Pol. 221: State and Local Government
Syllabus - Fall 2011
Dr. David Ryden – Lubbers 205 ; phone : 7545, 7546 (dd) ; e-mail : ryden@hope.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 10:30-11:30 a.m., Wednesdays 3-4 p.m., Thursdays 2-3 p.m. or by
appointment
What are the required Class Materials?
Smith, Greenblatt, and Mariani. Governing States & Localities, 3d ed.
Stinebricker, Annual Editions: State and Local Government 15th ed.
You also will receive a free copy of the Guide to Michigan State Government, which will be
distributed in class.
I am sure to share a host of other articles, discussion sheets, and materials over the course of the
semester. These will typically be posted to Moodle. But you might wish to print them out to
bring to class, as it will likely aid in the discussion. I would recommend some sort of folder or
three-ring binder that you can use to keep track of these.
Why take this course? What is it about?
Even though local units of government have probably a greater direct impact on our lives
than any other level of government, they also are the most neglected. State and local
governments attract the least political attention and participation from media and citizens alike,
even as they bear primary responsibility for the safety of our streets and crime prevention, the
quality of our schools, parks, and roads, and for the delivery of many other basic public services.
We will explore in this course why this neglect is a serous mistake, especially in the current
economic environment, when state and local governments are under siege. My hope is that we
each will better understand not only how state and local governments operate, but why they are
so significant. Hopefully we will be better motivated to engage and participate in this level of
government that is most accessible and which we are best able to influence.
This course will examine the institutions and actors involved in state and local
government, and the political environment within which they operate. In the current political
climate, we are having a genuine debate over the size and scope of the federal government. How
that debate is resolved has deep repercussions for the authority of states and localities, and the
extent to which they have the freedom to pursue their independent agendas. Should states have
more latitude to chart their own paths? What are the proper responsibilities of the lower levels of
government? Are states prepared to carry out those responsibilities given them? Do they have
the resources? And what will the ultimate impact be on the provision of services for the people
who live in those cities and states? These are just a few of the timely questions we will consider
in this course.
What are the course objectives?
By the end of the semester, you should:
 Have a firm understanding of the structure and operation of state and local governmental
institutions, the challenges they face, and the key political actors within those
governmental units;
 Have a solid understanding of the main contemporary policy issues and controversies that
are facing states and localities as well as the various points of view and perspectives that
are implicated by those debates;
 Better understand the democratic decision making process of state and local governments
and the factors that influence them, so that each of you might be better equipped for
active and informed participation in state and local politics; and
 Have improved practical skills that will be useful in professional life including research,
writing, oral presentation and analytical skills.
 Have a solid grasp of the unique problems and challenges faced by larger metropolitan
governments
What are the Course Requirements and assignments?
This course is structured to maximize our learning through a variety of activities and
assignments. Several of these rely on our actively engaging the surrounding community as the
politics of state and local government swirls around us. We will hear from practitioners, visit
local government in action, and use actual issues as case studies of local political decision
making. In short, the class will be heavily interactive and hands on. This should make it much
more interesting and relevant. It also means everyone will be expected to have an active part in
the class. The main components of the course are as follows:
1. Exams and quizzes. There will be two exams during the semester, a mid-term and a final
(the final will not be cumulative). The mid-term exam is tentatively scheduled for
Wednesday, Oct. 19th, and the final will be during the time slot designated during finals
week (Thursday, December 15th at 12:30 p.m.). I will have more to say about the
exams as the time for them draws closer. To encourage you to come to class prepared and
having thoughtfully read the assignments, there will be regular quizzes based on the
assigned readings. The quizzes will be general in nature and varied in their make-up.
2. Attend/report on local government meetings. Each of you will be expected to attend at
least two public meetings of local governmental entities (school board, city council,
county board of commissioners, Macatawa Area Coordinating Center, a judicial
proceeding, etc.). You will be asked to submit a short report summarizing and analyzing
what you observed there. You will be able to complete this assignment individually or in
pairs. Your report is due on Friday, Nov. 11.
3. Group local decision-making case studies and presentations. Each of you will participate
in a group case study analyzing a local issue or controversy that reflects local decisionmaking in action. You will receive a list of the current issues facing local area
jurisdictions, from which to choose your study. In addition to writing a paper, your group
will present your analysis to the class. The papers are due on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and
the in-class presentations will occur on that day as well.
