POLS 1121 - State and Local Government
3 Credits
Examines state and local government political institutions, behavior, public policies, tax and spending issues. The course will also analyze structure and behavior of state legislatures, governors, courts, and political parties, including the nomination and election process of state and local officials. The course emphasis will be on the Minnesota political system. In your exploration of contemporary Minnesota policy issues, you will critically examine your own political values, experiences and behaviors.
Major Content Areas
Education, Criminal Justice and Welfare Issues 10% Governors and State Bureaucracy 10% State-Local Relations 10% State Political Parties 10% State Campaigns and Elections 10% Public Opinion, Political Socialization, Media 10% State Legislatures 10% State Constitutions/Federalism 10% State Courts 10% State Economic Policy 10%
Learning Outcomes
Analyze the empirical and normative dimensions of political relationships. Recognize the diversity of political motives and interests of others. Demonstrate knowledge of state governmental institutions, legislative, executive, judicial branches and the public bureaucracy. Analyze state and local politics and parties; elections, nominations, endorsements, primaries, two-party systems. Explore state government issues, civil liberties. Welfare policies, preK-12 and higher education, criminal justice. Demonstrate knowledge of local government; cities, counties, school districts, townships, metropolitan government. Consider state government finances and budgets; state and local taxes (income, sales, property) and state spending. Explore topics and methods associated with the discipline of Political Science. Analyze political ideologies and explain how these lead to different goals and political conflict. Examine the relationships among various values, principles, institutions, and traditions, as well as the economic, political, legal, and social orders. Apply core concepts such as rights, obligations, justice, liberty, power, and (in)equality to specific issues.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals
09 - Ethical/Civic Resp 05 - Hist/Soc/Behav Sci
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