Civic Action Lab: State and Local Government

3 units

Though federal-level policy and politics often dominates media coverage and debate in the U.S., state and local governments have unique policy domains, political processes, and effects on residents’ lives. State and local governments also remain more practically accessible levers of civic engagement, advocacy, and learning. This course builds on the Gephardt Institute’s previous student trips to Jefferson City, MO to create an applied and experiential course that covers the following topics: U.S. federalism, the policy issues decided at state and local levels, different models of state and local policymaking and governance, and best practices for engaging government officials at these levels. Importantly, this course focuses beyond the classroom and brings students on trips to centers of local governance in the St. Louis region as well as two regional state capitols (Jefferson City, MO and Springfield, IL). Students will gain practical experience in researching policy issues and elected officials, developing talking points, engaging in thoughtful dialogue on political issues, and understanding the day-to-day workings of state and local politics.