POL 112 - Amer State & Local Government

1. Compare and contrast the various political cultures and subcultures of state and local governments
   1. Identify historical and constitutional backgrounds of Iowa and various other states
   2. Explain constitutional terminology
   3. Distinguish Iowa’s constitutional background from that of other states
   4. Distinguish among policy responsibilities of state and local government as opposed to the national government
   5. Summarize the major provisions of the Iowa Constitution
2. Analyze the concept of federalism
   1. Reveal its historical and constitutional background
   2. Categorize various government powers in terms of state versus federal responsibility
3. Appraise political participation at the state and local level
   1. Discuss voting patterns from state to state
   2. Reveal the activities and functions of interest groups and political parties at the state and local level
   3. Outline election and campaign methods focusing especially on Iowa
   4. Discuss the major provisions of campaign finance law
4. Describe the roles and functions of the main institutions of state government
   1. Discuss the Iowa legislature in terms of structure and operation.
   2. Discuss the role of state governors and other executive officers in state politics in terms of roles, functions, and powers focusing especially on Iowa.
   3. Outline the basic structure and functions of the state court system again focusing especially on Iowa
   4. Reveal correctional policy in Iowa and in other states
5. Examine the basic types and functions of community political systems
   1. Identify the various units of community government, their roles and responsibilities
   2. Explain the various forms of municipal charters and forms of city government and why these vary from city to city
   3. Delineate the various methods of campaigning and administering elections in cities with special emphasis on nonpartisan elections
   4. Reveal the various means through which people and interest groups become involved in community politics
   5. Relate the various characteristics of central-city and suburban government with an eye toward explaining policy differences and demographics
   6. Discuss the modes and the successes of various methods of dealing with city-suburban relations with special emphasis to consolidation
   7. Compare the strengths and weaknesses of the pluralist and elitist models for explaining the exercise of power in municipalities
   8. Identify the roles of city planners
6. Examine the various policy issues facing states and localities
   1. Explain the basic issues facing local governments with regard to education.
   2. Differentiate between the roles of a state and the federal government with regard to education
   3. Explain the basic issues involved in taxation and budget policy
   4. Categorize the various tax sources available to states and localities in general.
   5. Summarize how budgets are formulated and administered at the state and local level