Michigan Politics & Government

by Browne, William P.; Verburg, Kenneth

• ISBN13: 9780803260887
• ISBN10: 0803260881
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-05-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

Michigan, like most of the states formed from the old Northwest, originated as a state of farmers, fishermen, and lumbermen and remained so until Detroit emerged as a major industrial center at the turn of the twentieth century. The growth of the automotive industry attracted new immigrants and new politics. Republican for most of its history, Michigan became a bipartisan state with political divisions: upper versus lower peninsula, agriculture versus industry, labor versus capital, developers versus ecologists, and conflicts between races. Lansing and its lobbyists and political action committees exemplify modern large-state politics. With double-digit unemployment and an enormous stake in cars, roads, and bridges, Michigan is acutely aware of its ties to the federal government. Two governors, G. Mennen Williams and George Romney, have contended for the presidency, and one representative, Gerald Ford, became president by legislative maneuver. A strong governorship, an independent and experienced bureaucracy, and a full-time legislature have created an activist, policy-directed state government that generally bears little resemblance to the laissez-faire leadership of Michigan's early years. Although this book provides much historical and geographical information, the primary focus remains Michigan's need to cope with its vacillating economy. The authors look at the state's regional, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity and show how these are affected by the forces of change.

Author Biography

William P. Browne is a professor of political science at Central Michigan University. He is author of Private Interests, Public Policy, and American Agriculture. Kenneth VerBurg is a professor in the Department of Resource Development at Michigan State University. He serves as chairperson of the State Boundary Commission and is coauthor with Charles Press of American Politicians and Journalists and coauthor of the award-winning Sacred Cows and Hot Potatoes: Agrarian Myths in Agriculture Policy.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables	p. ix
Series Preface	p. xi
Series Introduction	p. xiii
Preface	p. xxxi
The Setting for Michigan Politics	p. 1
Geopolitics and the Federal System	p. 27
The Michigan Constitution	p. 54
The Politics of Gubernatorial Leadership	p. 75
Legislative Quandary: Leaders or Followers?	p. 101
The Bureaucracy: An Ambiguous Political Legacy	p. 139
The Courts and Their Struggle to Centralize Control	p. 167
Inescapable Partisanship in a Ticket-Splitting State	p. 193
Influencing Michigan Politics	p. 218
Economic Problems: Issues and Policy	p. 246
Michigan Environmental Politics: Battleground of the Political Titans	p. 275
State-Local Relations: The Uneasy Sharing of Resources	p. 296
Problems and Prospects in State Government	p. 324
Resources for the Study of Michigan Politics	p. 343
Notes	p. 361
About the Authors	p. 389
Index	p. 393
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