The American Statehouse

The American Statehouse PDF Author: Charles T. Goodsell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
The American statehouse, then, is not just a temple - of the state - but a temple of democracy - of the people."--BOOK JACKET.

The American Statehouse

The American Statehouse PDF Author: Charles T. Goodsell
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 246

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Book Description
The American statehouse, then, is not just a temple - of the state - but a temple of democracy - of the people."--BOOK JACKET.

Statehouse Democracy

Statehouse Democracy PDF Author: Robert S. Erikson
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521424059
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description
The authors demonstrate that state policies are highly responsive to public opinion through the analysis of state policies from the 1930s to the present.

State Houses

State Houses PDF Author: Susan W. Thrane
Publisher: Erin, Ont. : Boston Mills Press
ISBN: 9781550464573
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
A magnificent celebration of America's state capitol buildings. These glorious buildings are, in the author's words, "the homes of history," where laws are passed, where democracy is enacted, where history is written. Though each state capitol bears some similarity to the other forty-nine, each in its architecture and design reflects uniquely the pride of its state, both culturally and historically. For this unprecedented project, photographer Tom Patterson traveled to each of America's fifty state capitals to capture the architectural beauty and dignity of its capitol building in glorious large-format color images. Writer Susan W. Thrane reveals fascinating details about each capitol building's beginnings: the events surrounding construction background on its architects and builders dimensions and costs primary features and main rooms unique furnishings and works of art. The book also discusses important moments in the history of each building and the state itself, including: the origin of the state's name its capital city when the state was admitted to the Union, and the number of members in its legislative bodies.

Statehouse and Greenhouse

Statehouse and Greenhouse PDF Author: Barry G. Rabe
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0815796358
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 232

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Book Description
No environmental issue triggers such feelings of hopelessness as global climate change. Many areas of the world, including regions of the United States, have experienced a wide range of unusually dramatic weather events recently. Much climate change analysis forecasts horrors of biblical proportions, such as massive floods, habitat loss, species loss, and epidemics related to warmer weather. Such accounts of impending disaster have helped trigger extreme reactions, wherein some observers simply dismiss global climate change as, at the very worst, a minor inconvenience requiring modest adaptation. It is perhaps no surprise, therefore, that an American federal government known for institutional gridlock has accomplished virtually nothing in this area in the last decade. Policy inertia is not the story of this book, however. Statehouse and Greenhouse examines the surprising evolution of state-level government policies on global climate change. Environmental policy analyst Barry Rabe details a diverse set of innovative cases, offering detailed analysis of state-level policies designed to combat global warming. The book explains why state innovation in global climate change has been relatively vigorous and why it has drawn so little attention thus far. Rabe draws larger potential lessons from this recent flurry of American experience. Statehouse and Greenhouse helps to move debate over global climate change from bombast to the realm of what is politically and technically feasible.

Three Men in a Room

Three Men in a Room PDF Author: Seymour Lachman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
The inside story of one of the country's most secretive and misruled statehouses by a former New York State senator;. "Democracy takes decades to take root and flourish. New York is learning that it takes just three men in a room to maim and seriously harm a vigorous and representative system of government."-from Three Men in a Room It might be a scene from a movie: three powerful and secretive men sit in a private corner of an exclusive New York club, imperiously making decisions that affect the lives of millions of people. But the scene takes place in Albany, New York, and the exclusive members are the governor, the senate majority leader, and the speaker of the assembly of the New York State legislature. Three Men in a Room is an insider's exposé of how one of the country's largest and most powerful governments-with the fourth-largest budget, behind only the federal government's, California's, and Texas's-has become a model of corrupt, inefficient, and undemocratic governance. Seymour Lachman ran the New York City Board of Education, taught political science, and was then elected to New York's legislature. What he found when he arrived in the halls of the state senate was a Potemkin village of government where legislators vote on bills they haven't read during legislative sessions they haven't attended. After four terms, Lachman left his safe seat in disgust, and has now written this sharp, mordant, and impassioned call for reform. Although Lachman's story takes place in one of the country's most progressive states, the problems described in this book are rampant in statehouses throughout the country.

