Course: PSCI 6324 Local and State Government and Politics

Term: Summer 2011

Meetings: Wednesdays, 5:30 - 9:30 PM
Classroom: SLC 2.302

Professor Dr. Gregory Combs

Office Phone TBD - (Email please)
Office Location GR 2.512 (But please contact me beforehand, this location is only temporary)
Email Address gcombs@utdallas.edu
Office Hours Wednesdays 10:00-11:30AM and by appt.

Course Description and Learning Objectives

This course examines public policy institutions and processes at the local and state
levels in the United States, with particular attention to developments in the Dallas-Fort
Worth Metroplex and the State of Texas. We will address issues of policy convergence,
divergence, and representation. Additionally, we will address intergovernmental
relations and areas of public policy where state and local governments are particularly
important.

Upon completing this course, students should:

• Be familiar with the political science literature on local and state government and
politics in the United States.
• Understand the major variations in political behavior, organizations and institutions
across state and local jurisdictions and their possible effects.
• Be able to evaluate competing explanations for differences in policy outputs and
government performance across state and local jurisdictions.

Required Texts and Materials

The following books should be purchased from your favorite book supplier:

Christopher R. Berry, Imperfect Union: Representation and Taxation in Multilevel

Governments. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Virginia Gray and Russell L. Hanson, Politics in the American States: A Comparative
Analysis, 9th ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2008. (Referred to in the reading
assignments as “G&H”)

J. Eric Oliver, Democracy in Suburbia. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press,

2001.
Paul E. Peterson, City Limits. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1981

Additional readings are listed at the end of the syllabus and indicated in the
assignments by numbers in brackets. Where numbers in brackets are followed by an

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
asterisk (*), the reading is available as an electronic reserve document via the UTD
Library at http://utdallas.docutek.com/eres/coursepage.aspx?cid=1073&page=docs
(The necessary password is only available via email or in person).

The list of readings may be revised periodically.

Academic Calendar

Date Topic & Assignments Readings

May 25 Course introduction Review the Syllabus

June 1 Federalism G&H ch. 1, 2; [9*], [14], [17], [27*]

Parties, interest groups, and civil society G&H ch. 3, 4; [2], [16], [19], [18*]

June 8 Direct Democracy and Election Rules G&H ch 5; [3], [12], [22], [34]

State Legislatures G&H ch 6; [10*], [11], [21], [28*], [33]

Research Paper Topics Due

June 15 State Execs and Administrative Agencies G&H ch. 7; [5], [15], [26], [29], [30], [36]

State Courts and Judges; Correction Policy G&H ch. 8, 9; [7], [8], [1], [13]

June 22 Local Government in a Federalist System Peterson ch. 1-9, 11

Democracy in Suburbia Oliver ch. 1-7

June 29 More on Local Politics Oliver ch. 8; [6], [23], [24], [35]

Special Districts Berry (all)

July 6 Guest Speaker – Dallas Councilman Griggs

Research Paper Presentations

July 13 Fiscal Policy; Education and Public Welfare G&H ch. 10-12; [4], [32*]

Regulation and Economic Development G&H ch. 13, 14; [20], [25], [31*]

July 20 Research Papers Due @9:30 (via email)

Take-Home Final Distributed (via email)

July 27 Take-Home Final Due @9:30pm (via email)

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
Grading Criteria
Grades will be based on the following components:

• (30%) – Take-home Final Exam – due July 27

• (30%) – 10-15 page Research Paper (topic of the studentʼs choosing) – due July 20
• (30%) – Weekly Class Participation / Periodic Discussion/Lecture Leading
• (10%) – Research Paper Presentations – July 6

Late Work and Make-Up Exams

Late papers and take-home exams will be penalized 20% for each day they are late
without a heavily documented and viable excuse (medical, family, or critical work
emergencies). Given that the final exam is a take-home assignment, make-up exams
are moot.

Class Attendance & Discussion/Lecture Leading

Although class attendance isnʼt usually mandatory, it is highly expected. You must notify
me in advance of any absences whenever possible. Unexcused absences and
repeated late arrivals will affect your class participation grade.

On days where you are a discussion/lecture leader, attendance is obviously mandatory.

Unexcused absences will severely impact your lecture leading grade. This is an
exercise in duty and responsibility. Poor performance and weak effort is detrimental to
your grade and the grades of your peers, considering the materialʼs relation to the final
exam.

Other UTD Policies

Additional UTD policies regarding student conduct and discipline, academic integrity,
email use, withdrawing from class, grievance procedures, incomplete grades, disability
services, religious holy days, and resources to help you succeed can be found at:
• http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

