Political Science 319:
Comparative State Politics 

Course Description 

Political scientists often say that the American states are a natural laboratory for research. The states represent 50 units of analysis with broadly similar political institutions and structures, but with significant and limited variation on a range of social, policy, and institutional characteristics that are directly relevant to many of our theories of politics. Unlike the examination of single units of government, or single governmental institutions such as the U.S. Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court, there is enough variation across states in these characteristics for scholars to conduct a variety of studies using a variety of methodologies. While the states have always played a critical role in the politics and policies of the nation, over the past four decades, we have witnessed an amazing and unprecedented resurgence of the states in terms of political power, institutional capacity, and policy responsibility. In the U.S., local jurisdictions like cities, counties, and towns exist at the pleasure of state governments. Although these entities usually have democratically elected officials who make day-to-day governance and policy decisions, they are always subject to intervention, interference, and influence by intentional or unintentional state government actions. This course will primarily focus upon the comparative study of state politics and policymaking, paying particular attention to the relationship between the states and their local jurisdictions.