American State And Local Politics

In a campaign for state or local office these days, you’re as likely today to hear accusations that an opponent advanced Obamacare or supported Donald Trump as you are to hear about issues affecting the state or local community. This is because American political behavior has become substantially more nationalized. American voters are far more engaged with and knowledgeable about what’s happening in Washington, DC, than in similar messages whether they are in the South, the Northeast, or the Midwest. Gone are the days when all politics was local. With The Increasingly United States, Daniel J. Hopkins explores this trend and its implications for the American political system. The change is significant in part because it works against a key rationale of America’s federalist system, which was built on the assumption that citizens would be more strongly attached to their states and localities. It also has profound implications for how voters are represented. If voters are well informed about state politics, for example, the governor has an incentive to deliver what voters—or at least a pivotal segment of them—want. But if voters are likely to back the same party in gubernatorial as in presidential elections irrespective of the governor’s actions in office, governors may instead come to see their ambitions as tethered more closely to their status in the national party.

With a unique focus on politics and class struggles, this contemporary text shows how the political process works to affect the allocation of resources and relative prosperity of groups. The strength of this new American state and local government text is the continual, cumulative integration of both state and local politics throughout. Includes more actual examples of the electoral bases of state parties and choices made by those parties. Discusses the role of politics in many facets of American life and government. Features: * Organized around the class conflict theme of HAVES VERSUS HAVE NOTS to establish continuity in questions and assessment of conditions. * Provides SUGGESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS IN YOUR OWN STATE/LOCAL AREA section at the end of each chapter, which gives students experience in conducting political analysis and instructors flexibility in making material relevant to individual states/cities. * Promotes critical thinking about the cumulative effects and combinations of politics. * Previews introduce each chapter. * Uses numerous original examples to illustrate concepts. * Moves beyond abstract discussions to illustrated real-life. * Offers suggestions for further rea

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 weakenesses 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; taxation and budgeting; the death penalty; tort reform, and changing approaches to welfare, education, land use, and waste management.

For Introduction to State and Local Politics courses. This is the most authoritative text for state and local politics. State and Local Politics: Government by the People continually sets the standards for other state and local politics texts by anticipating instructors' and students' needs. Known for its esteemed author team who treat each new edition as a fresh challenge, State and Local Politics: Government by the People is the perfect text for the educator who wants students to understand how America's state and local political systems work.

This ninth edition text focuses on the varied and changing political and economic environments in which American state and local governments function, and their strengths and weaknesses in key areas of public policy.

Updated in a new 15th edition, State and Local Politics: Government by the People, is the most authoritative book for state and local politics. It continually sets the standards for other state and local politics books by anticipating readers' needs. Known for its esteemed author team who treat each new edition as a fresh challenge, State and Local Politics: Government by the People is the perfect text for understanding how America's state and local political systems work.

Lorch's accessible and entertaining sixth edition offers comprehensive, concise and accurate coverage of state and local government systems. Examines the fundamental elements shared by all local and state governments. Offers an in-depth look at the division of power, the mechanics of the electoral system and state constitutions. Examines the party system, pressure groups, civil servants' roles and agency functions. Identifies the role and responsibilities of the governor, the legislature and the courts. Anyone interested in understanding the details of state and local government including those with political aspirations and those seeking greater involvement in the governing process.

The Sixth Edition of this best-selling text continues to provide the comprehensive and current coverage of institutions, political behavior, and policy-making at the state and local level. The strong policy orientation of the text, as well as its unifying theme of the increased capacity and responsibility of state and local governments have established this text as the standard for this course.Web resources in every chapter foster student interest in state and local politics and policy. An enhanced text-specific web site provides additional resources for instructors and students.

Ronald E. Weber and Paul Brace bring together a distinguished team of scholars of state and local government to provide an array of viewpoints on the impact of the major institutional changes that have been taking place over the past three decades. These experts discuss the current status of state and local government practices and identify some of the challenges facing officials today.