Textbooks (required): Gray and Jacob (eds.), Politics in the American States, 7th ed. Beyle (ed.), State Government: CQ's Guide to Current Issues and Activities, 1998-99. Course Packet

Background: POL 1001 or equivalent is assumed.

Description: We will study political behavior and processes, governmental institutions, and public policies at the state level within a comparative framework. This course is concerned with the similarities and differences among the 50 states; it is not a course on government and politics in Minnesota.

Format of the Course: The class sessions will be lectures with discussion of the readings. Students are expected to have completed all assigned reading before coming to class and to be prepared to discuss the reading. There will be a midquarter exam, a final exam, in-class assignments, and a research project. The research project is an analysis of contemporary government and politics in one state other than Minnesota. There will be a sign-up sheet so that overlap among students is minimized. The output of the research will consist of a research paper of about 20 pages due May 26 and an oral report in class on May 28, June 2 or June 4. Depending upon class size, these may be combined regional reports.

Grading: The midquarter will count 25% of the final course grade, the final exam 35%, in-class assignments 10%, and the research project 30%. Late assignments will be penalized. Students are expected to attend class regularly and to take the final exam at the scheduled time.

University academic achievement is graded on the following basis:

1. Achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
2. Achievement significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
3. Achievement that meets the basic course requirements in every respect.
4. Achievement worthy of credit even though it does not fully meet the basic course requirements in every respect.
5. Performance that fails to meet the basic course requirements.

Outline and Reading Assignments: Textbooks are on sale in Smith Bookstore, West Bank. Articles are in the course packet also available at Smith Bookstore.

Introduction
Why Study States?
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 1.

Nation-State Relations: Constitutional and Fiscal Issues
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 2; Weissert & Schram, "The State of American Federalism, 1997-98," Publius,28 (Winter, 1998): 1-22 (in packet).

Political Culture
Read: Elazar, American Federalism, 3rd. ed., ch. 5 (in packet).

Political Participation
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 3; Beyle, 16-17

Political Parties
Read: Beyle, 11-15, 35-45

Interest Groups and Lobbying
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 4.

Lobbying (continued)
Read: Rosenthal, Drawing the Line, chs. 5, 7 (in packet); Beyle, 46-48.

The Media; Initiative, Referendum, and Recall Process
Read: Beyle, 21-29, 51-56, 63-66.

No Class

Legislatures
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 5.

Legislatures (cont.)
Read: Beyle, 30-31, 57-62, 69-87.

Governors
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 6.

Governors (cont.)
Read: Beyle, 1-10, 91-111.

MIDQUARTER EXAM

Bureaucracy
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 8; Beyle, 115-134.

Courts
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 7.

Courts (cont.)
Read: Beyle, 137-150.

Taxation
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 9.

Taxation (cont.)
Read: Beyle, 181-194.

Education Policy
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 11; Beyle, 198-207, 214-215.

Economic Regulation and Environmental Protection Policy
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 12, Beyle, 208-213.

Economic Development and Infrastructure Policy
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 13.

Welfare Policy
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 10

Health Policy
Read: Leichter, "Rationing of Health Care in Oregon: Making the Implicit Explicit," in Leichter, ed., Health Policy Reform in America, 2nd ed., pp. 138-162 (in packet).

Family and Morality Policy
Read: Gray & Jacob, ch. 14.

Family and Morality Policy (continued)
Read: Hoefler, "Diffusion and Diversity: Federalism and the Right to Die in the 50 States," Publius, 24 (Summer, 1994): 153-170 (in packet). PAPER DUE

Oral Reports

HOLIDAY

Oral Reports

Oral Reports

FINAL EXAM, 1:30-3:30