Governing States and Localities - Softcover

Smith, Kevin B.; Greenblatt, Alan H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1483378039 ISBN 13: 9781483378039

Publisher: CQ Press, 2015

Synopsis

The recession-era days of state reliance on the federal government are waning. States and localities are increasingly assertive in seeking independence from Washington’s policy priorities. Kevin Smith and Alan Greenblatt’s proven text employs a comparative approach to show how the geography, history, political culture, institutional structures, economic underpinnings, and demographics of states and localities both clash and converge in comprehensible, telling ways. Why does one state pass stricter gun control standards while another loosens them? What are the implications of state legalization of marijuana when the federal government still calls it illegal? Governing States and Localities provides students with the tools to begin answering these questions. The Fifth Edition features extensive updating on such major developments as the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, the education debate over the Common Core State Standards, and the implications for residents when localities succumb to bankruptcy.

About this title

About the Author:

Kevin B. Smith is professor and chair of the political science department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been studying and teaching state politics and policy for more than twenty years. He has authored or co-authored nine books and dozens of scholarly articles, and is a former associate editor of State Politics & Policy Quarterly. Prior to becoming an academic he covered state and local politics as a newspaper reporter. 

Review:

"Governing States and Localities is the gold standard for state government textbooks, with others struggling to keep up." 

Author: Stephen Yoder

"This is my go-to book. It challenges students but is also a book that they can actually read and understand. Smith and Greenblatt integrate and reinforce the comparative method throughout the text, and students come away absolutely certain that we can learn about democracy by studying the various differences that exist between states." 

Author: Joel Turner

"Governing States and Localities is a better-written and more accessible book [compared to the competition] for college undergraduates. It does a great job of explaining and clarifying core concepts and its graphics are decidedly superior. Bright colors jump off the page and captivate readers with useful and insightful information." 

Author: Adam Butz,

"I am very impressed with Governing States and Localities. It contains up-to-date scholarship on state and local politics and presents material in a highly engaging manner. The organization and writing are excellent." 

Author: Patricia Freeland

"Governing States and Localities is a great introduction to the fascinating study of state politics and policies. It employs an unpretentious reportorial style and includes interesting examples and illustrations that reflect the amazing diversity of the states as well as their successes and challenges."

Author: David H. Folz

"Smith and Greenblatt engage students with their seamless integration of contemporary political and policy issues. Governing States and Localities presents the material in an accessible manner that ensures that students understand the core concepts yet are also challenged to consider more advanced theoretical puzzles." 

Author: Jennifer Clark

About this edition

• Publisher: CQ Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1483378039
• ISBN 13: 9781483378039
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 656