Politics and Policy in American States and Communities

by Dresang, Dennis L.; Gosling, James J.

• ISBN13: 9780321330987
• ISBN10: 0321330986
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

This text distinguishes itself through its extremely accessible writing style, relative brevity, inclusion of unique topics such as tribal governments, and its focus on the relationship between government and the governed. As the authors have done in previous editions, their approach to the study of state and local governments personalizes the material, making it more meaningful to the student.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 Face-to-Face Governance	1	(15)
Scope	3	(2)
Capacity	5	(3)
Participation	8	(6)
Plan of this Book	14	(2)
SECTION 2 LAYING THE FOUNDATION
Chapter 2 State Diversity, Growth and Decline, and the Contemporary Urban Dilemma	16	(39)
Values	19	(2)
Political Cultures	21	(4)
An Introductory Tour of the States	25	(8)
Metropolitan Development	33	(7)
Patterns of Interregional Growth and Decline	40	(8)
The New Immigration and Metropolitan Growth	48	(1)
The Consequences of Growth and Decline	49	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	51	(4)
Chapter 3 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations	55	(40)
Constitutional Developments	58	(4)
The Phases of Federalism	62	(19)
The Plight of Local Governments in the Federal System	81	(2)
Regulatory Federalism	83	(3)
Relations among the States	86	(3)
Relations with Indian Nations	89	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	91	(4)
Chapter 4 Constitutions and Charters	95	(31)
History of State Constitutions	97	(11)
Major Features of State Constitutions	108	(9)
Local Government Charters	117	(3)
Types of Local Governments	120	(3)
Summary and Conclusions	123	(3)
Chapter 5 Policy-Making Processes	126	(37)
Public Policy Instruments	127	(4)
Individual and Group Participation in Public Policy Making	131	(5)
The Centrality of Lawmaking in Shaping Public Policy	136	(1)
The Substantive Bill State Legislative Process	137	(10)
The State Budgetary Process	147	(13)
Summary and Conclusions	160	(3)
SECTION 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Chapter 6 Grassroots Participation	163	(22)
Access to Government	165	(2)
Who Participates?	167	(4)
Ways of Participating	171	(2)
Direct Democracy	173	(9)
Summary and Conclusions	182	(3)
Chapter 7 Interest Groups	185	(28)
General Trends	187	(2)
Internal Characteristics	189	(9)
Functions and Activities	198	(7)
Impact of Interest Groups	205	(4)
Summary and Conclusions	209	(4)
Chapter 8 Political Parties and Elections	213	(34)
The Roles of Political Parties	215	(3)
Party Organization	218	(3)
Informal Organizations	221	(3)
Consultants	224	(1)
Party Nominations	225	(1)
Campaigns	226	(4)
Campaign Finances	230	(6)
Independent Expenditures	236	(2)
Term Limits	238	(1)
The Election	239	(1)
Party Competition	240	(4)
Summary and Conclusions	244	(3)
SECTION 4 THE INSTITUTION OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Chapter 9 Governors	247	(27)
Historical Developments	249	(1)
Formal Powers	250	(13)
Roles	263	(6)
Governors as Individuals	269	(1)
Governors and Mobility	270	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	271	(3)
Chapter 10 State Legislatures	274	(33)
What Legislatures Do	279	(2)
Legislative Organization	281	(2)
Legislative Leadership	283	(5)
Legislative Committees	288	(2)
Members	290	(2)
Legislative Reform	292	(4)
Calls for Term Limits	296	(2)
The Changing Executive-Legislative Balance	298	(5)
Legislative Decision Making	303	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	304	(3)
Chapter 11 Local Government Executives and Legislatures	307	(26)
Community Power	309	(3)
Executive and Legislative Institutions in Municipal Government	312	(4)
Patterns of Executive and Legislative Relations in Municipal Government	316	(7)
County Governments	323	(2)
Townships	325	(1)
School Districts	326	(2)
Other Special Districts	328	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	329	(4)
Chapter 12 Bureaucracies	333	(32)
The Nature of Bureaucracy	334	(5)
Profile of Public Employees	339	(2)
Personnel Management	341	(8)
Agency Discretion and Accountability	349	(3)
Independent Regulatory Agencies	352	(7)
Privatization	359	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	361	(4)
Chapter 13 Courts	365	(27)
State and Federal Courts	367	(4)
State, Tribal, and Federal Courts	371	(1)
Structures	372	(3)
Role of State's Attorney or Attorney General	375	(5)
Process	380	(5)
Judicial Actions	385	(2)
Selection of Judges	387	(2)
Discipline and Removal of Judges	389	(1)
Juries	390	(2)
Summary and Conclusions	392	(3)
SECTION 5 PUBLIC POLICIES
Chapter 14 Crime and Corrections	395	(28)
The Nature and Incidence of Crime	396	(7)
Approaches to Crime	403	(4)
Incarceration	407	(9)
Crime and the Constitution	416	(4)
Summary and Conclusions	420	(3)
Chapter 15 Educational Policy	423	(36)
Primary and Secondary Education	425	(12)
Educational Alternatives	437	(5)
The Equity or Excellence Debate	442	(3)
The Courts' Renewed Interest in Fiscal Equity	445	(2)
Higher Education	447	(8)
Summary and Conclusions	455	(4)
Chapter 16 Social Welfare and Health Policy	459	(39)
Social Welfare Policy	460	(4)
Public Assistance Programs	464	(3)
Who Are the Poor?	467	(4)
Welfare Reform	471	(12)
Health Policy	483	(8)
The National Debate Over Health Care Reform	491	(2)
Implications for the States	493	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	494	(4)
Chapter 17 Environmental Policy and Economic Development	498	(33)
Federalism and Environmental Policy Making	502	(1)
Federal Initiatives in the Environmental Decade	503	(4)
Reagan's Redirection of Environmental Regulation	507	(1)
Bush and Clinton: More Environmentally Friendly Administrations	508	(6)
George W. Bush and Expanded Market-Based Incentives	514	(1)
The States' Prominence in Environmental Protection	515	(2)
The Environmental Challenges Lying Ahead	517	(1)
The Allure of Economic Development	518	(6)
Environmental Protection and Economic Development: A Strained Relationship?	524	(1)
Summary and Conclusions	525	(6)
Chapter 18 Fiscal Policy and Financial Management	531	(29)
The Economy and Taxing and Spending	535	(2)
Taxing and Spending Comparisons among the States	537	(5)
Financing State and Local Governments	542	(5)
Evaluating State and Local Taxes	547	(3)
Executive and Legislative Balance in Fiscal Policy Making	550	(2)
State and Local Financial Management	552	(5)
Summary and Conclusions	557	(3)
SECTION 6 CONCLUSION
Chapter 19 Responding to Pressing Public Problems	560	(12)
The Individual Citizen's Perspective	562	(1)
Perspectives of Organized Interest Groups	563	(1)
The Perspective of Local Government Policymakers	563	(1)
The Perspective of State Policymakers	564	(2)
Perspectives and Politics	566	(1)
Government Responses	567	(3)
Responding with Solutions	570	(2)
Career Guide Supplement	572
Index