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POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
Spring 2016
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jisun Youm
OFFICE: Arts and Sciences 144
PHONE: 307-766-2880
OFFICE HOURS: Monday 3-5 pm, Tuesday 3-4 pm and by appointment.
EMAIL: jyoum@uwyo.edu
Meeting Times: Online Course
Required Text Books
Luarence O’Toole, Jr., American Intergovernmental Relations, 5th edition (CQ Press,
2012)
Larry Gerston, American Federalism-a concise introduction (ME Sharpe, 2007)
Course Description
POLS 5060, American Intergovernmental Relations, is an on-line course addressing
“federalism in action.” Federalism is the term for the United States constitutional system,
which divides authority among the national (called “federal”) government and 50 states.
“Intergovernmental Relations” examines the relationships among these jurisdictions as
well as some 90,000 local governments.
Course Objectives
POLS 5060 provides students an overview of intergovernmental relations in the United
States. Through participation, discussions, and assignments, students will develop
knowledge and skills in the following:
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Discussing the history and role of federalism in the American political system;
Identifying the different IGR actors and the principles underlying their
relationships;
Analyzing IGR issues and problems in particular areas of American public policy,
as well as their impacts on public administration values such as equity, citizen
participation, diversity, and social justice;
Identifying successful collaboration and networking challenges of public
management in intergovernmental management.
Course Requirements and Evaluation:
Ten Quizzes
Ten Discussion Question Responses (DQR)
Ten Reading Summaries
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3 (Final Exam)
20 points (2 point per Quiz)
10 points (1 point per DQR)
10 points (1 point per SUM)
10 points
10 points
20 points
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POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
Term Paper
20 points
Total
100 points
Final Grade Scale
A: 100-90
B: 89-80
C: 79-70
D: 69-60
F: 59-0
Basic Conditions for Online Class:
1. The classes will never meet face-to-face. This course will be delivered completely via
WyoCourses. Students must be comfortable working online to have all communication
for this class. It will be your responsibility to check your campus email, course site
message, and WyoCourses daily.
2. You will need to know how to navigate the WyoCourses and how to attach a Word or
PDF document file.
3. Because online classes require much more individual work than face-to-face classes,
successful students in online classes are typically self-motivation and time-sensitive
individuals.
Weekly Assignment/Posting Announcement
Each Monday morning, students will receive an instruction of all requirements (e.g.
readings, video clips, discussion topic, quiz, or/and exam) by UW email.
Reading
Students must reach each chapter in the textbook to understand each concept fully.
Students should complete the assigned readings and all required work due for the class
period that such work is assigned.
Quizzes
There are 10 open-book quizzes (1) to ascertain that students have read the assigned
chapters in the textbook and (2) check whether or not each student understands the core
concepts of each chapter. Each quiz will be posted on WyoCourses at 00:01 AM on
Wednesday. After completing each quiz, students should submit it through WyoCourses
by 11:59 pm on Thursday. Thus, students have two days (48 hours) to complete a quiz.
While all quizzes will be online and open-book quizzes, students can NOT communicate
with their classmates. Any violation of the UW’s academic honesty policy will result in
an F for the course. When answering each question, you should write an answer in your
own words. Do not copy exact sentences in textbook and paste those sentences on quizzes.
If students do copy and paste, the professor will not give you full credit even if students
provide a correct answer. Additionally, when answering each question, students should
POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
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provide a full explanation. A simple answer, such as “yes” “no” or a couple of short
sentences, is not acceptable.
Exams
There are three open-book examinations in this course. The first exam will cover Part I,
the second exam cover Part II, and the third (=final exam) will cover Part III and IV.
Students have three days (72 hours) to complete an exam. Each exam will be posted on
WyoCourses at 00:01 AM on the date scheduled on the syllabus. Students will need to
download each exam. After completing each exam, students should submit it via
WyoCourses by 11:59 PM on the due date.
Discussion Question Responses (DQRs)
You are expected to participate in 10 discussion questions.
Participation criteria for the discussion grading follow:
A-Level Participation
The participant consistently posted insightful comments and questions that prompted ontopic discussion.
The participant consistently helped clarify or synthesize other group members’ idea.
If disagreeing with other group members’ ideas, the participant stated his or her
disagreement or objections clearly, yet politely.
The participant: (a) was online on the discussion each day for long enough to keep up to
date on all new posts; and (b) submitted four or more posts on three or more posts on
three or more separate days during the discussion
B-Level Participation
The participant was lacking in one or two of the items listed for A-level participation.
The participant usually, but not always, expressed herself or himself clearly.
The participant: (a) was online on the discussion thread on at least four days, and for long
enough to keep up to date on all new posts; and (b) submitted four or more posts on two
or more separate days during the discussion.
C-Level Participation
The participant was consistently lacking in two or more of the items listed for A-level
participation.
The participant seemed reluctant to participate, even when prompted.
The participant rarely expressed himself or herself clearly.
The participant: (a) was online on the discussion on at least three days, and for long
enough to keep up to date on all new posts; and (b) submitted three or more posts on two
or more separate days during the discussion.
D-Level Participation
All weakness of “C-level” and:
The participant sought to draw the discussion off-topic, even if her/his participation was
otherwise of high quality.
POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
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The participant: (a) was online on the discussion on at least two days, and for long
enough to keep up to date on all new posts on those days; (b) submitted two or more
posts on two or more separate days during the discussion
F-Level Participation
All weaknesses of “D-level” and:
The participant was rude or abusive to other course participants. The participant
consistently failed to participate at all, even when specifically prompted or questioned.
The participant: (a) failed to be online on the discussion on at least two days, and for long
enough to keep up to date on all new posts on those days; and (b) failed to submit posts
on two or more separate days during the discussions.