Additional Readings
1.! Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co. Slip Opinion 08-22. Supreme Court of the United
States. 2009 (June 8). Available from: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/08pdf/
08-22.pdf.
2.! Aldrich, John H., Southern Parties in State and Nation. The Journal of Politics, 2000. 62
(August): p. 643-670.
3.! Ansolabehere, Stephen, Alan Gerber, and James M. Snyder, Equal Votes, Equal Money:
Court-Ordered Redistricting and Public Expenditures in the American States. American
Political Science Review, 2002. 96(December): p. 767-777.
4.! Bailey, Michael A. and Mark Carl Rom, A Wider Race? Interstate Competition Across
Health and Welfare Programs. The Journal of Politics, 2004. 66(May): p. 326-347.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
5.! Barrilleaux, Charles and Michael Berkman, Do Governors Matter? Budgeting Rules and
the Politics of State Policymaking. Political Research Quarterly, 2003. 56: p. 409-417.
6.! Berry, Christopher and William G. Howell, Accountability and Local Elections: Rethinking
Retrospective Voting. The Journal of Politics, 2007. 69(August): p. 844-858.
7.! Brace, Paul and Brent D. Boyea, State Public Opinion, the Death Penalty, and the
Practice of Electing Judges. American Journal of Political Science, 2008. 52(April): p.
360-372.
8.! Calderone, Richard P., Brandice Canes-Wrone, and Tom S. Clark, Partisan Labels and
Democratic Accountability: An Analysis of State Supreme Court Abortion Decisions. The
Journal of Politics, 2009. 71(April): p. 560-573.
9.! Elazar, Daniel J., The States and the Political Setting, in American Federalism: A View
from the States 1972, Thomas Y. Crowell Company: New York.
10.! Farmer, Rick and John C. Green, Introduction: Accelerating Change with Term Limits, in
Legislating Without Experience: Case Studies in State Legislative Term Limits, Rick
Farmer, et al., Editors. 2007, Lexington Books. p. 1-13.
11.! Fiorina, Morris P., Divided Government in the American States: A Byproduct of
Legislative Professionalism? American Political Science Review, 1994. 88(June): p.
304-316.
12.! Giammo, Joseph D. and Brian J. Brox, Reducing the Costs of Participation: Are States
Getting a Return on Early Voting? Political Research Quarterly, 2010. 63(June): p.
295-303.
13.! Gibson, James L., Challenges to the Impartiality of State Supreme Courts: Legitimacy
Theory and 'New-Style' Judicial Campaigns. American Political Science Review, 2008.
102(February): p. 59-75.
14.! Glaeser, Edward L. and Bryce A. Ward, Myths and Realities of American Political
Geography. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2006. 20(Spring): p. 119-144.
15.! Goodman, Josh, Rise of the Generals. Governing, 2010. 23(9): p. 30-34.
16.! Hays, Danny and Seth C. McKee, Toward a One-Party South? American Politics
Research, 2008. 36(January): p. 3-32.
17.! Hero, Rodney E. and Caroline J. Tolbert, A Racial/Ethnic Diversity Interpretation of
Politics and Policy in the States of the U.S. American Journal of Political Science, 1996.
40(August): p. 851-871.
18.! Key Jr., V.O., Nature and Consequences of One-Party Factionalism, in Southern Politics
in State and Nation 1949, Random House: New York. p. 298-311.
19.! Knack, Stephen, Social Capital and the Quality of Government: Evidence from the
States. American Journal of Political Science, 2002. 46(October): p. 772-785.
20.! Konisky, David M., Regulatory Competition and Environmental Enforcement: Is there a
Race to the Bottom? American Journal of Political Science, 2007. 51(October): p.
853-872.
21.! Maddox, H.W. Jerome, Working Outside of the State House (and Senate): Outside
Careers as Indicators of Professionalism in American State Legislatures. State Politics
and Policy Quarterly, 2004. 4(Summer): p. 211-226.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
22.! Marschall, Melissa J., Anirudh V.S. Ruhil, and Paru R. Shah, The New Racial Calculus:
Electoral Institutions and Black Representation in Local Legislatures. American Journal
of Political Science, 2010. 54(January): p. 107-124.
23.! Oliver, J. Eric and Shang E. Ha, Vote Choice in Suburban Elections. American Political
Science Review, 2007. 101(July): p. 393-408.
24.! Percival, Garrick L., Martin Johnson, and Max Nieman, Representation and Local Policy:
Relating County-Level Public Opinion to Policy Outputs. Political Research Quarterly,
2009. 62(March): p. 164-177.
25.! Potoski, Matthew, Clean Air Federalism: Do States Race to the Bottom? Public
Administration Review, 2001. 61(May/June): p. 335-342.
26.! Provost, Colin, State Attorneys General, Entrepreneurship, and Consumer Protection in
the New Federalism. The Journal of Federalism, 2003. 33(Spring): p. 37-53.
27.! Rich, Michael J., The Intergovernmental Environment, in Cities, Politics, and Policy: A
Comparative Analysis, John P. Pelissero, Editor 2003, CQ Press: Washington, DC. p.
35-67.
28.! Rosenthal, Alan, Living With Term Limits, in Legislating Without Experience: Case
Studies in State Legislative Term Limits, Rick Farmer, et al., Editors. 2007, Lexington
Books. p. 207-223.
29.! Sabato, Larry, Goodbye to Good-Time Charlie: The American Governorship
Transformed. 2nd ed. ed1983, Washington, DC: CQ Press.
30.! Sabato, Larry, The Governor in American History: An Office Transformed, in Goodbeye
to Good-Time Charlie: The American Governorship Transformed 1983, CQ Press:
Washington, TC. p. 33-56.
31.! Sharp, Elaine B., Morality Politics in American Cities2005, Lawrence, KS: University
Press of Kansas.
32.! Stein, Robert M., The Politics of Revenue and Spending Policies, in Cities, Politics and
Policy: A Comparative Analysis, John P. Pelissero, Editor 2003, CQ Press: Washington,
DC. p. 217-236.
33.! Thielemann, Gregory S. and Donald R. Dixon, Explaining Contributions: Rational
Contributors and the Elections for the 71st Texas House. Legislative Studies Quarterly,
1994. 19(4): p. 495-506.
34.! Trounstine, Jessica and Melody E. Valdini, The Context Matters: The Effects of Single-
Member Versus At-Large Districts on City Council Diversity. American Journal of Political
Science, 2008. 52(July): p. 554-569.
35.! Williamson, Thad, Sprawl, Spatial Location and Politics: How Ideological Identification
Tracks the Built Environment. American Politics Research, 2008. 36(November): p.
903-933.
36.! Woods, Neal D. and Michael Baranowski, Legislative Professionalism and Influence on
State Agencies. Legislative Studies Quarterly, 2006. 25(November): p. 585-609.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.