Intergovernmental Relations

Public Management (PMGT) 5220

Course Description :

• An introduction to the topics of intergovernmental relations and federalism.

• Course Purpose and Objectives
• Needed materials
• Course Outline
• Instructor/More Information

Course Purpose and objectives

Purpose :

• This is an introductory course in intergovernmental relations and federalism. Here the focus is on the relationships between and among the various levels of government within the federal system : national, state, and local. Recent changes in funding, court cases, and the future of American federalism will be topics under consideration.

Course Objectives :

• 1. To gain an understanding of intergovernmental relations: its history, structure and operation.
  2. To gain knowledge of American federalism, and the forces that have shaped it.
  3. To gain knowledge of the historical epochs of IGR within this century and the contributions and controversies each has introduced into the American system of government.
  4. To gain a practical understanding of the day-to-day operations of IGR, especially from the standpoint of the local administrator.

Needed materials :

Texts

• Wright, Deil S., Understanding Intergovernmental Relations, 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, 1988.

  Walker David B., The Rebirth of Federalism : Slouching toward Washington. Chatham House, NJ : 1995.

Other :

• Computer Disk : Please buy 3.5" High Density, IBM format (1.44MB) diskette.

  Internet Access : If you do not already have an internet account, please get a free internet account and learn to use it early in the semester. some instructional materials and class discussion may be put on the web.

Course Outline :

Week	Topic	Wright or Walker
1	Federalism Today	Walker, pp. 2-36 Wright, Chap. 1
2	4 Centuries of Federalism; IGR : Concepts and Models	Walker, pp. 39-66; 67 - 91. Wright, Chap. 2
3	7 Phases of IGR.	Walker, pp. 92 - 170; Wright, Chap. 3
4	Intergovernmental Finances	Walker, pp. 173 - 248; Wright, Chap 4.
5	Urban Fiscal Policies & IGR	Wright, Chap. 5
6	IGR Finances : Allocation	Wright, Chap. 6
7	IGR Finances : Expenditures Mid Term Review	Wright, Chap. 7
8	Mid Term Examination
9	Policy Content : Boundary and Oral Reports	Walker, pp. 249 - 300; Wright, Chap. 8
10	Policy Content : Distributive & Development Issues & IGR Jurisdiction Issues Oral Reports	Wright, Chap. 9
11	Policy Content : Redistributive Results Oral Reports	Wright Chap. 11
12	Reflections & Directions	Wright, Chap. 12
13	The New, Improved ( ? ) Federalism	Walker, pp. 301 - 358
14	Oral Reports Conclude. Written Reports Due. Final Review
15	Final Examination

This is a tentative schedule which is adapted each semester to fit the academic calendar.

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For more Information, Contact

Dr Lon Felker

214 Sam Wilson Hall

East Tennessee State University

Department of Economics, Finance and Urban Studies

Box 70686

Johnson City, TN 37614-0686

(423) 439 - 6631.

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