for use with keeping the republic. copyright © 2006 by cq press. state and local politics in a...

For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.

State and Local Politics in a Federal System

Chapter 16


In this chapter you will learn about

• The structure of federalism today, and the ways the national government tries to secure state cooperation (recap from Chapter 4)

• The political cultures that exist in different states and the policy differences these generate

• The variety of rules established by state constitutions, and how those rules affect the progress of devolution

• State political institutions and the changes in those institutions as they evolve to manage the new tasks that states take on

• Local government and its relationship to state politics• The relationship of citizens to their state and local

politics


Structure of federalism

• Dual federalism: the federal system under which the national and state governments were responsible for separate policy areas

• Cooperative federalism: the federal system under which the national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas


Federal incentives for state action

• Categorical grant: federal funds provided for a specific purpose; restricted by detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance standards

• Block grant: federal funds provided for a broad purpose; unrestricted by detailed requirements and regulations

• Unfunded mandate: a federal order that the states operate and pay for a program created at the national level


The context of state politics:state political culture

• Moralistic political culture: a political culture that expects government to promote the public interest and the common good, sees government as positive, and encourage citizen participation– New England, upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest

• Individualistic political culture: a political culture that distrusts government, expects corruption, downplays citizen participation, and stresses individual economic prosperity– Mid-Atlantic, lower Midwest, to west coast


State political culture, cont’d.

• Traditionalistic political culture: a political culture that expects government to maintain existing power structures and sees citizenship as stratified, with politicians coming from the social elite– South and Southwest

• Different political cultures lead to different participation, policies, acceptance of corruption, ideological polarization of parties, and welfare spending


Rules of the game: constitutions and democracy

• The nature of state constitutions– Some are simple, short, general, long-lasting– Some are longer, frequently revised– Super legislation: the process of amending state

constitutions to include interest groups’ policy preferences


Rules of the game:constitutions and democracy, cont’d.

• Historical waves of reform– Progressive reforms– Direct democracy reforms: initiative, referenda,

recall

• Current reforms – Stronger state government– More efficient state government– Move away from citizen to professional

legislatures


Legislators and legislatures

• End of malapportionment improves urban power

• More professional state legislatures

• Legislatures represent public’s policy interests well


Governors: growing yetfragmented power

• No longer “good-time Charlies”

• Reforms have made governors more professional

• Lack some executive powers– Secretary of state, attorney general aren’t appointed

but are separately elected


State courts

• Rule on significant issues; decisions have great ramifications

• Unified state court system: organized and managed by a state supreme court

• Reformers prefer merit system of judicial selection rather than judicial elections

• State supreme courts relying more on state constitutions rather than U.S. Constitution in rulings


Local government

• Multiplicity of forms:– Counties, cities, and towns make up local

government

• Localities do not have constitutional status; their powers come from states, which can take them away

• States often allow larger cities to govern themselves


Local government, cont’d.

• Mayoral government: form of local government in which a mayor is elected in a partisan election

• Council-manager government: form of local government in which a professional city or town manager is appointed by elected councilors

• Commission: the basic component of the county form of government; combines executive and legislative functions over a narrow area of responsibility


Problems of the cities

• Suburbanization has created significant problems for cities: tax base, urban decay, education, crime

• Metropolitan-wide government: a single government that controls and administers public policy in a central city and its surrounding suburbs– Typically resisted by suburbs and not adopted– Most aid to cities comes from federal government


State and local relations

• Most power lies with states in state-local relations

• As federal government cuts back on services, states pass on requirements and regulations to localities


The citizens and state andlocal government

• Mobility of people, businesses, jobs leads to competition and cooperation among states and localities

• Tax breaks and efforts to recruit plants, sports teams

• Some fear competition will lead to a “race to the bottom” on welfare spending


Intergovernmental cooperation

• Numerous associations among different levels of government– E.g., National Governors Association, Council of

State Governments, National Conference of State Legislatures

• Interstate compacts: agreements between two or more states, frequently formed to manage a common resource

for use with keeping the republic. copyright © 2006 by cq press. state and local politics in a...

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