State and Local Government: Sustainability in the 21st Century

State and Local Government: Sustainability in the 21st Century examines the social, economic, institutional, and environmental factors that promote or threaten the sustainability of today's state and local governments. Ideal for students who are approaching the subject for the first time, this accessible and engaging introduction covers all of the essential issues faced by contemporary state and local governments. Representing three generations of teaching and scholarship, authors Christopher A. Simon, Brent S. Steel, and Nicholas P. Lovrich provide students with a broad range of perspectives. They draw on a variety of current materials including their own research, the work of distinguished scholars, and the latest literature in the field. State and Local Government also contains a variety of helpful pedagogical tools: * "How to Get Involved" boxes suggest various ways that students can follow—and actively participate in—their state and local governments. * Chapter introductions help students to identify key concepts right from the start of each selection. * Key Terms and end-of-chapter Study Questions reinforce chapter material and promote active learning. * Informative images provide students with visual cues for recalling chapter content. Supplements include a Companion Website (www.oup.com/us/simon) as well as a comprehensive Test Bank for instructors. Designed to facilitate and encourage lifelong civic engagement, State and Local Government: Sustainability in the 21st Century speaks directly to today's college students. This is especially important because their generation will determine whether we meet the challenge of sustainability or continue to slide toward irretrievable environmental damage. This timely and provocative volume is ideal for courses in state and local government and can also be used as a supplemental text for courses in public policy, environmental policy, and public administration.

Table of Contents:
Preface ; 1. INTRODUCTION AND THEMES ; a. Introduction ; b. Forces Facing State and Local Governments ; i. Demographic Change ; ii. Urbanization ; iii. Globalization and Economic Change ; iv. Technological Change ; v. Value Change ; vi. Environmental Change and Concern ; c. Sustainable and Resilient States and Communities ; d. Summary and Book Outline ; 2. FEDERALISM ; a. Introduction ; b. Units of Government ; c. Historic Roots of Federalism ; d. Advantages of Federalism ; e. Potential Challenges Facing Federalism ; f. Models of Federalism ; i. Dual Federalism ; ii. Cooperative Federalism ; iii. Pragmatic Federalism ; iv. Non-Centralized Federalism ; f. 21st Century Network Approaches to Federalism ; g. Conditions for Sustainable Federalism ; h. Conclusion ; 3. THE NEW MARGINS: SUSTAINABILITY ; a. Innovation ; b. Infrastructure Renewal ; i. Water and Waste Systems ; ii. Government Buildings ; iii. Urban Redevelopment ; c. Resource Management and Development: Energy and Environment ; i. Surveying Needs and Potential ; ii. New Innovations ; iii. Commitment Development ; iv. Case Studies ; d. Livability ; i. Eldercare Issues ; ii. Clean Cities ; iii. Social Capital ; iv. Case Studies ; 4. ACTORS AND THE POLICY PROCESS ; a. Introduction ; b. Political Participation in Postindustrial America ; c. Interest Groups ; d. Social Movements ; e. Citizens ; f. Initiative and Referenda ; g. Media ; h. Corporations and Economic Interests ; i. Political Parties and Elections ; j. Governmental Structures and the Policy Process ; k. A Review of Policy Models ; l. Conclusion ; 5. STATE CONSTITUTIONS ; a. Introduction ; b. Purpose of State Constitutions ; c. Content of State Constitutions: Diversity and Similarities ; d. Changing Constitutions ; i. Legislative Proposals ; ii. Constitutional Convention ; iii. Constitutional Commission ; iv. Role of the Courts ; e. Constitutional Amendment Trends ; f. Constitutions and Sustainability ; g. Conclusion ; 6. LEGISLATURES ; a. Introduction ; b. State Legislatures ; c. Functions of State Legislatures ; d. Variation in State Legislatures ; e. Local Government Legislatures ; f. Legislatures and Sustainability ; g. Conclusion ; 7. EXECUTIVES ; a. Introduction ; b. Governors ; i. Terms of Office and Eligibility ; ii. Term Limits ; iii. Governor's Office ; c. Secretary of State ; d. Attorney General ; e. State Treasurer ; f. Superintendent of Public Instruction ; g. Local Government Executives ; i. County Commissions ; ii. Special Districts ; h. Municipal Governments ; i. Strong Mayor-Council ; ii. Weak Mayor-Council ; iii. Municipal Commission ; iv. City Managers ; i. Executives and Sustainability ; j. Conclusion ; 8. COURTS ; a. Introduction ; b. State Court Systems ; c. How State Courts Work ; d. Trial Courts ; e. Appellate Courts ; f. Courts of Last Resort ; g. Problem Solving Courts ; h. Judicial Selection ; i. Current and Future Challenges ; j. Courts and Sustainability ; 9. STATE AND LOCAL BUREAUCRACY AND ADMINISTRATION ; a. Introduction ; b. What is Bureaucracy? ; c. Moving from Bureaucracy to Administration as a System ; d. Networks to Somewhere: The Intertwined Process of Administrative Governance ; e. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities of the 21st Century Administrator ; f. Women and Minorities in Public Administration ; g. E-Government ; h. Volunteers, Non-Profits, and Administration ; i. Historical Trends in State and Local Employment ; j. Salaries in State and Local Government ; k. Administration, Governance, and Innovation ; l. Sustainable Bureaucracies ; m. Conclusion ; 10. BUDGETING AND SUSTAINABILITY ; a. Introduction ; b. Why Do We Budget? ; c. Generic Budgeting Processes ; i. Preparation of Estimates ; ii. Executive Budget Compiled and Submitted to Legislative Body ; iii. Legislative Body Deliberations and Budget Approval ; iv. Budget Execution ; v. Post-Audit ; d. Sustainable Budgeting and Sources of Revenue ; i. Preparation of Estimates ; ii. Sales and Gross Receipts Taxes ; iii. Personal Income Tax ; iv. License Fees ; v. Corporate Income Taxes ; vi. Severance Taxes ; e. Revenue: Past and Future ; f. Federal Grants for Sustainability and Community Development ; g. Federal Grants for Transportation ; h. Federal Grants for the Least Benefited Public Health and Income Security ; i. Federal Grants for Children, Families, and Veterans ; j. Federal Funding for Programs of Hope and Corrections ; k. State and Local Budget Expenditures ; l. Budget Reforms ; m. Budget Focus: Five Areas of Future State and Local Budget Need ; i. Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation ; ii. Climate Change Impacts ; iii. Infrastructure Renewal ; iv. Bio-Equity ; v. Technology and Innovation ; n. Conclusion ; 11. ENTITLEMENTS ; a. Introduction ; b. Background and Types of Entitlements ; c. Entitlements ; d. Public Assistance ; e. Health care ; f. Medicare and Medicaid ; g. State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) ; h. Unemployment Compensation ; i. Conclusion: The Relationship Between Entitlements and Sustainability ; 12. TRADITIONAL AND VISIBLE SERVICES: CRIMINAL JUSTICE, EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ; a. Introduction ; b. Criminal Justice ; c. Education ; d. Transportation ; e. Emergency Management ; f. Services and Sustainability ; g. Conclusion ; Glossary (by Kirsten Winters) ; Internet Resources ; Footnotes

About the Author :
Christopher A. Simon is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration Program at the University of Utah. Brent S. Steel is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Policy Program at Oregon State University. Nicholas P. Lovrich is Director of the Division of Governmental Studies and Services at Washington State University.