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Governing States and Localities
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Governing States and Localities

Ninth Edition


June 2023 | 608 pages | CQ Press
From the lingering but long-lasting effects of the COVID pandemic to the growing diffusion of partisan polarization through the various levels of government, the Ninth Edition of Governing States and Localities introduces students to the most recent challenges, developments, and political changes impacting state and local politics. Employing a comparative approach, bestselling authors Kevin B. Smith and Alan Greenblatt illustrate the similarities and differences in the way state and local governments operate to show students the real-world application of policy and politics.

This edition keeps students engaged with a crisp journalistic style while providing a comprehensive introduction to state and local governments that is easily accessible to undergraduates in a variety of majors.
 
Map of the United States
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1 Introduction to State and Local Government: They Tax Dogs in West Virginia, Don't They?
The Impact of State and Local Politics on Daily Life

 
The Comparative Method in Practice: Yes, They Really Do Tax Dogs in West Virginia

 
Basic Differences among States and Localities

 
Recognizing the Stakes

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 2 Federalism: The Power Plan
Systems of Power

 
Why Federalism? The Origins of the Federal System in the United States

 
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

 
The Constitutional Basis of Federalism

 
The Development of Federalism

 
The Supreme Court: The Umpire of Federalism

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 3 Constitutions: Operating Instructions
What State Constitutions Do: It’s Probably Different from What You Think

 
The Evolution of State Constitutions

 
Formal Constitutional Changes

 
Informal Methods for Changing Constitutions

 
Differences between State Constitutions

 
Constitutions for Local Government?

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 4 Finance: Filling the Till and Paying the Bills
Show Me the Money: Where State Tax Revenues Come From

 
Taxing Variations among State and Local Governments

 
The Budget Process

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
 
Chapter 5 Political Attitudes and Participation: Venting and Voting
Voting Rights Disputes

 
The Role of Elections

 
State Supervision of Elections

 
Voting in America

 
What Elections Are Used For

 
Public Opinion

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Chapter 6 Parties and Interest Groups: Elephants, Donkeys, and Cash Cows
A Primer on Political Parties

 
The Shape of Contemporary Parties

 
Party Competition: Why Some States Are More Competitive Than Others

 
Third Parties and Independents

 
Interest Groups and Lobbies

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Chapter 7 Legislatures: The Art of Herding Cats
The Job of Legislatures

 
Organization and Operation of Legislatures

 
State Legislators

 
The Citizens’ Whipping Boy: Legislators and Public Opinion

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 8 Governors and Executives: There Is No Such Thing as Absolute Power
The Job of Governor

 
The Powers of Governors

 
Becoming Governor

 
Keeping and Leaving Office

 
Other Executive Offices

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 9 Courts: Turning Law into Politics
The Role and Structure of State Courts

 
Selecting Judges

 
Prosecution and Defense of Cases in State Courts

 
How Courts Are Changing

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 10 Bureaucracy: What Nobody Wants but Everybody Needs
What Is Bureaucracy?

 
What Is “Enough” Bureaucracy?

 
Measuring Bureaucratic Effectiveness: It Does a Better Job Than You Think

 
State Bureaucracy: From Patronage to Professionalism

 
Politics and the Merit System

 
If Not Merit . . . Then What?

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
 
Chapter 11 Local Government: Function Follows Form
The Many Faces of Local Government

 
The Organization and Responsibilities of Local Governments

 
Municipalities

 
Working within Limits: The Powers and Constraints of Local Government

 
Participation in Local Government

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Chapter 12 Metropolitics: The Hole Problem of Government
The Missing Level of Government

 
Sprawl: How Metropolitan Regions Grow

 
The Cons of Metropolitan Growth

 
Government Reform in Metropolitan Areas

 
The Case against Reform: Public Choice and the Tiebout Model

 
Rural Metropolitics

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Chapter 13 Education: Reading, Writing, and Regulation
Organization and Leadership: Schools Have Many Bosses

 
Money Matters

 
The Pressure to Perform

 
Many Brands on the School Reform Shelf

 
Choosing Wisely: Alternatives to Public Schools

 
Can’t Tell the Players without a Program: Groups That Influence Public Education

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Chapter 14 Crime and Punishment
The Rise of Criminal Justice Reform

 
Principle versus Practice in Common Law

 
Prison Nation

 
Racial Disparities in Policing

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
 
Chapter 15 Health and Welfare
The Coronavirus Response: Federalism under Stress

 
How Government Got into the Health Care Biz

 
The Devolution Revolution

 
Government’s Role in Health

 
Issues to Watch

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Chapter 16 Environment and Climate Change: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Conflicting Views on Climate Change

 
States Get Serious about the Environment

 
Issues to Watch

 
Adaptation

 
Conclusion

 
Top Ten Takeaways

 
Discussion Questions

 
Suggested Websites

 
Key Concepts

 
 
Notes
 
Glossary
 
Index

Supplements

Instructor Resources
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