Politics in the American States
A Comparative Analysis

Twelfth Edition

Edited by:

Thad Kousser - University of California San Diego, USA
Jamila Michener - Cornell University, USA
Caroline Tolbert - University of Iowa, USA

Other Titles in:
State & Local Politics

November 2024 | 640 pages | CQ Press

Politics in the American States, Twelfth Edition, brings together the high-caliber research expected from this trusted text, with comprehensive and comparative analysis of the fifty states. Fully updated for all major developments in the study of state-level politics, the editors and chapter contributors keep pace with the transformation of American states and their study.

Jamila Michener

Ch. 1 Racial, Economic, and Gender Inequity in the States

Racial, Economic, and Gender Demographics in the United States

What is Equity?

States as Structural Contexts

Racial, Gender, and Economic Inequity in State Politics

Conclusion

Scott J. LaCombe

Ch. 2 Policy Diffusion and Innovation

Introduction

States as Policy Innovators

Why Do States Innovate?

Factors That Lead to Diffusion

Tensions

Conclusion

Joseph Coll, Michael Ritter, Caroline Tolbert

Ch. 3 Parties and Elections in the American States

Overview of Parties, Campaigns, and Elections in the American States

Election Administration in the American States

Election Access in the American States

Conclusion

Anthony J. Nownes, Adam J. Newmark

Ch. 4 Interest Groups in the States

What Is an Interest Group?

Variations in State Interest Group Numbers

Lobbying and Lobbyists in the States

Groups, Elections, and the Role of Money

Developments in State Interest Group Politics

Concerns and Problems: The Regulation of Interest Groups in the States

Interest Group Power in the States

Conclusion

Justin H. Phillips

Ch. 5 Public Opinion, Representation, and America’s Culture Wars

Measuring Public Opinion

Public Opinion and Morality Policy

Conclusion

Shaun Bowler, Todd Donovan

Ch. 6. Direct Democracy

Origins of Direct Democracy in the United States

Mechanisms of Direct Democracy

Initiatives and Agenda Setting

Initiative Campaigns and Elections

Effects of Initiatives on Citizens and State Politics

The Legislature and Courts: Implementation, Amenability, and Legal Challenges

Conclusion

Nancy Martorano Miller, Keith E. Hamm

Ch. 7 Legislative Politics in the States

Why You Should Care About State Legislatures

Who Serves in State Legislatures and How Do They Get There?

How Legislatures Do Their Work

Conclusion

Margaret Ferguson, Thad Kousser

Ch. 8 Governors and the Executive Branch

Becoming Governor

The Powers of Governors: A Comparison

Being Governor

Leaving the Governorship

Conclusion

Brent D. Boyea

Ch. 9 Politics and the Judicial Process

The Organization of State Courts

Electoral Connection and History

Diversity and Selection

The Work of State Courts

Decision-Making in State Courts

Conclusion

Brandon R. Davis

Ch. 10 Criminal Justice in State and Nation

Part I: The Carceral State and Mass Incarceration

Part II: A Public Policy History of the Carceral State

Part III: Carceral Contact in State and Nation

Conclusion

William W. Franko, Christopher Witko

Ch. 11 Fiscal Policies: Taxes and Spending in the States

Introduction

State Budgets and the Budget Process

Major Sources of Revenue for the States

Major State Expenditures

What Determines the Size of Government in the United States?

The Incidence of State Fiscal Policy and the U.S. Inequality Crisis

Conclusion

Colleen M. Grogan, Michael K. Gusmano, Richard C. Fording

Ch. 12 State Health and Welfare Programs

Background

The Divergent Paths of Medicaid and TANF

Why State Variation and Divergent Paths?

The Role of Race and Gender

Policy Mechanisms

Current Controversies and Future Hopes

Waivers as a Policy Tool

The ACA's 1332 Waivers

Delivery Model Reforms

Conclusion

A. Lee Hannah, Michael B. Berkman, Eric Plutzer

Ch. 13 The Politics of Education

Policy and the Politics of Education

Democracy in America: Who Should Decide?

Authority and Governance at the State Level

The Authority Delegated to Local School Boards

Money: Adequacy, Equity, and the Politics of Funding

What Should Students Learn?

Conclusion

Karen Mossberger, Clement Mensah Damoah

Ch. 14 Broadband Policy: Geographic Inequality and the Role of the States

Broadband and Inequality

Multiple Dimensions of Inequality in Broadband Use

Digital Human Capital in Communities

Digital Inequality and Place

States as Decision-Makers and Coordinators

State Role in Broadband Policy

Need for State Collaboration With Local and Tribal Governments

Conclusion

David M. Konisky, Neal D. Woods

Ch. 15 Environmental Policy

State Environmental Conditions

Federalism and the States’ Role in Environmental Policy

State Environmental Policy Innovation and Variation

Conclusion

Prentiss A. Dantzler, Zachary D. Wood

Ch. 16 Housing Policy

Introduction

Private Property, Homeownership, and the Devolution of State Power

State Intervention Within Hardest Hit Housing Markets

Creating Separate and Unequal Communities

Who Deserves Affordable Housing?

Homelessness and Growing Forms of Housing Instability

Conclusion

Candis Watts Smith

Ch. 17 Race and Politics in the American States

Race and Politics in the American States

What Kind of Problem Is Race?

A Patchwork of Racial Inequality

The Hidden Hand of Racial (In)Equality

Racial (In)Equality From the Bottom, Up

Conclusion

Elizabeth Rigby

Ch. 18 Economic and Political Inequality

State-Level Research on Politics of Inequality

Measuring State-Level Economic Inequality

The Politics of State-Level Economic Inequality

How Does Inequality Shape Mass Political Participation?

Conclusion

Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis provides a great overview of comparative state politics. Covering so much material while maintaining a high level of quality is difficult, but the editors and authors accomplish it masterfully.

Jaclyn J. Kettler

Boise State University

Politics in the American States does a great job of mixing classic and contemporary scholarship: combining the best of the older approaches established literature with the most up-to-date information and ideas.

Coyle Neal

Southwest Baptist University

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