Politics in the American States and Communities A Contemporary Reader

With a balanced combination of scholarly and popular articles, Politics in the American States and Communities: A Contemporary Reader brings analysis of the institutions, processes, policy making, and people of state and local government to life for the student. Intended as either a supplement or core text for the standard course in State and Local Government, Van Der Slik covers all the usual course topics in depth. Forty full-length articles range over ten chapters to survey the landscape of state and municipal governance, from introductory consideration of the nature of American Federalism, to State Constitutions, Finance, Participation and Elections, Parties and Interest Groups, Legislatures and Councils, Executives, Courts, and Policy Arenas and Politics for Changing Future. Throughout, Van Der Slik asks the student to consider the broad issues of scarcity, popular apathy, pluralism, and the people behind politics. Chapter opening introductory essays, introductions to each article, and chapter-ending questions are provided to help the student navigate the terrain.Van der Slik, Jack R. is the author of 'Politics in the American States and Communities A Contemporary Reader' with ISBN 9780205164905 and ISBN 0205164900.