Readings and Cases in State and Local Politics
Note: Each reading and case study includes an Introduction, and each chapter concludes with Review Questions, Key Terms, Suggestions for Further Readings, and Related Web Sites. 1. The Changing Position of State Government: The Concept of Resurgence Reading 1: Governance and the Changing American States, David M. Hedge Case Study 1: Paradise Lost: California's Experience, America's Future, Peter Schrag 2. Understanding Differences Across the States: The Concept of Political Culture Reading 2: The Political Subcultures of the United States, Daniel J. Elazar Case Study 2: American Hayride, Victor Gold 3. Redistributing Power Among Governments: The Concept of Devolution Reading 3: The Devolution Tortoise and the Centralization Hare, John Kincaid Case Study 3: The Role of "Home" in Homeland Security, Paul Posner 4. State Constitutions: The Concept of Distinctiveness Reading 4: The Distinctiveness of State Constitutionalism, G. Alan Tarr Case Study 4: Alabama Constitution at Heart of Heated Controversy, Constitutional Reform: Who's in this Fight and Why? Mike Goens Some See Amendment 328 as Proof that Constitutional Reform Can Happen Here, Mike Goens 5. Political Participation: The Concept of Civic Engagement Reading 5: Thinking about Social Change in America, Robert D. Putnam Case Study 5: A Theology of Organizing: From Alinsky to the Modern IAF, Mark R. Warren 6. Political Parties and Elections: The Concept of Candidate-Centered Campaigns Reading 6: Thinking About Politicians, Alan Ehrenhalt Case Study 6: The Body Politic Registers a Protest,David Beiler 7. Interest Representation: The Concept of Group Power Reading 7: Interest Group Power in the Fifty States: Trends Since the Late 1970s, Clive S. Thomas and Ronald J. Hrebenar Case Study 7: The Campaign for the Unpaid Wages Prohibition Act, Jennifer Gordon 8. State Legislatures: The Concept of Professionalism Reading 8: The Evolution of the State Legislature: Institutional Change and Legislative Careers, Joel A. Thompson and Gary F. Moncrief Case Study 8: The Sick Legislature Syndrome, Charles Mahtesian Is Professionalization a Pathogen? Peverill Squire 9. Governors: The Concept of Gubernatorial Success Reading 9: Understanding Gubernatorial Behavior: A Framework for Analysis, Robert E. Crew, Jr. Case Study 9: In Search of George W. E.J. Dionne, Jr. 10. State and Local Bureaucracies: The Concept of Privatization Reading 10: The Urge to Privatize: From the Bureaucratic State to the Contract State, Elliott D. Sclar Case Study 10: Denver, Jonathan E.D. Richmond 11. State Courts: The Concept of the New Judicial Federalism Reading 11: The Third Stage of New Judicial Federalism, Robert F. Williams Case Study 11: Common Benefits, Matt McDonald 12. Local Government: The Concept of the Model City Charter Reading 12: How American City Governments Have Changed: The Evolution of the Model City Charter, H. George Frederickson, Curtis Wood, and Brett Logan Case Study 12: Are City Councils a Relic of the Past? Robert Gurwitt 13. Urban Government: The Concept of New Regionalism Reading 13: Regionalisms Old and New, Peter Dreier, John Mollenkopf, and Todd Swanstrom Case Study 13: Portland: A Regionalized Politics Shapes Growth, Paul G. Lewis 14. State Finances: The Concept of Budgeting Reading 14: Balance of Power: The Case of the Budget, Alan Rosenthal Case Study 14: California in Crisis, Jim Evans, A.G. Block, Bruce Cain, Thad Kousser, Daniel Borenstein, and David Lesher 15. Education: The Concept of School Reform Reading 15: The Challenge of Change in Complex Policy Subsystems, Clarence N. Stone, Jeffrey R. Henig, Bryan D. Jones, and Carol Pierannunzi Case Study 15: Pittsburgh's Public Schools: A Fragile Balance of Leadership and Institution Building, John Portz, Lana Stein, and Robin R. Jones 16. Social Welfare: The Concepts of Laboratories of Democracy and Race to the Bottom Reading 16: Making Something Out of Nothing: Welfare Reform and a New Race to the Bottom, Sanford F. Schram and Joe Soss Case Study 16: Getting Opal Caples to Work, Jason DeParle