POLS 207 Chapter 1
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Fifty States and 90,000 Local Governments
States created federal[1] government
States created (and continue to create) local governments
Governmental programs that do not work should not be copied.
There is little point in recommending solutions or policies that do not work.
Even so, some are because:
- unaware of another state's failure
- better chance for program to work
- benefits certain interests (don't care if it fails)
- temporary relief of pressure to take effective action
- voter demands
- desperation; grasping at anything that might offer solution
- winning reelection
successful programs sometimes aren't implemented for precisely the same (but conversely applied) reasons.
Policies are intended to solve problems (as seen by some in society, esp. politicians & interest groups
American Federal Government
"supreme boss" defined by
- Constitution
- Supreme Court's interpretation of it
States have similar structure (i.e. constitutions)
Federal decisions override state laws—assuming they're constitutional.
Guns in Schools
April 1995 — US v. Lopez
Supreme Court decided that a congressionally-passed law prohibiting guns within 1000 feet of a school was unconstitutional.
Not under federal jurisdiction; must be left to the states.
Most laws that affect us are passed by the states
- local standard
- legislation on a state's part that has no federal influence
- nationwide standard
- national/federal law that applies everywhere in the US
Term Limits
1995 — US Term Limits v. Thornton
Supreme court decided that restrictions on congressional candidates were unconstitutonal. Only allowable standards are:
- citizenship
- minimum age
- residency in state
Even states have limits on the laws they can enact
Limits on state-level government officials are allowed.
- direct democracy
- citzens choose what laws to enact (as compared to representative democracy
National Speed Limits
Supreme court decided "that setting a national speed limit exceeded the powers granted to Congress by the Constitution."
Congress' way around this was to 'buy' the states' cooperation by providing highway funds with "strings attached"
Carrying Concealed Weapons
1995
Texas state law permitting citizens to carry concealed handguns with proper permits.
Arguments and hypothetical situations raised on pro and con sides of the issue, but law still stands.
No evidence of either side's hypothetical situations becoming reality:
- crime rate relatively unaffected
- no reduction in innocent bystander victims
- no evidence that criminal shot first, then checked for gun
- Why does evidence of the effect of proposed laws weigh so little in their enactment by other states?
- refer to reasons at beginning of chapter
- Should there be local standards on this, other, or all issues?
- depends on the issue: constitutional? federal restrictions?
At least 3 actors play roles in federal system:
- Congress and the president (nationwide standard)
- State legislatures and executives (local standard)
- US Supreme Court (mediator)
Laws are not guaranteed to solve the problems they were intended to solve, and legislatures seldom bother to remove those that don't.
The Importance of State and Local Government Spending
(all presented data was collected in 2007)
Not as simple as federal spendiing / state spending:
- federal grants & funds included in both federal and state spending
| Spending Source | % Total Spending | Adjusted % (incl. fed. grants) |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Grants | 9% | |
| Federal Spending | 57% | 66% |
| State Spending | 34% | 43% |
Top areas of government spending:
- Health is greatest amount of total government spending (almost equal, but mostly federal)
- National Defense and Social Security are about tied (both all federal)
- Eucation (mostly local)
- Interest (mostly federal)
- Police and Corrections and Welfare almost tied (mostly local)
Nearly half of all government dollars spent comes from state and local government taxes; and most government services that affect us are managed at the state level
Finding the "Best" State
All states have differences because of different local governments.
Citizens are free to move to state with policies they prefer: people can vote with their feet.
Everyone has different preferences, so "best" is relative; there is no decidably "best" state.
Classes of state differences:
- physical, demographic
- size and population
- percentage metropolitan
- wealth
- high per capita income[2]
- social problems
- murder
- unemployment
- education and associated costs
- death penalty
- nature of politics
- political institutions
- public policies
Comparing states that have a policy with those that do not, f the states are otherwise equal, allows us to see whether the policy works.