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 yet fragmented 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 and local 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