State and Local Government

Kevin B. Smith is the Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Chair of Political Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is the author or coauthor of 10 books on politics and policy, as well as numerous scholarly articles on state politics and policy. Prior to becoming an academic, he covered state and local politics as a newspaper reporter. You can follow him on Twitter at @ nivek_htims.

PREFACE ABOUT THE EDITOR I. FEDERALISM 1. Three Events That Shaped Modern Federalism - Donald F. Kettl, Governing 2. The Fractured State of Federalism - Peter Harkness, Governing 3. Dynamic Tension: A Conversation about Federalism - National Conference of State Legislatures, State Legislatures Magazine 4. Expect More Conflict between Cities and States - Sophie Quinton, Stateline II. ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT 5. Trump's Voter Fraud Commission May Be Dead, but His Quest Continues - Alan Greenblatt, Governing 6. Lawmakers Look to Curb Foreign Influence in State Elections - Rebecca Beitsch, Stateline 7. Redistricting, Reconsidered - Tim Anderson, Council of State Governments 8. Millennials Let Their Grandparents Decide Local Elections - Mike Maciag, Governing III. POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTEREST GROUPS 9. Election of California Democrats' Leader Exposes Party's Divide - Joe Garofoli, Governing 10. Is the GOP's Tea Party Over? - Alan Greenblatt, Governing 11. Lobbyists Leave Capitol Hill for the States - Donald F. Kettl, Governing 12. Lobbyist Gift-Giving at Issue in More States - Scott Rodd, Stateline IV. LEGISLATURES 13. Back Stories: Legislators Bring a Variety of Interesting Experiences to Their Statehouse Jobs - Duranya Freeman, State Legislatures Magazine 14. The Politically Perilous Pay Problem - John Mahoney, State Legislatures Magazine 15. The Accidental Librarian - Michael Gioia, State Legislatures Magazine 16. Statehouse Sexual Harassment Tally: Eighteen Lawmakers Gone or Punished - Jen Fifield, Stateline V. GOVERNORS 17. These Governors Are Rich, but Are They Effective? - Louis Jacobson, Governing 18. Citing Costs, Some GOP Governors Refuse to Hold Special Elections - Alan Greenblatt, Governing 19. For or Against Trump? The Question Candidates for Governor Can't Escape - Alan Greenblatt, Governing 20. Stepping Up: How Governors Who Have Succeeded to the Top Job Have Performed over the Years - Geoffrey Skelley, Sabato's Crystal Ball VI. COURTS 21. Judicial Redistricting: Issue Politicians Don't Want to Discuss - J. B. Wogan, Governing 22. How Old Is Too Old to Be a Judge? Voters in 4 States Got to Decide - Alan Greenblatt, Governing 23. Federalism and the U.S. Supreme Court: Past, Present and Future - Lisa Soronen, Capitol Ideas Magazine 24. America's Jails Have an HR Problem - Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene, Governing VII. BUREAUCRACY 25. Government's Vital Role in Helping People Thrive - John M. Bernard, Governing 26. State Human Resources Directors Seek to Address Workforce Challenges - The Pew Charitable Trusts 27. Teacher Shortages Linger in Many States - Sophie Quinton, Stateline VIII. LOCAL GOVERNMENT 28. Outside Disneyland, a Reminder for Governments to Be Careful What They Wish For - John Buntin, Governing 29. In the Elusive Search for Affordable Housing, Clues Emerge - John Buntin, Governing 30. Why Some Cities Are Buying Trailer Parks - Sophie Quinton, Stateline IX. BUDGETS AND TAXES 31. Despite Slow Growth, Tax Revenue Has Recovered in 29 States - Barb Rosewicz and Daniel Newman, The Pew Charitable Trusts 32. How Did America's Richest State Become Such a Fiscal Mess? - Alan Greenblatt, Governing 33. The Federal Tax Overhaul May Boost States' Bottom Lines, but Some Governors Don't Want the Money - Daniel C. Vock, Governing 34. Facts before Funding - Allison Hiltz, State Legislatures Magazine X. POLICY CHALLENGES 35. In Opioid Epidemic, States Intensify Prescription Drug Monitoring - Christine Vestal, Stateline 36. Are Massachusetts Gun Laws a Model for the Country? - Natalie Delgadillo, Governing 37. Is Your County Elections Clerk Ready for Russian Hackers? - Matt Vasilogambros, Stateline 38. Despite Secession Talk, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do - Mindy Fetterman, Stateline TEXT CREDITS

"I think it does an excellent job writing about current events in a manner that is accessible to students. I also like that it covers a wide range of topics." -- Christopher Clark "I am very happy with the Smith textbook. I like the organization of the chapters and the overall content and updated information. I started using the book a few years ago and do not plan to change the book anytime soon." -- Dina Krois