Schedule

Andrews/State & Local Government – Spring 2016

Day-by-Day Schedule of Activities & Assignments

Schedule subject to change due to speaker availability!

WEEK ONE

January 14

Introductions; syllabus; FAQ & course overview. Create blog using blogger.com. Community Engagement project – choosing your Community Partner and applying for your Community Engagement Internship.

WEEK TWO

January 19

What are state & local governments? CP selection & application.

DUE: Chapter 1 New Directions for State & Local Government.

ALSO DUE: Draft a letter of application to your first-choice and second-choice Community Engagement Internship positions. Do not send the letter yet. Be sure to include the following elements as appropriate: Introduce yourself; Why you want this position; Your qualifications for this position (skills &/or experience); The time commitment as you understand it; How you will get to the work site; and any other elements we discuss in class on January 14.

January 21

How do state and local governments differ from the Federal government? Why do we have them?

DUE: Chapter 2 Federalism & the States.

Blog Topic #1: In what sense did your 1^st or 2^nd choice CP arise from a local need or perspective? Why do you think local governments did not fill this need adequately? To whom is your CP accountable? Is your CP constrained or affected by Federal policies?

ALSO DUE: Resume. Submit revised letters of application, along with resume, to Ms. Andrews by email: pandrews@ndnu.edu. Use the resources at NDNU’s Career Services office as needed to help prepare your application materials. Be sure to schedule an appointment ahead of time if you want to meet with someone at the Career Services office in person. http://www.ndnu.edu/campus-life/career-services/

WEEK THREE

January 26

State-Local relations. Internship assignments made.

DUE: Chapter 10 State-Local Relations

Blog Topic #2: Why is there tension between the state and local levels of government? In what ways is this tension healthy for our political system overall?

January 28

The importance of citizen participation within a democracy. In class close reading workshop on CST handout (Participation and the Common Good).

DUE: Chapter 4 Citizen Participation & Elections.

ALSO DUE: Bring at least three different colored pens or highlighters to class today.

Blog Topic #3: What do you know about the relationship between citizens and your CP? On what levels do they interact? How can citizen participation affect your CP – use the concepts outlined in your textbook to answer this question.

WEEK FOUR

February 2

The importance of citizen participation within a democracy – community activism. Guest Speaker Meda Okelo. DATE IS CONFIRMED.

February 4

The importance of citizen participation within a democracy – why and how do nuns become socially engaged in political or social causes? Guest Speakers Margaret Hoffman, SND, and Sister Mary Oladimeji. DATE IS CONFIRMED.

DUE: Read handout on early lives and education of SND Foundresses Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon

WEEK FIVE

February 9

State-Local relations: the notion of subsidiarity and the “proper” role of the various levels of government.

DUE: CST handout – Subsidiarity and the Proper Role of Government

Blog Topic #4: Define “subsidiarity” in your own words. How is the concept of subsidiarity as discussed in today’s reading related to “devolution”as described in your textbook? Google “devolution in Kenya” for an ambitious example of how governments might use devolution to achieve a desireable level of subsidiarity.

February 11

Political parties, interest groups and campaigns. What it’s like to be a committee member of a local branch of a major political party &/or subsidiarity and the proper role of government. Guest Speaker Bill Campbell. DATE IS CONFIRMED.

Extra Credit activity: Participate in one or more Founders’ Week events this week.

Extra Credit Blog Topic for FW: Describe the activities in which you participated. What did you learn about our Foundresses, or about the History or Mission of Notre Dame de Namur learning institutions this week? Discuss how the values of the Sisters / Hallmarks might help a student think more clearly about his or her own career and life decisions.

WEEK SIX

February 16

Political parties, interest groups and campaigns.

DUE: Chapter 5 Political Parties, Interest Groups & Campaigns

February 18

Challenging and updating a State Constitution. Guest Speaker John Lewis on challenges to marriage equality at the state constitution level and marriage equality as a civil rights issue. DATE IS CONFIRMED

DUE: Chapter 3 State Constitutions

Blog Topic #5: Find and summarize a case study about an effort to update or challenge a state constitution. If your CP has engaged in this kind of advocacy, you may use your CP as an example.

WEEK SEVEN

February 23

Governors.

DUE: Chapter 7 Governors.

