Syllabus
Outline of lecture topics (order subject to change based on current events in the U. S.)
1) The theoretical basis of federalism, American specifics, federal versus state power
2) Political systems of US states – state constitutions, separation of powers, bicameralism, decentralization
3) Executive power – governors, vetoes, executive orders
4) Legislative power: State legislatures – processes, institutions
5) Judicial power: state supreme courts, elected judges, interpretations
6) Elections at the state level – federal limits, gerrymandering, entrenched power, democratic backsliding
7) United vs divided government, partisan polarization and the effectiveness of state political systems
8) Direct democracy at the state level – initiatives, referendums, constitutional amendments
9) Public policy at the state level I: the politics of abortion
10) Public policy at the state level II: education
11) Public policy at the state level III: healthcare
12) Public policy at the state level IV: economy, budgeting, welfare
13) Public policy at the state level V: criminal policy, death penalty
14) Overview – states as laboratories of democracy, or centers of democratic backsliding?
Annotation
When introductory Comparative Politics courses cover the United States, the almost always limit themselves to covering the federal level of the US political system. Federalism is mentioned as a general principle, but rarely covered in any detail.
This course aims to fill that particular gap by focusing on the state-level politics. It will cover the most important aspects of politics at the sub-national level, from institutional layouts, constitutional designs, to the most important political issues that are resolved at the level of the states.