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LAW-2273 State and Local Government Law
Prof. Janice C. Griffith,
2 credits day; 2 credits evening.
This course focuses on government powers—how states empower local governments to play an
important governance role. It examines how powers operate and how disputes over them are
resolved. Second, the course addresses how states and municipalities function in a federal
structure. Both contexts raise centralization versus decentralization issues that may necessitate
conflict resolution by the judiciary. Reflection on the governance process inevitably calls
attention to the political process and the interaction of legislators, judges, and members of the
executive branch (mayors, governors, and administrative officers). Valuable information will be
provided on (1) how state and local governments finance their operations and capital
improvements, (2) how neighboring municipalities interact with each other, including their inter-
local compacts, conflicts, and city versus suburban splits, and (3) how local governments relate
to their citizens, business constituents, and public interest groups. Students track a municipality
and a regional public agency throughout the course to ascertain whether the issues covered in
class are relevant to it.
The course should be of great interest to those contemplating a small firm or solo practice
involving clients who interact with local government officials. It is the only course in the
curriculum that covers the relationships between the state and local governments in depth. Many
of the principles of law covering state/municipal relations form their own body of law, making
them unique and important to understand before undertaking any practice of law.
Elective Course
Final Exam Required
<<Course Updated: March 14, 2016>>