POLS 613:
Comparative
Spring 2005
Department of Political
Science
504 Blake Hall,
Professor Haider-Markel TR
Email: prex@ku.edu Room:
108 Blake
Office Hours: MWF
or by appointment Phone:
864-9034
web:
http://lark.cc.ku.edu/~prex/ Line
# 64773
Purpose and Goals of the
Course
This seminar covers a variety of
topics related to state government and politics. We will examine the fundamental institutions
of state government, the policy making process of state governments, and social
science theory and tools for understanding state politics and policy. Students will be expected to obtain a working
knowledge of state political institutions, processes, and policies.
Grading and Responsibilities
Class
Participation and Reading Assignments: Class Weeks will be a mix of lecture and
seminar. A student’s grade will reflect his or her participation in class. Participation not only includes showing up
for class but also having completed the reading assignments and actively using
this material to engage your fellow students (and myself) in discussion. If you miss class on a regular basis or for
an extended period for any reason,
you should contact me as soon as possible.
Waiting to explain absences at the end of the semester will not suffice.
The reading assignments are listed
below in the course outline. All
students are expected to complete the
required readings prior to each class Week. I am also
providing a list of supplemental readings that students can use for their
research (located on my web site). Note
that I will occasionally supplement our discussion with newspaper articles that
will be sent to you via e-mail; students are encouraged to tie these articles
into our discussion. I also strongly
recommend that students regularly read and view national news.
The following book is available for purchase
in the bookstore:
A Comparative Analysis.
In addition I have put
together a required reading packet for the course. The packet is available for
reading/photocopying in the Department of Political Science, 504 Blake
Hall. If your
financial situation makes it difficult for you to buy the books or photocopy
the reading packet, please let me know as soon as possible.
Also
see my web page, which has a list of additional readings on state politics for
your reference at:
http://lark.cc.ku.edu/~prex/
(Special/Short)
Assignments: During the semester I require students to
complete three assignments beyond the required reading. These assignments can take the form of
mini-quizzes or writing assignments. I
will determine the type of assignment based on overall class performance and
participation. However, one of the
assignments will be to write an abstract for your research paper. Please note that these assignments account
for 30% of your grade (10% each). If
you miss even one of these assignments it could cost you a whole grade.
Exams: There will be one long
exam at midterm covering all the material up to that point. Although there will not be a formal final
exam, you may have upwards of two quizzes during the semester. Any quiz would be counted as a short
(special) assignment (see above).
Research
Paper: Each student will be required to write an
8-12 page research paper on some aspect state politics and/or policy. The paper can use portions of the course
readings but you must make use of sources not covered in the course. I will provide you with more detailed
instructions concerning content and format early in the semester. You will be provided with a list of possible
research topics but you are free to choose a topic on your own. Each student is required to clear a research
topic with me. The research
papers are due: May 10 at the start of Class
Final
Grades will be determined on the following basis:
Class Participation 10%
3 Short Assignments 30% (10% each)
Midterm Exam 30%
Research Paper 30%
Missing assignments, exams, etc. will
normally be counted as zero.
However, based on the situation, I may allow late assignments/papers to
receive some credit. In such a case
points will be deducted on a daily basis.
Only serious emergencies, such as a student or family long-term illness,
constitute grounds for an incomplete. If
you face a significant emergency during the semester you should contact me as
soon as possible. You should also
contact me as soon as possible if you think you will be late on an assignment for any reason. The same goes for an extended absence.
Students with Disabilities
Any student who has a disability
that may prevent him/her from fully demonstrating her/his abilities should
contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations
necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate the educational
opportunity. Informing me of a
disability at the end of the semester will not allow me to accommodate your
needs.
Instructor Availability
Students wishing to meet with me can
do so before or after class, during office hours (listed at top of first page),
or by appointment. My time is flexible
and I can arrange to meet with you on your schedule. Remember I am available to you as a
resource--take advantage of it. Please be aware that the easiest way to reach
me is via e-mail (top of page 1)--I check my e-mail several times a day.
Course Outline
and Weekly Schedule
Jan. 20
Week 1: Introduction to the Course
No required readings
Jan. 25-27
Week 2: Socioeconomic and
Political Context of the States
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 1, pp. 1-30
Reading Packet
Hero, Rodney E., and Caroline J. Tolbert. 1996. “A Racial/Ethnic Diversity
Interpretation of
Politics and Policy in the States of the
Journal
of Political Science 40(3):851-871.
Feb. 1-3
Week 3: The Intergovernmental
Context
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 2, pp.
