This major revision of a classic text demonstrates the principle that responsible and responsive government still depends upon state level political parties, especially when it comes to the most vulnerable citizens--children, the poor, and the elderly. Marshalling up to date references and statistics, a series of biographical profiles, and new chapters on budgetary politics, welfare reform, and educational policy, Morehouse and Jewell bring the wealth of their experience to bear on the arena of government most likely to influence citizens' lives with the greatest impact--state level politics and policies.

Chapter 1 State Politics Today Chapter 2 Electoral Foundations of State Political Systems Chapter 3 Interest Groups and Political Power Chapter 4 The Party Outside Government: The Electoral Party Chapter 5 The Governor as Party Leader and Policy Maker Chapter 6 State Legislatures Chapter 7 The Courts Chapter 8 The Budgetary Process: Spending and Taxing Chapter 9 The Politics of Redistribution: Welfare Policy Chapter 10 Educational Policy in the States Chapter 11 Conclusion

By Sarah McCally Morehouse and Malcolm E. Jewell