Governing States and Localities

by Kevin B. Smith, Alan H. Greenblatt

Overview

The trusted and proven Governing States and Localities guides readers through the contentious status of state and local politics, helping them understand the ins and outs of these systems and why they're important. With engaging journalistic writing and crisp storytelling, Kevin B. Smith and Alan Greenblatt use a comparative approach to examine how and why states and localities are both similar and different to showcase real-life applications of policy and politics. The Tenth Edition has been thoroughly updated to look at developments and issues in today's hyperpartisan political environment.

Also available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Learn more about 978-1-0719-7618-0, Governing States and Localities - Vantage Digital Option, Tenth Edition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781071968635
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	09/19/2025
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	592
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Kevin B. Smith is the Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Chair of Political Science at the

University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He is the author or coauthor of 10 books on politics and policy,

as well as numerous scholarly articles on state politics and policy. Prior to becoming an academic,

he covered state and local politics as a newspaper reporter. You can follow him on Twitter at @

nivek_htims.

Alan Greenblatt is a reporter at Governing magazine and has been writing about politics and

government in Washington, D.C., and the states for more than two decades. As a reporter for

Congressional Quarterly, he won the National Press Club’s Sandy Hume Memorial Award for

Excellence in Political Journalism. At Governing, he has covered numerous issues of concern to

state and local governments, such as budgets, taxes, and higher education. Along the way, he has

written about politics and culture for many other outlets, including NPR, the New York Times,

and the Washington Post. He’s on Twitter at @Alan Greenblatt.

Table of Contents

Map of the United States
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1: Introduction to State and Local Government: They Tax Dogs in West Virginia, Don’t They?
The Impact of State and Local Politics on Daily Life
The Comparative Method in Practice: Yes, They Really Do Tax Dogs In West Virginia
Basic Differences Among States and Localities
Recognizing the Stakes
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 2: Federalism: The Power Plan
Systems of Power
Why Federalism? The Origins of the Federal System in the United States
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism
The Constitutional Basis of Federalism
The Development of Federalism
The Supreme Court: The Umpire of Federalism
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 3: Constitutions: Operating Instructions
What State Constitutions Do: It’s Probably Different from What You Think
The Evolution of State Constitutions
Formal Constitutional Changes
Informal Methods for Changing Constitutions
Differences Between State Constitutions
Constitutions for Local Government?
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 4: Finance: Filling the Till and Paying the Bills
Show Me the Money: Where State Tax Revenues Come From
Taxing Variations Among State and Local Governments
The Budget Process
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Suggested Websites
Chapter 5: Political Attitudes and Participation: Venting and Voting
Voting Rights Disputes
The Role of Elections
State Supervision of Elections
Voting in America
What Elections Are Used For
Public Opinion
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Suggested Websites
Chapter 6: Parties and Interest Groups: Elephants, Donkeys, and Cash Cows
A Primer on Political Parties
The Shape of Contemporary Parties
Party Competition: Why Some States Are More Competitive Than Others
Third Parties and Independents
Interest Groups and Lobbies
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 7: Legislatures: The Art of Herding Cats
The Job of Legislatures
Organization and Operation of Legislatures
State Legislators
The Citizens’ Whipping Boy: Legislators and Public Opinion
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 8: Governors and Executives: There Is No Such Thing as Absolute Power
The Job of Governor
The Powers of Governors
Becoming Governor
Keeping and Leaving Office
Other Executive Offices
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 9: Courts: Turning Law into Politics
The Role and Structure of State Courts
Selecting Judges
Prosecution and Defense of Cases in State Courts
How Courts are Changing
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 10: Bureaucracy: What Nobody Wants but Everybody Needs
What is bureaucracy?
What Is “Enough” Bureaucracy?
Measuring Bureaucratic Effectiveness: It Does a Better Job Than You Think
State Bureaucracy: From Patronage to Professionalism
Politics and the Merit System
If Not Merit . . . Then What?
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Suggested Websites
Chapter 11: Local Government: Function Follows Form
The Many Faces of Local Government
The Organization and Responsibilities of Local Governments
Municipalities
Working Within Limits: The Powers and Constraints of Local Government
Participation In Local Government
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 12: Metropolitics: The Hole Problem of Government
The Missing Level of Government
Sprawl: How Metropolitan Regions Grow
The Cons of Metropolitan Growth
Government Reform in Metropolitan Areas
The Case Against Reform: Public Choice and the Tiebout Model
Rural Metropolitics
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 13: Education: Reading, Writing, and Regulation
Organization and Leadership: Schools Have Many Bosses
Money Matters
The Pressure to Perform
Many Brands on the School Reform Shelf
Choosing Wisely: Alternatives to Public Schools
Can’t Tell the Players Without a Program: Groups That Influence Public Education
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 14: Crime and Punishment
Principle Versus Practice in Common Law
Prison Nation
The Rise of Criminal Justice Reform
Racial Disparities in Policing
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Chapter 15: Health and Welfare
The Coronavirus Response: Federalism Under Stress
How Government Got Into The Health Care Biz
The Devolution Revolution
Government’s Role in Health
Issues to Watch
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Suggested Websites
Chapter 16: Environment and Climate Change: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Conflicting Views on Climate Change
States Get Serious about the Environment
Issues to Watch
Adaptation
Conclusion
Top Ten Takeaways
Key Concepts
Discussion Questions
Suggested Websites
Notes
Glossary
Index

Editorial Reviews

Integrating the [Vantage] knowledge checks is incredibly beneficial to the students. This keeps students engaged with the reading material and connects them with the concepts.