February 25

Midterm review. Oral communication and presentation techniques… life beyond PowerPoint.

DUE: Essay in response to Guest Speakers. Summarize and respond to the talks of three of our Guest Speakers to date. In your response, indicate where you agree and where you disagree with the Speaker. Be sure to discuss why you agree or disagree with the Speaker. Ground your discussion in specific content from our textbook and a formal system of ethical values such as the Hallmarks. (3 pages.)

ALSO DUE: Timesheet Status Check

WEEK EIGHT

March 1

Interim Presentations. 10-minute group presentations introducing your CP, how does its work fulfill or supplement the goals of a state or local government, etc. / what is the work involved? / what has been enjoyable about it so far? / what problems or challenges have arisen so far? / choose 2-3 Hallmarks that seem most relevant to this organization / what do you most look forward to for the remainder of the internship? Include a Powerpoint or poster board with images that enhance your presentation.

March 3

Midterm Exam. Research project assigned (8 pages).

DUE: Study for midterm

SPRING BREAK WEEK

March 8-10  Enjoy your week off!

WEEK NINE

March 15

In-class writing activity relating to Research Project. One-on-one mid-semester reviews.

March 17

State Legislatures. In-class workshop on Research Project.

DUE: Chapter 6 State Legislatures

Blog Topic #6: Choose one or more of the focus questions at the beginning of Chapter 6. Use this blog entry to answer the question(s).

WEEK TEN

March 22

The Judiciary. One on one review of research project proposals.

DUE: Chapter 9 The Judiciary

ALSO DUE: Draft of Research Project Proposal: Brief project proposal (2 pages). What is the question you propose to answer? What has already been written about it? How is your question unique? What kind of research will help you answer the question? How will this research be conducted? How might your findings be used?

March 24

The Judiciary. Guest speaker Anne Boulianne. CAN’T DO IT THIS YEAR. 

DUE: Chapter 9 The Judiciary

ALSO DUE: Research Project Proposal

WEEK ELEVEN

March 29

Local government structure and leadership. Preflection for Call to Action Day.

DUE: Chapter 11 Local Government Structure & Leadership

Blog Topic #7: How does your CP interface with local governmental units? Be specific. Are there any leaders in particular who have had an important impact on the success or development of your CP?

ALSO DUE: Timesheet Status Check

March 31

Call to Action Day. Class activity. Participation in CTA Day is part of your Community Engagement activities.

WEEK TWELVE

April 5

Reflection on CTA Day. Research Project status check. Local government role play.

DUE: Research Project Status Check – bring write-up… whatever state it’s in

CTA Day Reflection. Blog about your participation in Call to Action Day. In what ways did the activity reflect any of the themes we have explored so far this semester? In what ways did it reflect any of the values expressed in the Hallmarks of the SNDs?

April 7

Local government structure and leadership. Guest Speaker Debbie Bacigalupi, 2012 candidate for California’s 14^th Congressional District, will speak about regional and global initiatives that might erode the rights of individuals and localities. Debbie is also an alumna of NDNU.

WEEK THIRTEEN

April 12

Local government structure and leadership. Guest Speaker John Phelps on school districts and Charter Schools. DATE IS CONFIRMED.

April 14

Public administration: budgeting and service delivery. Local government role play.

DUE: Chapter 8 Public Administration: Budgeting & Service Delivery

Blog Topic #8: “A budget is a statement of values.” Discuss the way your CP gets and spends its money or resources is a reflection of its values. Which Hallmarks, if any, are expressed in the way your CP manages its budgeting and service delivery?

WEEK FOURTEEN

April 19

Taxing and spending. Local government role play.

DUE: Chapter 12 Taxing & Spending

Blog Topic #9: Does your CP rely on money or services provided by any other entity (public or private)? Are the money or services provided in a consistent and reliable manner or is the CP subject to periodic application, approval, re-application, etc.? How does this consistency, or lack thereof, affect your CP’s operations? Do other people or organizations rely on your CP to provide funding?

ALSO DUE: Research project write-up

April 21

Final exam – written portion. MVE reflection.

DUE: Study for the final

Blog Topic #10: Do in class. See worksheet distributed in class.

WEEK FIFTEEN

April 26 & 28

Final research project presentations

the end!