for use with keeping the republic. copyright © 2006 by cq press. state and local politics in a...
TRANSCRIPT
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
State and Local Politics in a Federal System
Chapter 16
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
Legislators and legislatures
• End of malapportionment improves urban power
• More professional state legislatures
• Legislatures represent public’s policy interests well
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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
For use with Keeping the Republic. Copyright © 2006 by CQ Press.
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