Review - Matt Thomas

This book provides fresh perspectives and up-to-date material that is easy to understand and applicable to students' lives. The many charts and graphs highlight important information to supplement the compelling material. My students are nearly unanimous in their praise for this book, which is quite rare!

Review - Thomas Boudrot

Governing States and Localities offers an important and timely examination of important foundations and the current state of federal-state relations, state politics, and the relationship of states to their localities. I have not found a more accessible and comprehensive book that covers all the elements that students need to gain a good grasp on ideas they often know little about but are essential to their everyday lives.

Review - Stella M. Rouse

This well written book offers a comprehensive approach to the study of sub-national government engaging students with current examples regarding salient policy areas. It effectively guides students with preview objectives about the content in each chapter and briefly reviews this material at the end of each chapter. The book also offers overviews of the critical research that is currently taking place in the field of sub-national politics and provides resourceful links to information that will enhance the student’s knowledge of the various areas of governing structures as well as policy areas.”

Pamela M. Schaal

Governing States and Localities’ comparative method provides a comprehensive, thoughtful, and systematic approach to the study of state and local government. The blend of theory and practical examples engages my students and challenges them to think about how sub national government affects their day-to-day lives.

Dana Michael Harsell

Governing States and Localities covers all of the major ideas in the literature well and its graphics are a real strength. My students read it and find it engaging. The layout is fabulous and works well in lecture form too.

David Peterson

This is my go-to book. It challenges students but is also a book that they can actually read and understand. Smith and Greenblatt integrate and reinforce the comparative method throughout the text, and students come away absolutely certain that we can learn about democracy by studying the various differences that exist between states.”

Joel Turner

I am very impressed with Governing States and Localities. It contains up-to-date scholarship on state and local politics and presents material in a highly engaging manner. The organization and writing are excellent.”

Patricia Freeland

Governing States and Localities is the gold standard for state government textbooks, with others struggling to keep up.”

Stephen Yoder

I am very impressed with the book. This is at least the third edition of the book I have used, and I believe each edition has been an improvement over the previous one.

Lee Silvi

My students respond favorably to Governing States and Localities. I’m particularly impressed with its tables, figures, and maps, which are great learning tools that I’ve found really helpful in getting across lecture points.

John Woodcock

Governing States and Localities is a great introduction to the fascinating study of state politics and policies. It employs an unpretentious reportorial style and includes interesting examples and illustrations that reflect the amazing diversity of the states as well as their successes and challenges.”

David H. Folz

Governing States and Localities is engaging and informative. The authors balance different ideological perspectives in this solid introduction to state and local government. This book will always serve as a good resource for future research to any student who holds on to it.

Michael Bobic

Governing States and Localities is the best state and local textbook available. It is flexible and adaptable to suit a variety of instructor strengths. Student responses to the book have always been very positive. The comparative approach comes across vividly through analytical presentation and engaging vignettes, and the content is well-written and visually inviting.

Scott Moore

Governing States and Localities is an excellent, full-coverage textbook that successfully highlights the variation of states across time and space. The authors provide many interesting and current real-life examples to highlight the relevancy of the material. The text has a strong analytical and empirical focus, while remaining accessible and engaging.

Andrea Mc Atee

Jane Bryant
“An easy-to-navigate, comparative book on state and local government. Very student-friendly and well-organized.”

Jane Bryant

Governing States and Localities is a better-written and more accessible book [compared to the competition] for college undergraduates. It does a great job of explaining and clarifying core concepts and its graphics are decidedly superior. Bright colors jump off the page and captivate readers with useful and insightful information.”

Adam Butz

This is the best book I have encountered on state and local government. Smith and Greenblatt combine a wealth of information on states and localities in a variety of different ways, including the presentation of engaging vignettes, illuminating statistical charts, and the latest research on major topics in the field. At the same time, they build students’ skills so that they can consider the information from a comparative perspective. What more can you ask for?

Douglas Kuberski

I have looked at a lot of state and local books and Governing States and Localities is head and shoulders above the rest. It is thorough and engaging. Students read it and understand it.”

Lori Riverstone-Newell

Smith and Greenblatt engage students with their seamless integration of contemporary political and policy issues. Governing States and Localities presents the material in an accessible manner that ensures that students understand the core concepts yet are also challenged to consider more advanced theoretical puzzles.”

Jennifer Clark

Governing States and Localities is an excellent, full-coverage textbook that successfully highlights the variation of states across time and space. The authors provide many interesting and current real-life examples to highlight the relevancy of the material. The text has a strong analytical and empirical focus, while remaining accessible and engaging.

Andrea McAtee