4. Public Policy Research paper. Everyone will complete a research paper in which you
research and analyze some policy issue of local or state significance. You can begin
thinking about possible topics you might like to research. More information will follow,
along with a list of possible subjects.
5. Films. We will watch a handful of films during the semester, on a variety of subjects.
These typically will occur outside of class, with my asking you to respond or react in an
on-line discussion format.
6. Newspaper clippings. Occasionally I will ask you to find and bring news clippings of
current stories or developments relevant to our course material. I encourage you to get in
the habit of regularly scanning the metro/state/local news sections of one or more
newspapers. I’d suggest perhaps the Holland Sentinel for an example of a smaller city
supplemented by the Metro section of a major urban newspaper (Washington Post, New
York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune). We will use these as a platform for
class discussion on contemporary issues and debates.
7. Guest speakers. Probably the best resources for learning about local politics are those
individuals who are actively engaged in them. We will make significant use of active
practitioners of state and local politics in our class. While the schedule of visitors is still
being finalized, it likely will include a state senator and member of the state house, the
mayor of Holland, a school board official or superintendent, the Holland city manager,
and perhaps others. On these occasions, there will typically be a short presentation by the
speaker followed by a time of discussion. To get the most of our discussion, you should
have read the applicable materials from the class texts, and prepare in advance at least
five questions for the speaker drawn from the readings. These should be typed and will be
collected afterwards.
What does Dr. Ryden Expect of me?
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Class attendance and participation – Regular class attendance, thorough preparation for
class, and active participation in class are expected from everyone. To ensure a lively and
interesting class, it is essential that each of you be an enthusiastic participant in the course. If
you miss classes, it inevitably will damage your grade. If missing class is unavoidable, make
sure you obtain from a classmate any handouts, class notes, assignments or other information
given out in class.
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Make-ups, Incompletes, and late papers - unless or until the scheduled due dates are
changed, all assignments are to be completed on that day and at the stated time. While a late
paper is better than no paper at all, grades will suffer due to late completion and submission.
My policy is to lower the grade one step (from an A to an A-, from a C+ to a C) for each day
an assignment is date. I generally do not allow for the make up of exams or quizzes, unless
you provide advance notice of your participation in a sanctioned college event, or there is a
serious emergency that requires that you miss class (serous illness or death in the family).
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Cheating and Plagiarism – Cheating and plagiarism will absolutely not be tolerated. Any
instance of cheating will result in an automatic zero for the assignment (no excuses,
exceptions, or negotiations whatsoever) and, depending on the circumstances, may result in
automatic failure of the course. Ignorance is not a defense! If you are unclear as to what
constitutes plagiarism or any other violation of Hope College’s honor code, please review the
relevant sections of the college catalog.
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Group Projects – On at least one occasion, students will be required to work in a group, and
on another, you will have the option of going solo or in pairs. The group activity will be
governed by two simple rules to ensure that each group member carries his/her own weight
Rule 1: The remedy for any member who is not adequately contributing to the group is
ejection from the group as unanimously agreed upon by the other members. That person
will be required to complete the assignment alone (I would encourage the group to first
confront the delinquent member to allow him/her the opportunity for rehabilitation before
removal from the group.)
Rule 2: Upon completion of the project, each group member will confidentially rate the
contributions of the other group members. If these suggest that one person failed to
adequately contribute, that person will receive a different grade than the rest of the group.
Otherwise a single group grade will be given to each member of the group.
How will I be graded in this class?
The approximate value of the various components of the course are as follows:
Mid-term exam
Final exam
Quizzes/in-class activities
Case studies
Research papers
Local govt meetings
20%
25%
15%
15%
15%
10%
My method of grading is to attach a point value to each assignment, quiz or exam. You are
accumulating points as the semester progresses. At the end of the course, I calculate the
percentage of the total possible points each student has received, and attach a grade. The
percentages typically are as follows, though I reserve the right to use a curve:
A = 100-93
B+ = 89-87
C+ = 79-77
D+ = 69-67
A- = 92-90
B = 86-83
C = 76-73
D = 66-63
B- = 82-80
C- = 72-70
D- = 62-60
This means you receive a 0 if you fail to complete an assignment. In other words, missed
assignments are likely to harm your end grade. I will make every effort to periodically keep you
apprised of your standing during the semester.
