 15 minutes. The student who presents the summary should he prepared to answer student questions on the reading and to then lead a class discussion on the reading. It is absolutely essential that students responsible for summaries bring them to class on the assigned date and that those who are assigned to read specific chapters read them closely will grade the summaries (and discussions) for style and content, checking to see if the student has done the reading, understood it, and expressed the significance of the material clearly and comprehensively. The summaries will be invaluable for the mid-term exam and the final project. Please note that discussions on the readings account for 40 percent of your final grade, so class attendance is very important. GRADE

Your grade in this course will he determined by 4 scores--the mark on your summary and discussion (20 percent), a grade on the quality of your oral discussions on the remaining readings (20 percent), the grade on your midterm (20 percent), and the grade on your final project (40 percent).

FIELD TRIP

On February 2 we will take a field trip to Annapolis, Maryland. This trip is not required. On that day we will tour the State House, the Senate and House office buildings, and we will have scheduled meetings with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Delegates, President of the Senate, and Comptroller. We will also attend a reception for all members of the House of Delegates and Senate

TEXT

You will be asked to read from the following text:

Smith, Kevin. State and Local Government, 2005-2006. Washington: CQ Press, 2006.

ASSIGNMENTS

January 10 Introduction; Cultural Change in the State and Local Political Arena.

January 24 Role of the Legislator, Regulator, and Lobbyist; Recent Elections. Smith, Section I, Section II.

January 31 Path of Legislation (City Council v State Legislature v U.S. Congress) Smith, Section III.

February 2 Field Trip to Annapolis

February 7 Governors and Executives Smith, Section V

February 14 Power Centers on the City and State Levels; Political Parties; Courts Smith, Section IV, Section VI

February 21 MIDTERM

February 28 Spring Recess March 7 Mock Hearing

March 14 Local Government Smith, Section VIII

March 21 City and State Political Action Committees: An Overview; Contribution Strategies; Giving Beyond the Limit

March 28 Role of the Media. Making Your Views Known: Drafting Testimony, Comments for the Regulatory Record, Press Releases, Letters to the Editor. Laws and Regulations on Influencing Public Policy.

April 4 State Bureaucracy Smith, Section VII

April 11 Budget and Taxes Smith, Section IX

April 18 Policy Challenges Smith, Section X

April 25 Final Examination Projects