State and Local Government

Catalog description

This course focuses on the organization and functions of government at the state, county, township, and city levels. Central topics may include: the formation of state governments and the structures and activities of legislatures, executives, and state courts; the rules governing participation by individuals and groups and the impact of participation and non-participation on state politics; the interconnections between state, local, and national governments and the impact of each layer of government on citizens; and the development of public policy at the state level, with emphasis on education, criminal justice, and health and welfare.