Teaching

The decisions made by state and local governments affect the daily lives of individuals much more so than decisions made in Washington, D.C. This class takes a comparative approach to the study of state and local politics by focusing on variations in states and communities to provide students a better understanding of political behavior and the policy making process.

This course engages students in experiential learning of state legislatures. Students explore the lawmaking process (i.e. policy analysis), combined with policy advocacy. Policy advocacy refers to the activities involved in advancing one’s preferred policy responses to social problems.

The course teaches students how to think scientifically about politics. It is designed to help students develop their analytical abilities and statistical reasoning. It provides an introduction to research design and the use of quantitative methods in political science.

The U.S. Constitution was written to address concerns about the division of power between the federal and state governments, but this relationship is not static and is subject to much debate and interpretation. This course will focus on the constitutional power given to the states and how states interact with the federal government. Students will learn about the dynamic relationship of federal and state governments and how it affects such policy areas such as education, healthcare, and budgetary domain.

The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how minority groups operate within the U.S. political system. The substantive focus of the course is on how minorities have historically been represented, different concepts of representation, minority group commonalities and differences, and policy issues that are disproportionately important to minorities.

The course introduces students to the fundamentals of American government and politics. It focuses mainly on the constitutional origins of the American political system, the structure and function of institutions, the political actors involved in government, and the crucial link between government and citizens.