Learning Objectives
Preface
About the Authors
1 State and Local Politics
Who Has the Power?
The Stakes in the Political Struggle
-How Different States Govern
Comparing the Sizes of States
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
The Growing Diversity of State Populations
Participation Patterns in Small and Medium-Sized Cities
-You Will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should States Exercise Authority Over Climate Change Policies?
Challenges for State and Local Governments
-History Makers
DeWitt Clinton
Summary | Chapter Self-Test | Key Terms | Further Reading
2 State Constitutions
The Roots of State Constitutions
-History Makers
John Adams
Amending State Constitutions
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
Affirmative Action in the 2006 Elections
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should States Require a Supermajority to Approve a Constitutional Amendment?
The Politics of Constitutional Revision
The Future of State Constitutions
Summary | Chapter Self-Test | Key Terms | Further Reading
3 Parties and Elections in the States
The Constitutional Context: State and Federal Roles in Regulating Elections
Elections at the State and Local Levels
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should Former Felons Be Allowed to Vote?
-History Makers
Hiram Johnson and Direct Legislation
-How Different States Govern
State Differences in Campaign Finance Disclosure Laws
The Role of Political Parties
-The Changing Face of u.s. Politics
Differences in the Demographic Profiles of State Legislatures
Party Balance and Imbalance
Summary 59 | Chapter Self-Test 60 | Key Terms 61 | Further Reading
4 State Legislatures
The Legislative Branch
-How different states govern Comparing Professionalism in State Legislatures
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
Women in the Statehouse
-History Makers
Jesse Unruh
Modernization and Reform
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should States Provide higher compensation for Their Legislators?
The Politics of Drawing Legislative District Lines
Direct Legislation: Policy Making by the People?
The Debate over Direct Democracy
Summary 82 | Chapter Self-Test 83 | Key Terms 84 | Further Reading
5 State Governors
Rising Expectations for Governors
Becoming and Remaining Governor
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
Female Governors
-How Different States Govern
The Salaries of Governors
A Governor’s Formal Powers
-You Will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should Governors Have an Item Veto?
Managing the State
Other Statewide Elected Officials
-History Makers
George Wallace
The Rewards of Being a Governor
Summary | Chapter Self-Test | Key Terms | Further Reading
6 Judges and Justice in the States
The Structure of State Courts
-History Makers
Judith S. Kaye
How Judges Are Chosen
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
Women and Minorities on State Supreme Courts
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should State Judges Be Selected Through Appointment or Popular Election?
The Judicial Reform Movement
The Criminal Justice System
Prisons
-How Different States Govern
The Death Penality in the States
Courts in Crisis
Summary | Chapter Self-Test | Key Terms | Further Reading
7 Local Governments and Metropolitics
The Nature of State and Local Relations
Counties in the United States
Towns and Suburbs
City Government Today
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
City Councils Are Becoming More Diverse
The Role of the Mayor
-History Makers
Harold Washington
Who Influences Local Policy Making?
The Central City and Its Politics
-How Different Cities Govern
Child Poverty in Cities
Meeting the Challenges of Growth and Economic Development
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Does Economic Development Justify Eminent Domain?
The Politics of Metropolitan Reorganization
Summary 150 | Chapter Self-Test 151 | Key Terms 152 | Further Reading
8 Making State and Local Policy
Public Education
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
Teachers in the Classroom
Higher Education
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should the Federal Government Encourage Increased State Funding of Higher Education?
Social Services
-History Makers
Jane Addams
-How Different States Govern
Children’s Health Insurance
Law Enforcement
Planning the Urban Community
Regulation
The Importance of State and Local Policy
Summary 175 | Chapter Self-Test 176 | Key Terms 177 | Further Reading
9 Staffing and Financing State and Local Governments
The Role of Public Employees
-The Changing Face of U.S. Politics
The Diverse State and Local Workforce
-You will Decide/Thinking it Through
Should Governments Contract with Faith-Based Organizations?
Paying for State and Local Government
-How Different States Govern
State and Local Taxes and Family Incomes
-History Makers
Robert Moses
State and Local Government Spending
Assessing State and Local Performance
Summary | Chapter Self-Test | Key Terms | Further Reading
Glossary
Notes
Photo Credits
Index
