Course Description
Examination of the relationships among local governments, states, and the Federal government. Issues to be addressed include the role of local government, the source of local government power, and the advantages and disadvantages of decentralized decision making. These questions will be explored in both general and specific subject areas.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate law students will not be doing any extra work beyond
that required of the Juris Doctor students. J.D. students are
post-baccalaureate students and the workload expected of them is
the same workload expected of post-baccalaureate graduate
students. Law students are professional students, not
undergraduate students. Graduate law students are primarily
international lawyers seeking expertise in the American legal
system. This expertise is gained through exposure to Juris
Doctor
courses.
Athena Title
State and Local Governments
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in JURI 4905 or JURI 6905
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course will provide the student with a deeper understanding of the legal relationships and issues faced by local units of government.
Topical Outline
Students will examine the following: 1. Decentralization of Power: Problems and Benefits 2. Local/State Relations: Dillon's Rule, Home Rule, Local and Special Legislation 3. Local/Federal Relations: Direct Control, Preemption 4. City/Suburb Relations: Development of Suburbs, Distinctions between Residents and Non-residents, Annexation, Secession, Exclusionary Zoning, Distribution of Wealth 5. Local Government/Local Citizen Relations: Community Character, Business Inducements, Privatization and Tort Liability 6. Voting and Elections 7. State Constitutionalism: Separation of Powers in a State System
Syllabus
Public CV