31-66
Reading Packet
Welch,
Susan, and Kay Thompson. 1980. “The
Impact of Federal Incentives on State
Policy
Innovation.” American Journal of Political Science 24(4):715-729.
Feb. 8-10
Week 4: Institutions: Legislative
Branch
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 6, pp.
157-193
Reading Packet
Berkman Michael B. and Robert E. O’Connor. 1993. “Do Women Legislators
Matter? Female Legislators and State Abortion Policy.” American
Politics Quarterly 21(1):102-24.
Feb. 15-17
Week 5: Institutions: Executive
Branch
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 7, pp.
194-231
Reading Packet
Arena.” State
Politics and Policy Quarterly 3(2):158-182.
Feb. 22-24
Week 6: Institutions: The Courts
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 8, pp.
232-260
Reading Packet
Gann
Hall, Melinda. 2001. “State Supreme
Courts in American Democracy: Probing
The Myths of
Judicial Reform.” American Political Science Review 95(2):
315-330.
March 1-3
Week 7: Institutions: Bureaucracy
and Administration
Abstracts Due on Thurs., March 3.
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 9, pp.
261-289
Reading Packet
Potoski,
Matthew. 2002. “Designing Bureaucratic
Responsiveness: Administrative
Procedures and
Agency Choice in State Environmental Policy.” State Politics
And Policy Quarterly 2(1):1-23.
March 8-10
Week 8: Political Parties and
Interest Groups
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 3, pp.
62-99
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 4, pp.
100-128
March 15-17
Week 9: Campaigns, Elections, and
Direct Democracy
Midterm examination: March 17
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 3, review
pp. 62-99
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 5, pp.
129-156
Reading Packet
Joslyn, Mark R., and Donald P. Haider-Markel. 2000.
“Guns in the Ballot Box:
Information,
Groups, and Opinion in Ballot Initiative Campaigns.” American
Politics Quarterly 28(3):355-78.
March 22-24
Week 10: No Class; Spring Break Week
March 29 to 31
Week 11: The Politics of Taxing and
Spending
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 10, pp.
290-317
Should also skim Chapter
14
Reading Packet
Capitalizing on
Political
36(3):715-42.
April 5-7
Week 12: Crime Politics and Policy
Reading Packet (only)
Donohue, Laura K., and Juliette N. Kayyem. 2002.
“Federalism and the
Counterterrorist Law: State
Sovereignty, Criminal Law Enforcement, and
National
Security.” Studies in Conflict
& Terrorism 25:1-18.
Haider-Markel,
Donald P. 1998. “The Politics of Social
Regulatory Policy: State and
Federal Hate Crime
Policy and Implementation Effort.”
Political Research
Quarterly 51(1):69-88.
Mooney, Christopher Z., and Mei-Hsien Lee. 1999.
“The Temporal Diffusion of
Morality Policy: The Case of Death
Penalty Legislation in the American
States.” Policy
Studies Journal 27(4):766-80.
Bruce, John M., and
Political and Apolitical Influences.” In The Changing Politics of Gun
Control. Eds. John M. Bruce and
& Littlefield. Pp. 139-154.
April 12-14
Week 13: Education Policy
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 12, pp.
357-388
Reading Packet
Howell, William G., Patrick J. Wolf, Paul E. Peterson, and David E.
Campbell.
2001.
“Effects of School
Vouchers on Student Test Scores.”
In Charters, Vouchers,
and Public Education. Eds. Paul E. Peterson and
David E. Campbell.
April 19-21
Week 14: Regulation Policy: Part 1,
Environment
Gray and Hanson, Chapter 13
Reading Packet
Cline,
Kurt D. 2003. “Influences on Intergovernmental
Implementation: The States
and
Superfund.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly 3(1):66-83.
April 26-28
Week 15: Regulation Policy: Part 2,
Social Regulations
Gray and Hanson, continue Chapter 13
Reading Packet
Haider-Markel,
Donald P. 2001. “Policy Diffusion as a
Geographical Expansion of the
Scope of Political Conflict:
Same-Sex Marriage Bans in the 1990s.” State
Politics and Policy Quarterly 1(1):5-26.
May 3-7
Week 16: Hot Issues: PS and the Study
of States
“Media and the States,” from State and Local Government, pp. 69-86.
“State and Local Policy Issues,”
from State and Local Government, pp.
205-213,
218-221, & 229-231.
(issues, tobacco, the Internet)
May 10 & 12
Week 17: Catch-up and the Future of State
Politics and Policy
No assigned reading
Research Paper Due
By: May 10 at the start of Class
Quiz, May 12