State and Local Politics

by Berman; Margo

• ISBN13: 9780765604217
• ISBN10: 0765604213
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-07-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Politics at the state and local level has never been more interesting than in our "devolutionary" age. This popular text is the most concise, readable, and current introduction to the field. Now in its ninth edition, the book keeps its focus on the varied and changing political and economic environments in which state and local governments function, and their strengths and weaknesses in key areas of public policy. The text is enlivened by boxed sections that relate individual experiences or highlight particular issues and developments. Topics covered in this edition include the drive toward devolution in the federal system; fiscal constraints; political accountability; affirmative action; majority-minority districts; and changing approaches to welfare, education, land use, and law enforcement.

Table of Contents

List of Tables, Figures, and Boxes	xi
Preface	xv
Part One: State and Local Politics
State and Local Politics: An Overview	3	(33)
The Environment	5	(10)
Dynamics of the System	15	(10)
Trends and Problems	25	(11)
The Intergovernmental Environment	36	(31)
Federalism: From Competition to Cooperation	36	(6)
The Politics of Federal Spending, Aid, and Regulation	42	(7)
State and Local Influence on National Policy	49	(5)
State-Local Relations and Horizontal Federalism	54	(13)
Part Two: State Politics
Constitutional Foundations	67	(30)
State Powers under the United States Constitution	67	(9)
State Constitutions	76	(5)
Suffrage and Direct Democracy	81	(11)
Limits on Popular Control	92	(5)
Parties, Groups, and Influence	97	(33)
Political Parties in State Politics	97	(13)
Interest-Group and Media Activities	110	(9)
Ethical Behavior and Public Accountability	119	(11)
State Legislative Politics	130	(33)
Legislative Structure	131	(5)
The Legislators	136	(6)
The Working Environment	142	(5)
Legislative Functions: The Lawmaking Process	147	(5)
Legislative Behavior	152	(5)
Evaluation of the Legislatures	157	(6)
Governors and Administrators in State Politics	163	(32)
The Office of Governor	163	(8)
The Governor and State Policy	171	(4)
The Governor and Administration	175	(5)
Administrators, Policy, and the Public	180	(5)
Personnel Systems and Problems	185	(10)
Courts, Judges, and Justice	195	(28)
State Courts in the Political Process	195	(5)
The State Courts	200	(5)
The Judges: Selection and Removal	205	(4)
Securing Justice	209	(6)
Judicial Decision Making	215	(8)
Part Three: Local-Level Politics
The Setting for Local Politics	223	(33)
Metropolis, City, Suburb, and Town	223	(12)
The Pattern of Local Government	235	(6)
Government in Metropolitan Areas	241	(7)
Competition, Cooperation, and the Future of the Metropolis	248	(8)
Participation and Power in Local Politics	256	(27)
Bosses and Reformers	256	(6)
Voting and Elections	262	(7)
Group Activity	269	(5)
Community Power	274	(9)
Local Government: The Official Policymakers	283	(28)
The Structural Environment	283	(3)
The City Council	286	(6)
Executive Leadership	292	(6)
Administrators and Local Governmental Services	298	(13)
Part Four: Problems and Policies
The Politics of Finance	311	(34)
Expenditures and Revenues	311	(8)
Revenue Sources	319	(8)
Borrowing	327	(2)
Taxing and Spending Decisions	329	(16)
The Politics of Education and Welfare	345	(36)
The Politics of Education	345	(10)
School Integration and Finance	355	(6)
Poverty and Welfare	361	(9)
Welfare Issues, Conflicts, and Myths	370	(11)
Politics, Pollution, and Energy	381	(30)
The Politics of Pollution	382	(15)
The Politics of Energy	397	(7)
Energy Shortages and Development	404	(7)
The Politics of Planning, Housing, and Transportation	411	(31)
Community Development and Planning	411	(11)
Slums, Housing, and Renewal	422	(10)
The Automobile and Transportation Policies	432	(10)
The Politics of Public Safety	442	(31)
Crime in the United States	442	(7)
The Police	449	(8)
Punishment and Corrections	457	(10)
Fighting Crime	467	(6)
Index	473