U.S. State Government and Politics

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Although US state-level governments have been described as "laboratories of democracy" where a significant amount of policy making takes place, many of us who study political science often familiarize ourselves only with government at the federal and international levels. This is concerning because, not only do our state governments create many of the policies we experience in everyday life, but also because the federal government will often look to state policies for direction. The importance of state governments is especially evident in the case of COVID-19, as states decide for themselves how to prevent the spread of the virus and administer the vaccine, resulting in a hodgepodge of regulations across the country. State government wields a lot of power over our lives, and it is important for us to understand not only what our state-level representatives are doing, but also the law making powers they hold. This course examines state governments in the US by studying state-level officeholders, such as state legislators, and state-level institutions, including campaigns and elections. Students will learn about the powers which are reserved to the states, unique differences between state governments, and the mechanisms and consequences of lawmaking at the state-level.