Discussion Guidelines
Discussion means interaction. Thus, chiming in once is not really conversing, but is
simply a declaration. You will need to check into each discussion several times, reading,
thinking about, and then responding to what you have learned from others in the
conversation.
Use what you have learned from your reading to inform your thinking and your
discussion-that really is the purpose of the reading. This is a good way to share learning.
Ten Reading Summaries (SUM)
You will submit a paper of approximately two pages (double-spaced, 12 point font).
These assignments are due every Friday at 11:59 PM. Late submissions count only half.
No article summary will be accepted more than two weeks late)
In general, you will summarize the main points of the item, including following
additional specific instructions which will be described on weekly assignment
instructions. And – for all papers – write a brief “personal stance” statement about an
issue or topic in the assignment.
Term Paper
Each student will conduct a research project to investigate an intergovernmental program
or issue near where you live. “Near” means you will be able to consult directly with
responsible officials as one way you learn about the program or issue.
Phase 1: one or two pages identifying the program or issue, proposing an outline for the
project, and indicating anticipated main sources. Sources may include documents,
prospective interviews. Etc.
Phase 2: Outline (Use a format with which you are comfortable-Roman numerals and
indentations are not obligatory)
Phase 3: Final paper: 10-15 pages (complete paper; double-spaced, 12 point font)
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POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
Course Schedule and Materials
Week 1 (Jan 25-29)
Jan 28
Week 2 (Feb. 1-5)
Feb. 4
Feb. 5
Feb. 5
Week 3 (Feb. 8-12)
Feb. 11
Feb. 12
Feb. 12
Week 4. (Feb. 15-19)
Feb. 18
Feb. 19
Feb. 19
Course Introduction and Overview
- Reading
Syllabus
DQR 0 (Introduce yourself) Due
The Concept of Intergovernmental Relations and Federalism
-Reading
O’Toole: “American Intergovernmental Relations: An
Overview”
Gerston, Ch1
-Quiz 1 Due
-DQR 1 Due
-SUM 1 Due
Origin of American Federalism
-Reading
O’Toole: Part I (Grodzins, Wright, Derthick)
Gerston: Chapter 2-4
-Quiz 2 Due
-DQR 2 Due
-SUM 2 Due
The Political Context in American Federalism
-Reading:
O’Toole: Part II (Constitution, Madison, Diamond)
O’Toole: Part III (Cammisa, Bowman, Holeywell, Derthick,
Beyond Preemptiom)
- Quiz 3 Due
- DQR 3 Due
-SUM 3 Due
Week 5. (Feb. 22-26)
Week 6. (Feb. 29-Mar. 4)
Mar. 3
Mar. 4
Mar. 4
EXAM 1
Fiscal Federalism
-Reading
O’Toole: Part IV (Break, Monypenny, Sbragia, US ACIR,
Brunori, OECD)
Gerston: Chapter 6
-Quiz 4 Due
-DRQ 4 Due
- SUM 4 Due
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POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
Week 7. (Mar.7-11)
Mar. 10
Mar. 11
Mar. 11
Intergovernmental Administration and Regulations
-Reading
O’Toole: Part V (US ACIR, Posner) & Part VI (Medical
Marijuana, National Health Care)
-Quiz 5 Due
-DQR 5 Due
-SUM 5 Due
March 14-20: Spring Break
Week 9. (Mar. 21-25)
Mar. 17
Mar. 18
Mar. 18
State & Local Governments in the Federal System
-Reading
Kloha et al. (2005) “Developing and testing a composite model
to predict local fiscal distress”
Krueger and Bernick (2010) “State rules and local governance
choices”
Mullin and Daley (2009) “Working with the state: Exploring
interagency collaboration within a federalist system”
-Quiz 6 Due
-DRQ 6 Due
-SUM 6 Due
Week 10. (Mar. 28-Apr. 1)
Mar. 31
Apr. 1
Apr.1
Week 11. (Apr.4-8)
Week 12. (Apr. 11-15)
Apr. 14
Apr. 15
Apr. 15
Federalism, Networks & Collaboration
- Reading
Gerston: Chapter 7
Agranoff & McGuire (2001) “Big Questions in Public
Network Management Research”
Agranoff (2006) “Inside Collaborative networks: Ten
lessons for public managers”
-Quiz 7 Due
-DRQ 7 Due
-SUM 7 Due
EXAM 2
Inter-State & Regional Coordination
- Reading
Bowman (2004) “Horizontal Federalism: Exploring interstate
interactions”
Hamilton (2014) “Public Policy Issues and Regional
Governance”
Carr “Whose Game Do we Play? Local Government
Boundary Change and Metropolitan Governance”
-Quiz 8 Due
-DRQ 8 Due
-SUM 8 Due
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POLS 5060
American Intergovernmental Relations
Week 13. (Apr. 18-22)
Apr. 21
Apr. 22
Apr. 22
Week 14. (Apr. 25-29)
Inter-Local Collaboration
- Reading
Chen & Thurmaier (2009) “Interlocal agreements as
collaborations: An empirical investigation of impetuses,
norms, and success”
Koontz & Thomas (2006) “What do we know and need to
know about environmental outcomes of collaborative
management?”
Kwon and Feiock (2010) “Overcoming the Barriers to
cooperation: Intergovernmental service agreements”
-Quiz 9 Due
-DRQ 9 Due
-SUM 9 Due
Apr. 28
Apr. 29
Apr. 29
Global Federalism
- Reading
O’Toole Part VI (Kettl, Thomson-Burke, Walters)
Gerston: Chapter 8&9
-Quiz 10 Due
-DRQ 10 Due
-SUM 10 Due
Week 14. (May 2-6)
Complete Term Paper
May 9-11: Final Exam