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Introduction to the Bureaucracy
What does the word “bureaucracy” conjure in your mind? For many, it evokes inefficiency, corruption, red tape, and government overreach. For others, it triggers very different images—of professionalism, helpful and responsive service, and government management. Your experience with bureaucrats and the administration of government probably informs your response to the term. The ability of bureaucracy Read more »
County and City Government
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Identify the differences between county and municipal governments in terms of their responsibilities and funding sources Describe the two primary types of municipal government and the three basic types of county government County and city governments make up an important component of Read more »
Governors and State Legislatures
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Identify the formal powers and responsibilities of modern-day governors List the basic functions performed by state legislatures Describe how state legislatures vary in size, diversity, party composition, and professionalism Public opinion regarding Congress has reached a dismal low, with more than 80 Read more »
State Political Culture
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Compare Daniel Elazar’s three forms of political culture Describe how cultural differences between the states can shape attitudes about the role of government and citizen participation Discuss the main criticisms of Daniel Elazar’s theory Some states, such as Alaska, are endowed with Read more »
State Power and Delegation
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Explain how the balance of power between national and state governments shifted with the drafting and ratification of the Constitution Identify parts of the Constitution that grant power to the national government and parts that support states’ rights Identify two fiscal policies Read more »
Introduction to State and Local Government
Controversial national policy decisions by lawmakers and justices tend to grab headlines and dominate social media, while state and local government matters often evoke less enthusiasm. Yet, if we think about which level of government most directly affects us on a daily basis, it is undoubtedly the level closest to us, including our city, county, Read more »
Judicial Decision-Making and Implementation by the Supreme Court
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Describe how the Supreme Court decides cases and issues opinions Identify the various influences on the Supreme Court Explain how the judiciary is checked by the other branches of government The courts are the least covered and least publicly known of the Read more »
The Supreme Court
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Analyze the structure and important features of the Supreme Court Explain how the Supreme Court selects cases to hear Discuss the Supreme Court’s processes and procedures The Supreme Court of the United States, sometimes abbreviated SCOTUS, is a one-of-a-kind institution. While a Read more »
The Federal Court System
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Describe the differences between the U.S. district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court Explain the significance of precedent in the courts’ operations Describe how judges are selected for their positions Congress has made numerous changes to the federal judicial system throughout Read more »
The Dual Court System
LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of this section, you will be able to: Describe the dual court system and its three tiers Explain how you are protected and governed by different U.S. court systems Compare the positive and negative aspects of a dual court system Before the writing of the U.S. Constitution and the establishment Read more »