POS 2112 - State & Local Government

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2024 (630)

Requisites

(Prerequisite ENC 0025 and
Prerequisite REA 0017) or
(Prerequisite EAP 1695 and
Prerequisite appropriate score on the SPC placement test.)

Course Description

This course is an examination of the institutions and processes of Federalism, political parties, state governments, state protected civil liberties, counties, municipalities, special districts, and regional compacts. Examples and illustrations of processes and procedures will be drawn mainly upon the Florida government.This course partially satisfies the writing requirements outlined in the General Education Requirements.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will examine the relationship of the national government with state governments by:
    1. explaining the Constitutional position of the states, the Constitutional powers of the states, and the Constitutional restrictions on the states under Federalism.
    2. outlining the development of state constitutions from the colonial charters until the present documents.
    3. recognizing the common features of state constitutions.
    4. analyzing the differences between "horizontal" and "vertical" Federalism.
    5. describing the advantages and disadvantages of the Federal system as it exists in the United States.
    6. examining the salient features of the Florida State Constitution.
  2. The student will determine the organizational structure of political parties and how they operate by:
    1. summarizing the organization of political structure from the National Executive Committee to the Precinct Committee.
    2. explaining the nominating process for office, including but not limited to caucus, delegate convention, and types of primaries.
    3. describing the provisions that determine suffrage.
    4. analyzing the role of interest groups in their influence on the political process.
  3. The student will explain the development of state legislatures and their operation today by:
    1. outlining the historical development of state legislatures.
    2. defining the factors involved in reapportionment and redistricting.
    3. examining the structure of leadership in legislatures.
    4. discussing the law making process in the Florida State Legislature.
  4. The student will analyze the evolution of the position of governor and its status and responsibilities today by:
    1. outlining the development of the governor's office from colonial times to its contemporary position.
    2. describing the responsibilities of the Office of Governor.
    3. defining the various roles which governors play.
    4. summarizing the vagaries of the cabinet system.
    5. explaining the application of gubernatorial activity in the State of Florida.
  5. The student will examine the organization and function of state courts, including selection of judicial personnel and the operation of the jury system by:
    1. outlining the organization and functions of state courts.
    2. summarizing the methods of selection of judicial personnel.
    3. explaining the theory and working of juries to include Grand Jury and Petit Jury.
    4. discussing the structure of the Florida Court System.
  6. The student will identify the sources of state revenues and the avenues of expenditures by:
    1. outlining the various types of revenue available to states.
    2. summarizing the common types of expenditures for which states must provide.
    3. describing how the budgetary process works.
    4. examining the practical working of financial activities of the State of Florida.
    5. describing the responsibilities of county and local governments in financing the needs of their residents.
  7. The student will evaluate the development of the county as a political entity, its functions, and its problems in today's structure of state government by:
    1. assessing the historical development of the city and county level government.
    2. examining the contemporary functions of county government, North and South.
    3. examining the types of municipal government, including Mayor-Council, Council-Manager, and Commission.
    4. exploring the problems of urban counties and urban growth.
    5. examining the options available to counties to best meet problems and carry out their functions, including but not limited to Federal Plan, Consolidation, Transfer of Functions, and Metropolitan System.
    6. describing the place of unincorporated areas and how they function.
  8. The student will enhance their ability in writing by:
    1. composing graded research analysis, outline, evaluation, or other types of writing assignments completed outside or during the direct classroom experience.
    2. developing any type of expository, evaluative, persuasive or personal response writing as described in the college publication entitled " A Resource Manual for Writing Across the Curriculum."

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

xRevised 8/84 DBT 11/15/84 Effective Session 19842 3 YR C&I Review 1992-93. DBT 1/24/96 Effective Session 19961. 3 Yr Review 2000. State change effective 20011. 3 Year Review 2004. Amend prereq for consistency, effective 20071(0385). 3 Year Review 2008. Amended prerequisites effective 20112(0450).
C&I Approval: 07/21/2023, BOT Approval: 09/19/2023, Effective Term: Spring 2024 (630)

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