A note on class participation: My expectation is that everyone will be an active contributor to
class discussion. I will make every effort to ensure that the classroom is a comfortable
environment for all. I typically do not mark down for someone’s silence in class. However, I do
reward those who are thoughtful, active participants in class. So to remain silent is a lost
opportunity to improve your grade.
I always welcome, and indeed value, feedback, questions and comments from students
regarding any subject or aspect of the course, either in the classroom or outside of it. If you
are confused, concerned, have doubts about your grade, or are wondering where you stand,
please take the initiative and come see me. Please do not wait until the end of the semester to
air grievances, express complaints or problems, or to make suggestions. You should feel free
to drop by my office at any time to talk about anything class related.
I also am happy to chat with you regarding grades or evaluations you received on your
work. I would ask that you please wait at least one day upon receiving a grade before coming
to talk with me if you have a complaint. It is important, if you think the grade is an unfair
reflection of the quality of your work, that you be able to precisely explain or articulate why
that is the case (“I worked really hard on this” is not a legitimate reason). Finally, remember
that it cuts both ways. In other words, if upon re-examination of your work, I conclude that I
was overly generous in my assessment, I may mark it further down.
Tentative Schedule of Readings and Assignments
(Reading assignments are Bold, and should be completed by the date under which they are listed)
Week 1: Wed. Aug. 31 (no class on Friday Sept. 2)
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We will take some time to get to know each other and to think a little bit about the
significance of state and local politics
We will review and discuss the syllabus and course requirements
We will explore our perceptions of local politics and its importance in our lives
Week 2: Sept. 5, 7, and 9
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For Monday, you should read Smith Ch. 1 and the Federalist Papers Nos. 17 and 45
from Annual Editions (on Moodle if we haven’t received the reader yet)
For Wednesday, read Smith Ch. 2 on the subject of federalism – that is, the relationship
between the national government, states, and localities. On Wednesday and Friday, we
will consider the arguments for and against federalism, and well as spend some time
thinking about specific policy areas (education, the environment, crime prevention,
welfare, defense and security, gun control . . . and the list goes on) and how federalism
might apply to them. What are the proper responsibilities of states and local governments
rather than the federal government? How should we decide? You also should read the
excerpts on federalism and intergovernmental relations posted to Moodle.
For Friday, please read Smith Ch. 3 on Constitutionalism. You should know and be
ready to discuss the notion of limited government, and how the state and federal
constitutions relate to each other.
Week 3: Sept. 12, 14, and 16
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For Monday, read both the U.S. Constitution and the Michigan state constitution. You
should be able to compare and contrast them. While you don’t need to read every word,
you must be thoroughly familiar with the similarities and differences in the two. What are
the key elements of state constitutions? Key areas of authority?
For Wednesday, read Smith Ch. 4 on financing and budgets. We will examine issues
related to finances, taxes, and budgets. These are not always the most exciting issues, at
first glance. But they are probably the most important role that the state government
carries out. There also will be several articles posted to Moodle on the current state of
state budgets which you should read for class.
For Friday, read Smith Ch. 5 (on participation and voting in state and community
politics). We will spend Friday and Monday considering political activism, campaigns,
and elections at the local level.
As part of our look at participation in local politics, we will be watching a documentary
movie entitled “Store Wars,” which relates the tale of the battle between retail giant WalMart and a particular set of local activists. Questions to consider as you view the film are:
o What does the film show us about political participation at the local level?
o What lessons about local politics can be gleaned from the film?
o What does it say about who wields power in smaller communities?
o What other impressions or significant points came out in the film?
o What did you think about the making of the film itself
Week 4: Sept. 19, 21, and 23
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We will continue our discussion of political participation on Monday. We will discuss the
nature and wisdom of direct democracy in the form of initiatives, referenda, and recalls.
For Wednesday, read Smith Ch. 6 on Political Parties and Interest Groups. We will
consider the role of political parties in the democratic system, and the reasons for their
weakness at the local level. Also, are we too locked into the two party system? Would a
third party benefit our politics?
On Friday, we will complete the materials on parties, interest groups, and participation in
politics.
