Text Box:   Baxter's Pages:   Pre-law --  Pre-law news & events  --   INTERNSHIPS                                Political Science at U.T.M.   ---  Political Science Club — TISL @ UTM —  EXTERNAL LINKS                      My name is Chris Baxter, and I am an associate professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Martin.  This web site is designed to serve as an introduction to U. T. M.'s political science program and services and my role in them.  In addition to teaching courses in American government and public administration, I also serve as pre-law advisor and as coordinator of U. T. M.'s legislative internship program.     Please feel free to browse these pages to learn about our exciting opportunities at U. T. M., and if you have any questions, please contact me at cbaxter@utm.edu. NEW!! Follow the UTM political science faculty on Twitter! Our account is @POSCatUTM          For a complete discussion of U. T. M.'s political science degree programs and degree requirements, please visit our departmental web site.  What follows is a discussion of only the courses I personally teach.     In the area of American government, I teach the following courses (course descriptions are from the U. T. M. Catalog; dates indicate the usual semesters I teach the course): POSC 210-220  AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:  A survey of the origins, structure, and functions of the political system in the United States on the national, state, and local levels.  210:  Development of American constitutionalism, federalism and intergovernmental relations, parties, interest groups, elections, civil rights, and civil liberties.  220:  The executive, legislative, and judicial branches at national, state, and local levels.  Domestic policies, budgetary processes, defense and foreign policy issues. (two sections of one, or a section of each, each semester)       In the area of public administration, I teach the following courses:   POSC 314  INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS:  An in-depth examination of the historical evolution, growth, and contemporary status of fiscal, political, and legal relationships between the national, state, and local governments.  The course emphasizes federal policy and financing of state and local governments within the context of grants-in-aid programs. (spring of odd-numbered years) POSC 353 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW:  A study of the role of government agencies in the legal process.  Review of the problems associated with administrative rulemaking and the enforcement methods and extent of checking public agencies. (fall) POSC 361 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION:  A study of bureaucracy in the United States.  Emphasis on the environment of public administration, management of programs, and human behavior in organizations. (spring of odd-numbered years) POSC 363  PUBLIC BUDGETING AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT:  A study of two of the fundamental functions of modern public administration. The first portion of the course focuses on the various approaches used in formulating budgets for local, state, and national governments, with an emphasis on viewing the budget as reflecting goals of public policy.  The second portion of the course provides a survey of the unique legal demands of human resource management in the public sector. (fall of even-numbered years) POSC 431-432 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: 431: Civil liberties. Traditional and newly-emerging issues of civil liberties in such areas as free speech, church-state relations and freedom of the press (fall of odd-numbered years). 432: Civil Rights. The constitutional rights of certain groups in American Society, especially minorities and women. (spring of even-numbered years)          In addition to my teaching areas, I am also interested in the study of judicial politics, particularly judicial selection and judicial behavior in the state and federal courts.  See my External Links page for a list of some of my favorite courts-related sites.          As I mentioned above, I provide pre-law advising services to students across the U. T. M. campus and serve as coordinator of our legislative internship program.  Since 2005 I have also served as the College of Business & Global Affairs' coordinator for the First-Year Initiative for freshmen and other students new to U. T. M.  In 2012 I proudly participated for the sixth straight year in UTM's Governor's School for the Humanities.  I also a member of UTM's chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honors fraternity.   Christopher M. Baxter, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Political Science The University of Tennessee at Martin 225 Business Administration Building Martin, TN  38238 cbaxter@utm.edu Last updated March 26, 2013.   UTM Home  --  CBGA Home  --  Dept. Home  Tennessee

 

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