Background
"Before there was an American union, there were the American states.
When the Framers of the Constitution gathered in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, they
invented a new form of government - federalism - because the states would not consent to a
union that required their elimination...The cumulative effect of two centuries of
federalism, however, has been a gradual diminution of state-to-state differences. In the
twentieth century particularly, a 'nationalization' of American politics has taken
place...Despite this development, the state political systems differ in many significant
ways."
In this exercise, students will get a chance to explore the politics in
various states in the U.S., and compare their dynamics.
McGraw-Hill
books on state and local politics
Framework of Analysis
Political Subculture
Even though their has been an nationalization of American politics, distinctive subcultures
have still remained:
Moralistic subculture: "The states in the northern
tier of the nation have [a] ... characterized by an emphasis on 'good government' (the
public interest), 'clean government' (honesty), and 'civic government' (public
participation)."
Individualistic subculture: [primarily in] "the
middle part of the United States, from Massachusetts to Maryland and then westward through
Illinois and Missouri to southwestern states such as Arizona...oriented toward private
life and economic gain, and politics is largely an extension of this perspective.
Political conflict is rough and tumble, political power is closely guarded, and public
policy is often narrowly applied.
Traditionalistic subculture: "typifies the states
of the old Confederacy and a few states bordering on it...The politics of a
traditionalistic state is likely to be dominated by a small number of prominent leaders,
many of whom have gained power through family ties." (The suburbanization of parts of
the old South has challenged the traditionalistic subculture with a spreading of power
over a broader demographic spectrum)
Populist subculture: there other political subcultures
which have emerged as well, such as the populist subculture where some politicians have
"rose to prominence by attacking entrenched power structures in their states."
Dillon's Rule
A "century-old general principle that describes the relationship between
state power and localities...The most important aspect of Dillon's rule is that local
governments must act within constraints placed on them by the state....States
differ markedly in the degree of freedom they grant their local units."
Citizens as Legislators
One opportunity afforded voters in all states, except Delaware, not afforded by
the federal government, is that of voting directly on issues of policy. Initiatives
are placed on ballots through petition efforts, referendums, are
questions legislatures put before voters. These initiatives and referendums
may also appear at various municipal levels depending on local rules. States and
localities also vary in frequency and influence of ballot proposals.
State Political Structures
State constitutions determine political structures and the fundamental
relationships between state government and municipalities. Look also for ways in which:
the branches of government are set up;
power sharing between branches of state government and between different
levels of governments within state;
electoral process; and
legislative bill passing process.
Policy Priorities
Influence of interest groups, party competition, and environmental factors such
as economics, population growth, etc. impact the dynamics of policy priorities.
County Government
"The oldest form of local government in the United States is the county, and
it remains a top local governing unit in rural areas and in those few states, such as New
York, where the county has broad responsibility for providing government services. The
county is governed through an elected county commission (which, in some states, is called
a county legislature or board of supervisors). In most states, there are also
elected county sheriffs and county attorneys, and a few states have elected chief county
executives.
"In most states, the county functions as an administrative subdivision of the
state. The county's responsibility is to carry out programs, such as highway
maintenance or welfare services, that are established by the state. Some analysts
believe that the county will increase in importance in upcoming years because of the
prominence of issues, such as waste disposal, that cannot be addressed adequately at the
municipal level but require a regional response.
"County government illustrates the variation that exists in local
governmental structures. Two states, Rhode Island and Connecticut, do not have
counties, and two other states, Louisiana and Alaska, have counties but call them by
another name (parishes in Louisiana, boroughs in Alaska)."
Municipal Government
The type of municipal government structure can have a big impact on it's
political dynamics (in addition to factors outlined above):
"Strong Mayor-Council System
An elected mayor has veto power over an elected council and has substantial authority over
the budget and other policies.
"Weak Mayor-Council System
An elected mayor does not have veto power and is generally weak relative to the elected
council.
"Commission System
Executive and legislative power is vested in an elected commission whose members each have
a specified policy role, such as police commissioner.+
"City Manager System
An appointed chief executive who administers programs and can be fired by the elected
council."
School Districts
"The tradition of local public schools is deeply embedded in the American
political experience. Unlike Europe, where private schools and national educational
standards have historically been more important, the United States has emphasized public
education and local control. This control is exercised through local school boards. In a
few places, the school board is subordinate to the municipal government, but elsewhere it
is an independent body. School policy is established by the local board rather than by the
local mayor or council. The chief executive of the local public school system is a
specially trained professional, the superintendent of schools."
Special Districts, and Metropolitan Government
"A final form of municipal government, and one of increasing importance, is
the special district. As society has become more complex and interdependent, a need has
arisen for local governing institutions that are responsive to the resulting policy needs.
Special districts that deal with such policy areas as water supply, soil conservation, and
waste disposal are an answer. These districts also provide an answer to the problem of
coordinating the efforts of independent municipal governments. Issues such as pollution
control are not easily addressed within a single community. Special districts bring
municipalities together; the typical form of governance of these districts is a board that
includes a member from each municipality within the district's boundaries.
"Special districts ordinarily have responsibility for a specific policy activity,
such as solid-waste management or soil conservation. In some urban areas, however, local
governments have joined to create a metropolitan government that is given responsibility
for a broader range of activities."
Assignment
What constitutes a state? Students will find that examination of a state's
constitution is good place to start in understanding the political dynamics of a state.
The Encarta Encyclopedia entries below are good start to get an
overview of a state's constitution and its political implications, in the historical and
cultural context of the state. Full
text links to state constituions are also available through Project VoteSmart. Compare
the political dynamics of two or more states in the Union, using the links below and using
the framework above to evaluate findings. Students should either prepare to discuss
observations in class or write an essay of such depending on the directions from
instructor. |