Course Description
The student will describe and analyze the role of state and local governments in the American Union. He or she will describe the differences in the branches of various state governments and in the structures of local governments and the problems of conflicting local jurisdictions. IAI: S5 902.
Prerequisite(s)
PLSC 1513 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the relationships between political life and the cultural ideas of American democracy
- Describe formal government institutions and legal structures and political behavior and processes
- Describe the political systems of other countries, identify international organizations, and explain the relationships between nations
- Analyze and evaluate political phenomena
- Demonstrate an understanding of and skill in the process of social scientific inquiry
- Make explicit and analyze value judgments about political decisions and policies
- Explain the social-psychological sources and historical-cultural origins of their own political attitudes and values, and analyze critically the personal and social implications of alternative values
- Demonstrate an understanding of the capacities and skills needed to participate effectively and democratically in society