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State & Local Politics: Institutions & Reform

State & Local Politics: Institutions & Reform. CHAPTER ONE Introduction to State & Local Politics. Chapter 1—Introduction to State and Local Politics. Why is college in Florida relatively inexpensive compared to Pennsylvania? What role do policymakers play?

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State & Local Politics: Institutions & Reform

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  1. State & Local Politics: Institutions & Reform CHAPTER ONE Introduction to State & Local Politics

  2. Chapter 1—Introduction to State and Local Politics • Why is college in Florida relatively inexpensive compared to Pennsylvania? • What role do policymakers play? • Is post secondary education a public good? • States Vary

  3. Introduction―Themes • The Importance of State and Local Governments • Political Institutions Matter • Reform • State and Local Governments Differ from One Another

  4. State and Local Governments—Everywhere, All the Time • This affects: • Safe and affordable electricity • Food safety • Water provision • College admissions, tuition, degree requirements • Regulating doctors, teachers, lawyers, etc. • Taxes • Purchasing a firearm • And many other daily activities

  5. Government, Politics, and Public Policy • Government—the authoritative apparatus by which people organize themselves to achieve common goals • Politics—process that a community uses to determine what government ought to do • PublicPolicy—decisions and actions by government to accomplish common goals

  6. Differences in Government: Women in State Legislatures • Why are there differences across states?

  7. Differences in Politics: Voting, Party Labels, and State Governors • When might party labels be important?

  8. Differences in Public Policy: Funding Higher Education • Why do some states spend more than others on higher education?

  9. Other Differences across States and Communities • History and Geography • Social Forces • Economic Characteristics • Culture, Ideas, and Values • Ideology • Culture

  10. Ideology

  11. Political Culture • Daniel Elazar’s subcultures: • Moralistic political culture • Traditionalistic political culture • Individualistic political culture

  12. Why is political culture important?

  13. Reform and Political Institutions • Some things change • Others are more stable • Politics and public policy are influenced by institutions • Institutions have their own set of rules • Determines power of government officials • Rules often change--reforms

  14. The Comparative Method • Why do they tax dogs in West Virginia? • Why does Texas execute many murderers? • The comparative method? • Identify something that varies • Hypothesize what causes the variation • Potential answer to a research question supported by a theoretical explanation • Test the hypothesis

  15. Summary • State and Local Governments are important to your every day life • This book focuses on: • Comparisons • Institutions’ effects on politics and policy • Reform of policies and institutions

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

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