Intergovernmental Relations
State and Local Challenges in the Twenty-First Century
Jonathan M. Fisk
- 238 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Intergovernmental Relations
State and Local Challenges in the Twenty-First Century
Jonathan M. Fisk
About This Book
Who governs? On the surface, such a question should be easy to answer by simply reading the law. Taking a deeper examination, it is one of the most hotly contested questions, often without a clear-cut answer. With recent controversies in the United States related to confederate monuments, transgender rights, and unconventional oil and gas development, for example, the answer is: it depends and is subject to change. Intergovernmental Relations: State and Local Challenges in the Twenty-First Century examines the sources behind state-local conflict to better understand where this critical intergovernmental relationship may be breaking down, and to ultimately identify solutions and policy tools that build upon the strengths of state and local governments, mitigate conflicts, and improve the quality of life for citizens.
Author Jonathan M. Fisk begins by defining the basic institutional structures and offices and addressing the intergovernmental legal environment. He then offers a framework for understanding possible sources behind state-local conflict, with a recognition that intergovernmental relationships have historical roots, are place-based, and dependent on context, before examining concrete issues that have become ensnared in intergovernmental conflict via case studies including environmental (plastic bags, climate change), social and constitutional (confederate statues, transgender bathrooms), and economic (living wage, affordable housing) to name a few. Each case study possesses its own history, intergovernmental actors, costs, benefits, opportunities, and challenges. Readers are asked to confront difficult questions about property and constitutional rights, intergenerational equity, economic growth, wage fairness, and local democracy. This book offers an ideal supplement for students enrolled in courses on public policy, federalism, state and local government, and public administration.
Frequently asked questions
Information
1 Introducing State and Local Governments
- State and local relations are increasingly influenced by high-profile and lesser-profile offices and officers. In some cases, state-local controversies involve well-known offices such as the governor and attorney general. Yet, in others, disputes are voted upon, adjudicated by more obscure state Supreme Court justices, legislators, and committees. Cities are also staffed and led by a variety of offices and organizational structures. The combined effect gives activists a larger number of potential venues to push for their desired change.
- Power is political âcurrencyâ in every state and is related to the stateâs constitution, statute(s), practice(s) and tradition(s), and even the occupants of the office â at both the state and local levels.
- The disputes between and among states and local governments are often one sided in favor of state policymakers. State lawmakers and offices are imbued with formal powers and the opportunity to shape informal responsibilities. They also have the ability to reexamine intergovernmental boundaries, determine policies, allocate resources, determine responsibilities, and study state and local issues.
- The local âtoolboxâ is far from empty. Past research has identified a variety of tools utilized by local governments including their legal and land use authority, direct lobbying, regional coordination, resolutions and proclamations, press conferences, letter writing, and data collection (Fisk 2017).
- Many of todayâs most pressing public issues exist in a complex institutional landscape and depend on multiple levels of government for effective implementation.
1.1 The Federal Backdrop
Concern | How Federalism Addresses Concern |
---|---|
Americans distrust the federal government and think it is broken | Federalism decentralizes and devolves authority to lower levels of government that are closer to the people |
Americans want greater flexibility, more accountability, and more responsive government | Federalism enables subnational governments to take on a greater role in the policymaking and implementation process |
The national government does many things and many of those things poorly | Federalism enables subnational governments the ability to experiment with more innovative and responsive solutions |
The national government has involved itself in many policies outside the language of the 10th amendment | The presence of two constitutionally protected levels of government protects citizens from abuse by acting as a check against one another |