Select one of the options below:
Welcome to State and Local Government and Politics!
State and local governments are vital components of the American political system. While the activities of national-level actors, such as the president and Congress, tend to be most visible to the average citizen (especially through the news media), actors at the state and local level frequently make political decisions that impact our daily lives. In addition, states and localities often experiment with innovative policies in an attempt to address social, economic, and environmental problems. Given the importance of states and localities in American politics, this course is designed to provide you with an understanding of the structure, functions, and responsibilities of state and local governments. We will explore the impacts of decisions made at the state and local level, compare and contrast policies across various states and localities, and learn about how these levels of government function and interact with each other. We will also apply our knowledge of state and local politics to current issues, such as economic development, criminal justice, and budgeting.
Through readings, lectures, group discussions, and assignments, you will be able to achieve four primary learning outcomes during this course. First, you will gain a broader and deeper understanding of how state and local governments work and what their responsibilities are and, secondly, will understand the unique challenges that state and local governments face. Third, we will analyze the role of state and local actors in solving pressing contemporary problems, such as economic issues and environmental concerns. Lastly, we will discuss how the actions of state and local governments impact our daily lives.
This course meets the All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements for Social/Behavioral Sciences (Category 3C) and is approved under gtPathways in the content area of Economic or Political Systems (GT-SS1).
Section 801
Required
Textbooks and materials can be purchased at the CSU Bookstore unless otherwise indicated.
Morgann received her B.A. in political science from Colorado Mesa University (formerly Mesa State College) and completed her M.A. in political science at Colorado State University. As a doctoral candidate, Morgann’s research primarily focuses on sustainable cities in the U.S. with an emphasis on explaining why there is variance in how sustainability is defined and practiced. Her research explores the role of citizen participation in sustainable communities, as well as the impact of natural disaster vulnerability on sustainability policy at the municipal level.