Week 5: Sept. 26, 28, and 30
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This week and Monday of next week will be devoted to the topic of local government.
For Monday, please read Smith Ch. 11. The remainder of this bloc of time will include
group presentations on local decision-making case studies and hopefully one or more
visits from local officials (the Mayor and/or City Manager of the city of Holland). The
precise dates are still to be determined.
Week 6: Oct. 3 and 7 (no class on Oct. 5 due to Critical Issues Symposium)
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On Monday, we will finish the bloc on local government. On Friday, class will be
devoted to discussions of two films, both of which are on reserve at the library and which
you need to find time outside of class to watch. You will be asked to do some short piece
of writing (a review, reaction or thought piece) that we will use as platforms for our
discussion of the films. The first is “Street Fight” a fascinating inside look at the mayoral
race in Newark, New Jersey. The second is “Daley: The Last Boss” on Richard Daley the
former powerhouse mayor of Chicago (and father of the current mayor. As you watch the
film, consider some of these questions:
 What attributes characterized urban city machine politics?
 What were the positive and negative aspects of bossism?
 What eventually brought down Daley and the Chicago Machine?
 Other impressions?
Week 7: Oct. 12 and 14 (no class on Monday, Oct. 10 due to Fall Recess)
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We shift our attention this week from local government to state government, beginning
with the state legislature. For Monday, read Smith Ch. 7.
On Wednesday, we hopefully will be joined by one of our state representatives to discuss
to discuss the nature of his job, state elections, and much more.
We will finish up our look at the state legislature on Friday.
Week 8: Oct. 17, 19, and 21
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Monday will be a catch up and review day, as we cap the first half of the course and
prepare for the mid-term exam on Wednesday.
The mid-term exam will be on Wednesday. The mid-term will be some combination of
objective (matching, multiple choice), short answer, term identification, and essay
questions. It will include all that we have read and covered thus far in the class (The
readings from the Smith text and Annual Editions, Moodle articles, lectures and class
visits, the films, and the group presentations)
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Friday will be a catch-all day, where people are free to bring clippings, stories or articles
of interest (and applicable to state and local government) to share and discuss with the
class.
Week 9: Oct. 24, 26, and 28
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For Monday, read Smith Ch. 8. We now turn to the chief state executive, the
governor.
For Wednesday, we continue our study of the office of the governor.
On Friday, we examine the state bureaucracy. Please read Smith Ch. 10 for class.
Week 10: Oct. 31, Nov. 2, and Nov. 4
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On Monday, we turn to the topic of the state judiciary. Please read Smith Ch. 9 for
class. We will consider the growing politicization of the state courts, and the merits of
judicial selection methods.
We hope to be joined on Wednesday by a representative of the local correctional and
policing system to share their insights.
For Friday, read Smith Ch. 14 on crime and punishment. Policing and criminal justice
are among the most important functions of state and local government.
Week 11: Nov. 7, 9, and 11
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We will spend Monday and Wednesday finishing up the materials on the courts and
criminal justice by watching “Real Justice,” a fascinating documentary which shadows
prosecutors and public defenders in the Boston area as they do their jobs. An on-line
Moodle forum discussion will accompany the film.
The local government field research reports are due on Friday. We will discuss your
reactions and findings in class.
Week 12: Nov. 14, 16, and 18

This week will be devoted to two issues of central importance for states and localities –
public education and health care. For Monday, read Smith Ch. 13 on education. For
Wednesday, please read Smith Ch. 15 on health care. There also will be some additional
readings posted to Moodle on both topics. The passage of health care reform at the
federal level has hardly led to a clearer picture of the issue for states; indeed potentially
huge (and heretofore unknown) consequences remain for state governments in this area.
Weeks 13-15: Nov. 21 through Dec. 9 (no class Friday, Nov. 25 due to
Thanksgiving Break)
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The final segment of the class will be devoted to the unique challenges of urban America.
Perhaps nowhere are the problems more intractable and the conditions more dispiriting.
Please read Smith Ch. 12 for an introduction to the material. We will use a host of online
sources, articles, videos, etc. as well as your research papers/presentations to explore this
critically important dimension of state and local politics. In particular, we will focus on
Detroit, which has suffered a steeper decline than perhaps any other large city in
America. More information will follow on this part of the course.
Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 15, at 12:30 p.m.