Struggle for Power and Influence in Cities and States, The
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The Struggle provides an insider’s perspective on how power and influence are obtained and wielded at the local and state levels of government.
By examining the social, economic, political and governmental conditions in communities and states, The Struggle equips students with the understanding they need to make the impact they want.
PART I: INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Introduction: The Struggle for Power and Influence
Importance of State and Local Politics
Learning About Local Politics and Government
Scope of the Book
PART II: INSTITUTIONS AND ELECTIONS
Chapter 2: Constitutions and Charters: The Foundations of State
The Beginnings of State and Local Governments in the United States
Constitutions and Charters–the Ballpark of Politics
City (Municipal) Charters
Forms of Local Government
Chapter 3: Struggles in State Legislatures and City Councils
Serving in the City Council or the State Legislature
Struggling for Power and Influence in Legislative Bodies
Who are the lawmakers
Organizing and Operating a Legislative Body
The Capacity to Legislate Effectively
Committees as the Fountain and Deathtrap of Legislation
Making your Bill a Law
Limits on Lawmakers
Making Decisions is Not Simple
Ethics in Legislative Decision Making — The “Queasiness” Test
“How’re We Doin’?” in our Legislative Bodies
Chapter 4: Executive Power in State and Local Government
State and Local Chief Executives Struggle for Power
Powers of Governors and Mayors as Chief Executives
The Various Roles of Chief Executives
History of State and Local Executive Power
The State Executive Branch
Executive Officials in City and County Government
Running a Bureaucracy
Chapter 5: Election Battles
Nowlan and Simpson Campaigns
Deciding to Run
Launching a Candidacy
Developing a Campaign Strategy
A Candidate’s Image
A Campaign’s Message
Chapter 6: Justice and Corrections
People in the Criminal Justice System
Processes of the Criminal Justice System
Outcomes of the Justice System
Chapter 7: Federalism: Playing Tug of War
Historical Background of Federalism
State and Local Governmental Connections with the Federal Judicial Branch
State and Local Governmental Connections with the Federal Legislative Branch
State and Local Governmental Connections with the Federal Executive Branch
Interplay between Congress, State and Local Government, and Federal Agencies
The Tug of War among States — Horizontal Federalism
Interplay between States and Local Governments
States and Cities Today: Stronger in the Tug of War?
Intergovernmental Relations: A Summary
PART III: POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Chapter 8: Participation in State and Local Government
Lobbying in the Legislative Process
Journalists’ and the Media’s Role as Community Watchdogs
Roles Citizens Can Play
PART IV: POLICIES AND PROBLEMS
Ch. 9: Follow the Money — The Politics of State and Local Budgeting
Budgets as Allocations of Our Values and Demands or Needs
Enormous Pressure to Spend
Finding the Revenue Always a Struggle
The Big Three Taxes: Sales, Income, Property
Should We Tax Sales on the Internet?
Evaluating Revenue Sources: The Old Regressive-Progressive Debate
Budgeting Process Is Simple, But Decisions Are Difficult
The Office of Management and Budget
Capital Borrowing and Spending
The Politics of “Shift and Shaft"
Political Dynamics of Budgeting
Chapter 10. Metropolitanization and Globalization
Governing the Metropolitan Region
Problems of Metropolitanization and Globalization
Our Neighbors: Canada and Mexico
Getting Along with Our Neighbors
Chapter 11: The Struggle for the Schoolhouse and Campus
The Historical Development of American Public Education
Public School Education — From Kindergarten through High School
The Federal Role in Education
Who Pays for Public Education?
Non-public School Education
The Campuses Struggle to Maintain Independence
PART V: DEMOCRACY AND ETHICS
Chapter 12: Democracy and Ethics at the Grassroots
Metropolitanization and Globalization
Ethics in Politics
• Comprehensive, balanced coverage of both state and local government and politics is found in every chapter.
• Struggle for Power boxes highlight the text’s overall theme and animate the presentation by focusing on important political struggles pulled from the headlines.
• An Insider’s View boxes provide concrete examples told from the perspective of those closest to the political action.
• Practical Exercises at the end of every chapter promote civic involvement.
• Questions for Review help students ensure they’ve mastered the key concepts of each chapter.
• Discussion Questions provide a jumping off point for engaging in political discussions in or out of class.
The text explores four specific themes throughout its chapters:
- The role of power and influence in state and local government and politics
- The tension between representative and participatory politics
- The ways in which the structures of government and political processes interact
- Whether the outcomes produced by the governmental institutions and processes are good or bad.