Political Science 353                                Donovan
State and Local Politics                       AH 424; x3018
Spring, 1995                          Office Hrs: T-Th, 11:00
                                           W,  1:00, arrange

Course Themes:

    In this course we study politics as it occurs in American 
states and localities (cities and suburbs), with particular 
emphasis on politics in western states.  One theme of the 
course is to identify how state and local politics is 
different in the west.  How and why are political 
institutions different in the west?  Do politics and policy 
in the west differ from other states? From national politics? 
Why?  Secondly, we approach state and local politics in terms 
of a theory that assumes jurisdiction competing over the 
positive and negative aspects of development. Third, we seek 
to identify what motives cities and states have in using 
various types of public policies.

    We begin with an overview of the city in American 
political history, examine the relationship between 
urbanization and politics, then proceed to issues of conflict 
and inequality within (and between) cities.  Emphasis is 
given to development issues and participation in local 
politics.  The last few weeks of the course focus on state 
politics, with attention directed to some of political 
phenomena that often characterize politics in the western 
states: direct democracy, tax revolts, term limit movements, 
conflict over rapid growth and change, etc.   

Course Texts:
You will need the following texts for lecture and discussion 
purposes:

Judd, Dennis R. and Todd Swanstrom. 1994. City Politics: 
Private Power and Public Policy. Harper Collins.

Stonecash, Jeffrey M.  1995.  American State and Local 
Politics.  Harcourt Brace.

D. Nice, J. Pierce and C. Sheldon. 1992. Government and 
Politics in the Evergreen State.  WSU Press.

Egan, Timothy.  1991.  The Good Rain: Across Time and Terrain 
in the Pacific Northwest.  Vintage Books.

Tasks:

Your evaluation (grade) will be, for the most part, based 
upon comprehension of reading and lecture materials.  An  
essay (to be discussed) is due in the eighth week of the 
quarter. Quizzes will be given if it becomes evident that 
students are not keeping up with the assigned reading


Course Grade:
Midterm:                30%
Essay:                  25%
Final:                  35%       
Participation/Quizzes*: 10%    
  *if necessary

LECTURES ARE SCHEDULED FOR Monday through Thursday

Course Outline:   All dates subject to change
Week One:     (March 28-30)

  Introduction/Course Admin.
  The Study of Local Politics                  (3/28)
  Cities as Competing Places                   (3/29-30)
     readings:  Judd and Swanstrom, chpt. 1 & 2
                Stonecash, Chapt. 1

Week Two:     (April 3-6)

   American Cities in Historical Perspective   (4/3)
   The Urban Machine                           (4/4-5)
   The Reform Movement                         (4/6)
     readings:  Judd and Swanstrom, chpt. 3-4
 

Week Three:   (April 10-13)

    Post-reform Forms of Local Institutions    (4/10)
    Power in cities without parties            (4/11)
    Participation and the Irony of
      Local Politics                           (4/12)
    Alternative representation systems         (4/13)
     readings: Stonecash, Chapt. 5 & 6.


Week Four:    (April 17-20)

    The Ascendancy of Suburbs/Natl Urban Policy (4/17)
    Suburb/City Competition and Stratification  (4/18)
    Local Economic Development Competition      (4/19)
    Privatopia vs. Metropolitan Government      (4/20) 
     readings: Judd and Swanstrom, chpt 8, 9 & 10

Week Five:    (April 24-28)
    
    Local conflict over growth                   (4/24)
    Local Revenue Sources and Fiscal Crisis      (4/25)
    Urban Riots and National Response (1960s)    (4/26)  
    MIDTERM EXAM  (Thurs. or Fri.)               (4/27 or 28)
     readings: Stonecash p. 101-120
               Judd and Swanstrom, chapt. 11 & 12
               Nice, chpt. 9

Week Six:     (May 1-4)

    (Re-)Development Politics                     (5/1) 
    Changing National Response to "Urban Crisis"  (5/2)
    Federalism and state politics                 (5/3)
    Federalism and intergovernmental relations    (5/4)
     readings: Judd and Swanstrom, chpt. 13
               Stonecash, chpt. 2
               
Week Seven:   (May 8-11)

    Governors and Legislatures                    (5/8)
    Populist Politics and Direct Democracy        (5/9-10)
    The Term Limitation Movement and the West     (5/11)
      readings: Stonecash, chpt. 8, 9 & 10
                Nice, chpt. 5, 6, & 7
   
Week Eight:   (May 15-18)

    Interest group politics in the west           (5/15)
    State Fiscal Politics                         (5/16-17)
    State budgeting exercise                      (5/18)
     readings: Nice, Chpt. 3 & 10 
               Stonecash, chpt. 7 & p. 120-134
    ESSAY DUE                                     (5/19)



Week Nine:    (May 22-25)

    Supremacists and separatists                    (5/22)
    Political Parties in Washington and the States (5/23-24)
    TBA                                            (5/25)
     readings: Nice, chpt. 1 and 4
               Egan, chpt. 12
               Stonecash, chpt. 12


Week Ten:     (May 29-June 1)

    Natural resource issues                        (5/29)
    School choice reform                           (5/30)
    TBA                                            (5/31)
    review                                         (6/1)
       readings: Nice, chapters 2 and 8
                 Egan, chpt. 9 & 10

Final:       Thurs. June 8, 8:00-10:00 am