Faculty Contact Information:
Archie J. Twitchell, DPA
Mailing Address: 18735 Martin’s Landing, Germantown, Md. 20874
Telephone and fax: 301 528 7968
Email Address: atwitche@cs.com, atwitchell@faculty.ed.umuc.edu | |
Consultation:
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Required Texts and Readings:
Texts used exclusively in this course --
O'Toole, L. J. Ed. (2000). American Intergovernmental Relations (3rd ed.). Washington, D.C.:CQ Press.
Peterson, P. E. (1995). The Price of Federalism. Washington, D.C.:The Brookings Institute.
Text used in multiple courses:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington DC:Author. | |
Supplementary Readings:
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Recommended Journals:
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Course Description:
| Prerequisite: Undergraduate American political science or American government. Focuses on the complexities and inadequacies of the federal-state-local system; with conflicts and cooperation between the three levels; with changing roles of government; with the development of structures, processes, and management to strengthen the intergovernmental system and improve performance; and with increasing student problem-solving and managerial capabilities. | |
Course Goals:
As a required course in the management track of the MPA, this course analyzes the challenges of managing programs within federalist systems of government. Upon completion of this course, participants should have an understanding of the:
- history of the federalism.
- significant legislation pertaining to IGR.
- unique problems of state government.
- challenges and promises of local and regional governments.
- crisis of state and local budgeting.
- impact of the courts on IGR.
- alternative funding arrangements of state and local activities probable future of intergovernmental relations.
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Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the primary grant mechanisms.
- Compare and contrast the distinct phases of IGR.
- Delineate intergovernmental “tax domains.”
- Differentiate between the primary IGR policies
- Explain intergovernmental policy overlap issues.
- Identify new areas of state and local finances.
- Develop new models for revenue estimation.
- Implement new methods of revenue collection and disbursement.
- Identify the means of circumventing balanced budget amendments.
- Detect the major problems facing state and local governments.
- Develop strategies for avoiding costly social service litigation cases.
- Identify sources of grant money at state and nation levels.
- Write a grant proposal.
- Apply governmental policy objectives more effectively.
- Implement new laws pertaining to Equal Opportunity.
- Generate appropriate charts, tables and graphs.
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Grading Information:
Grades for the course will be assigned as follows:
450 - 500 points equals an “A”.
400 - 449 points equals a “B”.
350 – 399 points equals a “C”.
Below 350 points equals an F(a) or regular non-attendance [F(n)].
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog. Hard copies of the catalog are available in your local Education Center. | |
Course Requirements:
Midterm exam............100 points.........May 17 - May 23
Final exam..............100 points.........July 19 - July 25
First project............50 points.........See Course Schedule.
Second project...........50 points.........See Course Schedule.
Term paper..............100 points.........Due July 19
Participation...........100 points.........Half allotted to each term. | |
Description of Course Requirements:
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Usually this requires two to three hours of additional for every hour of a face-to-face class and approximately ten hours of preparation per week for a DE class.
Writing Projects: Shall conform to the APA Publication Manual 5th Ed.
Plagiarism is grounds for failure of the class. Failure to cite sources constitutes plagiarism.
- The first project involves the examination of the relationships between the national government and the states as expressed in the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution and the Virginia Constitution – 1776. The paper is limited to four pages. See the course schedule for the due date.
- The second project involves an analysis of Supreme Court decisions that have shaped IGR. The role of the Supreme Court in the evolution of the respective roles of the Federal government and the states is explored. The paper is limited to a maximum of six pages. See the course schedule for the due date.
- The purpose of the term paper involves an analysis of a Federal executive agency. The relationship of an executive agency’s relationships with the states will be explored. For example, what and how does the Department of Education relate to the states. How does the Department of Health and Human Resources administer Medicaid? to what degree can states such as Oregon modify their Medicaid program. Paper is due on 19 July.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In a DE class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Midterm and Final Exams: The exams are composed of six essay questions from which three are selected for answer. The exams will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam. | |
Course Schedule:
Course Schedule:
Course Schedule: This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
Initial meeting: 5-10 April
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Clarification of methods of communications
Second meeting 11-17 April
What is IGR? What is federalism? What is public administration (PA)? Types of governments. Types of federalism.
Peterson 1, O'Toole 2
Third meeting 18-24 April
The evolution from confederation to federalism.
O'Toole 1, 12
The Articles of Confederation at:
Articles of Confederation: http://www.constitution.org/cons/usa-conf.htm
The U.S. Constitution at:
The Constitution of the U.S. http://www.constitution.org/cons/constitu.txt
The Constitution of Virginia – 1776
Constitution of Virginia – 1776: http://www.nhinet.org/ccs/docs/va-1776.htm
Fourth meeting 25 April - 1 May
Functional and Legislative Theory and models of federalism:
Focus on the distribution of power and authority among federal, state and local governments.
Peterson 2, O'Toole # 4, 5, & 29
First project due 3 May
Fifth meeting 2-8 May
Fiscal aspects of federalism
Peterson 6, O'Toole Part III
Sixth meeting 9-15 May
Preemption, mandates and power
Peterson 3, 7
Seventh meeting 16-22 May
The role of the Supreme Court in the evolution of Federalism. Become familiar with the language of the relevant sections of the Constitution and the logic by which the court arrived at its conclusions.
Gibbons v Ogden (1803), McCulloch v Maryland (1819)
National League of Cities v Usery (1976), Garcia v San Antonio Metro (1985)
United States v Lopez (1995), Reread O’Toole Ch. 1-2
Eight meeting 23 May
The midterm will be posted to Course Content on 17 May and is due at midnight 23 May
Term break 24 May - 6 June 2004
Ninth meeting: 7- 12 June
Further exploration of the role of the courts in IGR with attention on civil rights, voting rights, and former and current affirmative action decisions. Citation will be provided.
The second project is due 13 June
Tenth meeting 13-19 June
Policy issues that span jurisdictional boundaries. What are the respective roles of the federal and state governments in education and welfare. Explore funded and unfunded mandates?
Peterson 4 -5, O'Toole 15, Part IV
Eleventh meeting 20-26 June
Continuation of the examination of policy issues that span jurisdictional boundries with a focus on health, Medicaid, National Guard and unemployment insurance.
Peterson 8, supplemental reading will be provided
Twelfth meeting 27 June – 3 July
Role and influence of PIG’s, state lobbyists and other groups such as the State Attorney Generals in IGR
O’Toole 9-11, supplemental material may be supplied.
Thirteenth meeting 4-10 July
Policy issues involving devolution, regulation & deregulation.
O’Toole Part V, The tobacco Settlement and the settlement between the NY State Attorney General and Wall Street Brokers.
Fourteenth meeting 11-17 July
Examination of the future of IGR. Which future will prevail? O’Toole's traditional or the new assertiveness of the states in matters formerly federal but long neglected. Will the financial difficulties of the states curb their new assertiveness?
Fifteenth meeting 18-25 July
Term paper due midnight 19 July
Final exam posted to Webtycho 19 July and is due midnight 25 July | |
Academic Policies:
Please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Faculty Bio:
| Dr. Archie Twitchell has an M.P.A. from the University of Denver and the D.P.A. from the University of Southern California. He served as the City Manager of Boulder Colorado prior to beginning his academic career. He served as Academic Director of Graduate Programs and Program Coordinator of Public Administration for UMUC-Europe for a number of years and teaches a variety of courses in Public Administration by Distance Education. | |