Local Government And The States Autonomy Politics And Policy

This book offers an overview of the legal, political, and broad intergovernmental environment in which relations between local and state units of government take place, the historical roots of the conflict among them, and an analysis of contemporary problems concerning local authority, local revenues, state interventions and takeovers, and the restructuring of local governments. The author pays special attention to local governmental autonomy and the goals and activities of local officials as they seek to secure resources, fend off regulations and interventions, and fight for survival as independent units. He looks at the intergovernmental struggle from the bottom up, but in the process examines a variety of political activities at the state level and the development and effects of several state policies. Berman finds considerable reason to be concerned about the viability and future of meaningful local government.

This book invokes the average citizen's perspective, encouraging readers to apply their own experiences with local government. The book thoroughly describes all forms of local government and details the long history of federal and local governmental relations. Special focus on recent developments including: strengthening the roles of states, tribes, and local governments is provided. The description of the policy-making process provides a concrete, unifying force in the text and discussions of historical legacies and regional differences give the reader a well-rounded understanding of the subleties of intergovernmental relations. Five separate chapters supply in-depth explorations of major policy areas such as crime and corrections, educational policy, social welfare and health policy, environmental policy and economic development, and fiscal policy and financial management. Other topics include a discussion of tribes and tribal governments, changes in federalism and electoral behavior, and welfare reform. Anyone with an interest in local and state governments and how they relate to the federal governent.

"In our 'devolutionary' era, politics at the state and local levels is more interesting than ever. This popular text is the most concise, readable, and current introduction to the field. Now in its ninth edition, the book keeps its focus on the varied and changing political and economic environments in which state and local governments function and their strengths and weaknesses in key areas of public policy."--Back cover.

In this new edition of Arizona Politics and Government, David R. Berman examines the continuity and changes in Arizona's political culture, constitutional foundations, geographical features, and changing social economic-political characteristics.

This book examines the issues and consequences of a declining property tax base with respect to local government autonomy. Some of the nation's leading scholars provide their views on how the property tax effects intergovernmental relations, local autonomy, and education finance. --from publisher description

Challenges to Local Government offers a timely discussion of how local governments have implemented public policies during the last decade. Concentrating on Britain and the United States (but with essays on Scandinavia, France and Canada) the authors document, explain and analyze the implications of these policies for local autonomy, focusing especially upon local economic initiatives.

In the new Ninth Edition of STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, International Edition, this best-selling text continues to provide comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of institutions, political behavior, and policy-making at the state and local level. The book's theme of increased capacity and responsiveness of state and local government conveys excitement about politics at the grassroots level and is pro public service.

`Its strength lies in combining theoretical insights with an impressive range of empirical material. The analysis is subtle and multi-layered.... This is a timely and important book' - Political Studies `Local governance have gained massive attention among scholars and practitioners during the past several years. Peter John's book fills a void in the literature by tracing the historical roots of local governance and by placing his findings in a comparative perspective' - Professor Jon Pierre, University of Gothenburg, Sweden `Peter John has produced a fascinating and stimulating book in which he assesses current developments in urban politics and local government in Europe and suggests how these changes are leading to different patterns of sub-national territorial politics in the EU today. What he has to say is of important interest to all students of local government; comparative politics and of territorial politics more generally' - Michael Goldsmith, University of Salford `this book offers a fascinating comparative analysis... themes such as New Public Management, globalisation, regionalism and privatisation will be relevant to numerous courses in government, politics, public administration and public policy' - West European Politics This text provides a comprehensive introduction to local government and urban politics in contemporary Western Europe. It is the first book to map and explain the change in local political systems and to place these in comparative context. The book introduces students to the traditional structures and institutions of local government and shows how these have been transformed in response to increased economic and political competition, new ideas, institutional reform and the Europeanization of public policy. At the book's core is the perceived transition from local government to local governance. The book traces this key development thematically across a wide range of West European states including: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom.