State & Local Politics: Institutions & Reform: The Essentials
A good survey text with a bit more of a conceptual approach than is typical. . . . A text with current student-oriented examples, but a solid overview of the research."It provides the most comprehensive coverage of scholarship on state government and politics that I have ever encountered, along with very useful vignettes and examples and outstanding historical perspective on almost every subject covered."I was impressed with the coverage of important issues and the superb incorporation of recent scholarship. It has been a while since a textbook made me this excited about the prospect of teaching a course. The result is a textbook that enlivens the area of state and local politics and makes it more relevant for students."The writing style is engaging and often witty, making the material accessible to perhaps even the most apathetic undergraduate."Rather than settling for a lifeless walk through the mechanics of government, the authors have written a theoretically informed, up-to-date treatment of state and local politics. Including references to the latest research on state politics is not only long overdue but it makes the text relevant by demonstrating that the rules of the game matter.