State and Local Government

UNIT 1. Early Commentaries 1. The Federalist, No. 17, Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers, 1787 According to Alexander Hamilton, a number of factors combine to make it highly unlikely that the national government will become too powerful in the new federal system that is proposed in the Constitution drafted during the summer of 1787. 2. The Federalist, No. 45, James Madison, The Federalist Papers, 1788 James Madison writes that the authority of state governments will not be endangered by the central government in the new federal system. He argues that history, the nature and role of state governments, and the relatively few powers delegated to the national government in the Constitution support his conclusion. 3. Nature of the American State, James Bryce, The American Commonwealth, 1888 After noting that there is considerable diversity among the states, James Bryce focuses on factors that promote uniformity among them. He also discusses the constitutional and legal standing of the states within the context of American federalism. UNIT 2. Intergovernmental Relations 4. Federalism's Ups and Downs, Carl Tubbesing, State Legislatures, February 2002 With reference to the views of three historical figuresAlexander Hamilton, Franklin Roosevelt, and Benjamin FranklinCarl Tubbesing explores three explanations for the growth of the national government's power at the expense of the states. 5. Judicial Federalism: The Resurgence of the Supreme Court's Role in the Protection of State Sovereignty, Charles Wise, Public Administration Review, March/April 1998 In the 1990s the U.S. Supreme Court reasserted its role as the ultimate arbiter in the division of powers between the national government and the states, and the Supreme Court has mostly sided with the states. 6. The Devil in Devolution, John D. Donahue, The American Prospect, May/June 1997 John Donahue discusses the pros and cons of devolving governmental responsibilities to the states. He concludes that the current sentiment in favor of more devolution is likely misguided. 7. Enemies of the State, Alan Greenblatt, Governing, June 2002 Alan Greenblatt discusses the tensions that arise when state governments try to solve their fiscal troubles at the expense of local governments and the tactics that localities in some states have used in response. 8. Taking Charge, Ted Halstead and Michael Lind, The Washington Monthly, April 2001 Ted Halstead and Michael Lind argue that many of the U.S. school problems stem from the way schools are financed. They propose national funding of elementary and secondary education and explain why such a reform is needed. 9. Time to Cooperate, Jonathan Walters, Governing, January 2002 The attacks of September 11, 2001, rallied the American people to work together and overcome the challenges ahead. Jonathan Walters questions whether state and federal governments have achieved the same level of cooperation. UNIT 3. Linkages Between Citizens and Governments Part A. Elections and Related Matters 10. The Immortal Chad, Anya Sostek, Governing, January 2002 Anya Sostek notes that reform of state voting systems has proceeded surprisingly slowly in the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election controversy in Florida, and she explains why. 11. Locking Up the Vote[read more]