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This is first new urban politics text in several decades. The book uses the most recent research and other sources to explore how political institutions, participation and representation, and policy making have affected - and will continue to influence - the development, condition, and governance of urban America.
List 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
About the author
By Timothy B. Krebs and Arnold Fleischmann
Summary
This is first new urban politics text in several decades. The book uses the most recent research and other sources to explore how political institutions, participation and representation, and policy making have affected – and will continue to influence – the development, condition, and governance of urban America.
