Understanding urban politics : institutions, representation, and policies

Author(s)

    • Krebs, Timothy B.
    • Fleischmann, Arnold

Bibliographic Information

Understanding urban politics : institutions, representation, and policies

Timothy B. Krebs, Arnold Fleischmann

Rowman & Littlefield, c2020

  • : cloth

Available at  / 1 libraries

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Note

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

In Understanding Urban Politics: Institutions, Participation, and Policies, Timothy B. Krebs and Arnold Fleischmann introduce framework that focuses on the role of institutions in establishing the political "rules of the game," the representativeness of city government, the influence of participation in local democracy, and how each of these features influences the adoption and implementation of public policies. Part 1 lays the groundwork for the rest of the book by exploring the many meanings of "urban," analyzing what local governments do, and providing a history of American urban development. Part 2 examines the organizations and procedures that are central to urban politics and policy making: intergovernmental relations, local legislatures, and the local executive branch. Part 3 looks at elections and voting, local campaigns, and non-voting forms of participation. The four chapters in Part 4 focus on the policy process and the delivery of local services, local government finances, "Building the City" (economic development, land use, and housing), and policies affecting the quality of life (public safety, the environment, "morality" issues, and urban amenities). Krebs and Fleischmann bolster students' learning and skills with guiding questions at the start of each chapter, which ends with key terms, a summary, discussion questions, and research exercises. The appendix and website aid these efforts, as does a website for instructors.

Table of Contents

Preface About the Authors Part 1: Laying the Groundwork Chapter 1: Studying Urban Politics *First Things First: What is 'Urban,' Anyway? *What's Different about Local Government and Politics? *Types of U.S. Local Governments and What They Do *The World of Local Governments Chapter 2: The Development of Urban America through World War II *History as a Lens for Understanding Urban Politics *Pre-industrial Cities *Urban Development from the 1870s to World War I *The 1920s through World War II Chapter 3: Urban Development after World War II *Suburbanization and Minority Concentration in Central Cities *Postwar Urban Development and Politics *New Urban Regions and Groups in the Late 20th Century *Urban Development in the 21st Century Part 2: Local Institutions Chapter 4: Dealing with Other Governments at the National, State, and Local Levels *Local Governments in the American Federal System *State Limits on Local Governments *Federal Efforts to Influence Local Governments *Dealing with Other Governments Chapter 5: Local Legislatures *Institutional Context of Local Legislatures *The Functions of City Councils *Representing Constituents Chapter 6: Mayors and Executives *The Context of Mayoral Leadership *Mayoral Leadership: Formal and Informal Sources of Powers *City Managers and Administrators *The Urban Bureaucracy *Local Constitutional Officers Part 3: Participation and Representation in Local Politics Chapter 7: Elections and Voting *Urban Electoral Process *Voter Turnout in Urban Elections *Voter Choice in Urban Elections Chapter 8: Candidates and Campaigns *From Group-Based to Candidate-Centered Elections *Institutional Context of Urban Candidates and Campaigns *Urban Campaigns Chapter 9: Non-Voting Forms of Participation *Non-Voting Forms of Participation in Urban Politics *Citizen Contacting *Political Parties and Urban Interest Groups *Political Campaigning *Protests and Rebellions *Voting with Your Feet Part 4: Local Government Policies Chapter 10: Local Government Policy Making and Services *The Policy Process *Types of Policies *Providing Local Services *Alternative Service Methods Chapter 11: Local Government Finances *Local Government Spending *Local Government Revenue Sources *Local Government Budgeting Chapter 12: Building the City: Economic Development, Land Use, & Housing Policies *Economic Development Policies *Land Use *Housing *Critical Issues in the Shaping of Urban America Chapter 13: Policies to Promote Quality of Life *Public Safety *Environmental Policies *Urban Amenities *Morality Politics: Battling over Community Values Glossary Index

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