U.S. State and Local Politics

U.S. State and Local Politics

PLSC S3250 (CRN: 30131) | Syllabus

Instructors: Eleanor Schiff
Dates: Session B, June 29 - July 31, 2026
Course Mode: In-Person
Meeting Times: TTh 1.00-4.15
Distributional Requirements: Social Sciences
Eligibility: Open to pre-college and college students

In-person Course. While Americans’ attention is often focused on events in Washington, D.C. and the activities of the president and the Congress.  Arguably, however, the policies enacted in state houses and city councils have a more direct effect on citizens’ everyday lives than the activities in our Nation’s capital.  State and local politics includes a myriad of issues that have an important effect on citizens including welfare, elections, healthcare, social policies, education, criminal law, infrastructure, and many others.  Understanding how state institutions and behavior shape policy outcomes is not only substantively interesting, but the states also provide political scientists with opportunities to examine larger questions about topics such as power, representation, and responsiveness. This course will address both how the states themselves are substantively interesting, as well as how they are used to understand broader issues in political science and governance. 1 Credit. Session B: June 29 – July 31. Tuition: $5480.

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