Why States Matter: An Introduction to State Politics

by Gary F. Moncrief, Peverill Squire

Overview

When it comes to voting, taxes, environmental regulations, social services, education, criminal justice, political parties, property rights, gun control, marriage and a whole host of other modern American issues, the state in which a citizen resides makes a difference. That idea—that the political decisions made by those in state-level offices are of tremendous importance to the lives of people whose states they govern—is the fundamental concept explored in this book. Gary F. Moncrief and Peverill Squire introduce students to the very tangible and constantly evolving implications, limitations, and foundations of America’s state political institutions, and accessibly explain the ways that the political powers of the states manifest themselves in the cultures, economies, and lives of everyday Americans, and always will.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442268067
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/2017
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	1,021,287
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Gary F. Moncrief is University Foundation Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Boise State University.

Peverill Squire holds the Hicks and Martha Griffiths Chair in American Political Institutions at the University of Missouri.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition vii

1 Making a Case for the States 1

2 States and the Federal System 21

3 The Policymaking Environment in the States 55

4 The Policymaking Capacity of State Governments 77

5 Public Policy and the Role of the States in a Changing Federal System 101

6 Elections and Political Parties 143

7 State Fiscal Systems 183

8 Why States Matter Now 223

Index 233

About the Authors 247

Editorial Reviews

Since Why States Matter was first published, there have been many important political developments at the state level that have not only affected people's lives, but have also impacted the relationship between the federal and state governments. In the second edition Moncrief and Squire address many of these developments, and have therefore strengthened the argument that students and scholars interested in American politics should not neglect what happens in state legislatures across the country. I know my students will enjoy the new edition, as they have reacted positively to the state-level comparative approach taken by the authors.

Richard Ledet

"Why States Matter is a timely and important look at the role of the states in the American federal system. While much of the American public and media focus on Washington, D.C., Moncrief and Squire remind us of the crucial place of the states in the American system. The book provides an accessible but thorough introduction to state policy making and politics.

Jonathan Winburn

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