Governing States and Localities / Edition 6

by Kevin B. Smith, Alan H. Greenblatt

Overview

Despite reports of the recession nearing an end, states will have to struggle to make ends meet well into the foreseeable future. The choices are sometimes stark: trade-offs between roads and schools, public safety and health care. The new edition of Governing States and Localities responds to this reality with a new, sharper focus on economic and budget pressures. The chapter on finances comes earlier in the book, helping to frame each of the subsequent issues, and a new feature called “States under Stress” helps students see how fiscal and budgetary policy affects all areas of state and local governance.

A brand-new chapter on the environment highlights the leadership role the states have taken in fighting climate change, creating green jobs, and combating pollution. Still a great blend of engaging journalistic writing, high-quality academic analysis, and the latest scholarship, the third edition has been thoroughly updated to account for such major developments as the recentralization of federalism under the Obama administration and the further politicization and rising costs of judicial elections. The authors have expanded coverage of referendums and direct democracy, as well as the increased role states play in homeland security.

A series of well-designed features asks students to apply the comparative method (“A Difference that Makes a Difference”), to see how intergovernmental relations impact localities (“Local Focus”), and to see examples of how policies are actually implemented (“Policy in Practice”). An engaging full-color design, more than thirty maps, a vivid selection of photographs, updated tables and figures, and a marginal glossary all combine to keep your students focused and learning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506360263
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	01/17/2017
Edition description:	Sixth Edition
Pages:	632
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

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?
Chapter 2 Federalism: The Power Plan
Chapter 3 Constitutions: Operating Instructions
Chapter 4 Finance: Filling the Till and Paying the Bills
Chapter 5 Political Attitudes and Participation: Venting and Voting
Chapter 6 Parties and Interest Groups: Elephants, Donkeys, and Cash Cows
Chapter 7 Legislatures: The Art of Herding Cats
Chapter 8 Governors and Executives: There Is No Such Thing as Absolute Power
Chapter 9 Courts: Turning Law into Politics
Chapter 10 Bureaucracy: What Nobody Wants but Everybody Needs
Chapter 11 Local Government: Function Follows Form
Chapter 12 Metropolitics: The Hole Problem of Government
Chapter 13 Education: Reading, Writing, and Regulation
Chapter 14 Crime and Punishment
Chapter 15 Health and Welfare
Chapter 16 Environment and Climate Change: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Notes
Glossary
Index

Editorial Reviews

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

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

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 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 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

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

Stephen Yoder

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

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

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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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

Jane Bryant

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