APLS 494i. South Carolina Politics – Summer 2007 – Final Exam

Instructions: Answer the following question in a well organized grammatically correct essay. If you cite material in the text, just cite it as (text, p.35). I would strongly prefer that you use your own words rather than long quotations from the text.

Honor code. You are to talk to or discuss this question with no one else in or out of the class – only me if you have questions. Any discussion or sharing of answers or information will be considered an honor code violation. Circumstantial evidence is sufficient for a finding of such a violation. So just do your own work! You must paste the following statement at the end of your essay with your name following it: On my honor as a USCA student I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this examination. Your name

Email your essay to me at bobb@usca.edu by 12 midnight, Thursday, July 5. DO NOT send it as an attachment, but paste it in the body of the email.

Double space it and please use Arial 12 point font with standard margins.

Question: We have spent a great deal of time describing South Carolina politics and government and the many problems and challenges that the state faces both at a state level and at local levels. Suppose you were asked by the Budget and Control Board to recommend eight reforms or changes that the state needs to make in order to become seen as one of the most progressive states in the nation rather than one of the most backwards states. Your charge is not to suggest changes that are merely cosmetic or easy to do or changes that will bring about quick results, but rather changes that you feel are fundamental for the long-term well-being of the state as a whole. The changes should be related to government, should be in rough order of importance, and can address any level of government you wish. For each change you propose, you need to briefly discuss the problem or challenge and then how your proposed solution will address that problem or challenge.

(Comments: I thought about asking for ten reforms/changes, but that seemed too many for you to do and for me to read. Eight should run about 5-6 pages, including introductory and concluding paragraphs. I should not have to tell you to use paragraphs for each proposed change, and to make it really readable, you might even use headings for each change, for example, if you proposed abolishing prisons as your last change, the paragraph could lead with 8) Abolish All State Prisons. Somehow, I doubt that this will be recommended by anyone, but perhaps!?! And yes, you can use things from the first or second half of the course.)