The United States is unusual in the degree of regulatory and fiscal authority it grants to state and local governments. Further, state constitutions differ from the federal constitution in the level of specificity with which they regulate policy decisions. This course explores both the structure of state and local governments and the ways in which federal and state constitutional law constrict policy choice at the state and local level. Specific topics include: the constitutional status of states and local governments; local government formation and boundary changes; disputes between state agencies; state-local relations and local home rule; and the role of special districts and regional governance. This course will give particular attention to the law of state and local finance, include taxation, borrowing, and public-purpose requirements. While this course will draw on examples from Arizona, it is not a course focused exclusively on Arizona law, but rather a survey of the field.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 4
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: Yes
Final Exam Type: In-Class - Completely Secure
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Possibly
Participation Points: Yes, per course policies
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Teaching Method: In Person

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.