State & Local Politics:

Institutions & Reform

CHAPTER ONECHAPTER ONE

Introduction to State Introduction to State & & Local PoliticsLocal Politics

• Why is college in Florida relatively Why is college in Florida relatively inexpensive compared to Pennsylvania?inexpensive compared to Pennsylvania?

• What role do policymakers play?What role do policymakers play?

• Is post secondary education a public Is post secondary education a public good?good?

• States VaryStates Vary

Chapter 1—Introduction to State and Local Politics

1.1. The Importance of State and Local The Importance of State and Local GovernmentsGovernments

2.2. Political Institutions MatterPolitical Institutions Matter

3.3. ReformReform

4.4. State and Local Governments Differ State and Local Governments Differ from One Anotherfrom One Another

Introduction―Themes

• This affectsThis affects::– Safe and affordable electricitySafe and affordable electricity– Food safetyFood safety– Water provisionWater provision– College admissions, tuition, degree College admissions, tuition, degree

requirementsrequirements– Regulating doctors, teachers, lawyers, etc.Regulating doctors, teachers, lawyers, etc.– TaxesTaxes– Purchasing a firearmPurchasing a firearm– And many other daily activitiesAnd many other daily activities

State and Local Governments—Everywhere, All the Time

• GovernmentGovernment—the authoritative apparatus —the authoritative apparatus by which people organize themselves to by which people organize themselves to achieve common goalsachieve common goals

• PoliticsPolitics—process that a community uses —process that a community uses to determine what government ought to doto determine what government ought to do

• PublicPublic PolicyPolicy—decisions and actions by —decisions and actions by government to accomplish common goalsgovernment to accomplish common goals

Government, Politics, and Public Policy

• Why are there differences across states?Why are there differences across states?

Differences in Government: Women in State Legislatures

Differences in Politics: Voting, Party Labels, and State Governors

• When might party labels be important?When might party labels be important?

Differences in Public Policy: Funding Higher Education

• Why do some states spend more than others on higher Why do some states spend more than others on higher education?education?

1.1. History and GeographyHistory and Geography

2.2. Social ForcesSocial Forces

3.3. Economic CharacteristicsEconomic Characteristics

4.4. Culture, Ideas, and ValuesCulture, Ideas, and Values

• Ideology Ideology

• Culture Culture

Other Differences across States and Communities

Ideology

• Daniel Elazar’s subcultures:Daniel Elazar’s subcultures:

1.1. MoralisticMoralistic political culture political culture

2.2. TraditionalisticTraditionalistic political culture political culture

3.3. IndividualisticIndividualistic political culture political culture

Political Culture

• Why is political culture important?Why is political culture important?

• Some things changeSome things change

• Others are more stableOthers are more stable

• Politics and public policy are influenced by Politics and public policy are influenced by institutions institutions

– Institutions have their own set of rulesInstitutions have their own set of rules

– Determines power of government Determines power of government officialsofficials

– Rules often change--reformsRules often change--reforms

Reform and Political Institutions

• Why do they tax dogs in West Virginia?Why do they tax dogs in West Virginia?• Why does Texas execute many murderers? Why does Texas execute many murderers? • The comparative methodThe comparative method??

1.1. Identify something that varies Identify something that varies 2.2. HypothesizeHypothesize what causes the variation what causes the variation

– Potential answer to a research question Potential answer to a research question supported by a theoretical explanationsupported by a theoretical explanation

3.3. Test the hypothesisTest the hypothesis

The Comparative Method

• State and Local Governments are State and Local Governments are important to your every day lifeimportant to your every day life

• This book focuses on:This book focuses on:

– ComparisonsComparisons

– Institutions’ effects on politics and policyInstitutions’ effects on politics and policy

– Reform of policies and institutions Reform of policies and institutions

Summary

Council of State Governments Council of State Governments http://www.csg.org National League of Cities National League of Cities http://www.citymayors.com/orgs/natleague.html Stateline.org Stateline.org http://www.stateline.org Statistical Abstract of the United States Statistical Abstract of the United States http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/

Web Sites