PLCY699I

For PLCY majors or permission of instructor. States and local governments have been famously called the laboratories of democracy. They are testing grounds for new policy ideas and training grounds for leaders who go on to serve in higher office. This course introduces a range of policy issues confronted by state and local governments in the United States, the constitutional and institutional constraints on policymakers who work in them, and the leadership skills involved in effective governance whether in a small town or a large state. In addition to these thematic topics, students will explore a range of policy areas with particular relevance to state and local government, including housing, environmental protection, taxation, transportation, and policing. Join us as we explore these laboratories of democracy.