Representing God at the Statehouse

Representing God at the Statehouse PDF Author: Edward L. Cleary
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 9780742534384
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 276

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Book Description
In this groundbreaking collection, Edward L. Cleary and Allen D. Hertzke bring together nine new essays that provide the first systematic, comparative view of religion and politics at the state level. These essays take an in-depth look at the pressing issues facing states across the nation and how religious lobbies and organizations are addressing them. By examining the responses of different denominations and their rationales for involvement, the contributors explore the enormous diversity of interests being represented at the state level.

Failed State

Failed State PDF Author: Seymour P. Lachman
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 1438465734
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 274

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Book Description
Shines a light on the dark corners of New York’s legislature and points the way to much-needed reform. Failed State is both an original account of a state legislature in urgent need of reform and a call to action for those who would fix it. Drawing on his experiences both in and out of state government, former New York State senator Seymour P. Lachman reveals and explores Albany’s hush-hush, top-down processes, illuminating the hidden, secretive corners where the state assembly and state senate conduct the people’s business and spend public money. Part memoir and part exposé, Failed State is a revision of and follow-up to Three Men in a Room, published in 2006. The focus of the original book was the injury to democratic governance that arises when three individuals—governor, senate majority leader, and assembly speaker—tightly control one of the country’s largest and most powerful state governments. Expanding on events that have occurred in the decade since the original book’s publication, Failed State shows how this scenario has given way to widespread corruption, among them the convictions of two men in the room—the senate and assembly leaders—as well as a number of other state lawmakers. All chapters have been revised and expanded, new chapters have been added, and the final chapter charts a path to durable reform that would change New York’s state government from its present-day status as a national disgrace to a model of transparent, more effective state politics and governance. “Three Men in a Room was an important book when it came out over a decade ago, and sadly little has changed since then. In the context of high-level corruption convictions and the ongoing investigations by the US attorney’s office, Failed State reminds us just how much needs to be done, and offers constructive recommendations about the kind of reform we so desperately need in Albany.” — Senator Liz Krueger, 28th New York State Senate District “We’ve all heard that Albany’s a mess, that there’s too much bad politics and sometimes corruption in the legislature. It’s all true. How can that be? Are there any voices crying out ‘to do it right’? Seymour Lachman’s Failed State takes you on a personal journey that explains how and why it can be that bad, as he discovers exactly what a lonely voice trying ‘to do it right’ can do—and what it can’t. This is a ‘read it and weep’ book by a principled man who was a legislator for close to a decade. But better than weeping, read it—and do something.” — Peter C. Goldmark Jr., former New York State Budget Director and President of the Rockefeller Foundation “In Failed State Seymour Lachman provides a bird’s-eye view into how New York’s state legislature works—and doesn’t work. Coupled with his extensive historical review, as a former legislator Lachman offers deep insights into what’s wrong with Albany and helps make the case for fundamental changes. His sweeping analysis lays a foundation to make New York government more responsive to the public it purports to serve. For all New Yorkers looking to better understand their state government, Failed State is a must read.” — Blair Horner, Executive Director, New York Public Interest Research Group “Seymour Lachman writes about Albany dysfunction as only an insider can. He knows firsthand what it is to be bullied and extorted by political bosses, to have to cast votes on massive, secretly negotiated budget deals on a few hours’ notice, to be the target of nakedly partisan gerrymandering, and to watch a parade of his colleagues go to prison for corruption. Failed State vividly documents a sordid era of New York history and provides a practical guide to real reform.” — Bill Hammond, The Empire Center “The unifying theme here is that New York State government is broken and is not likely to mend itself. Lachman proposes a number of reforms that he believes will restore democracy—among them, the holding of a constitutional convention, which New Yorkers will vote on in November 2017. Timely and valuable, Failed State will help voters understand what the stakes are when making that decision.” — Peter J. Galie, coeditor of New York’s Broken Constitution: The Governance Crisis and the Path to Renewed Greatness Praise for Three Men in a Room “Startling: a political book that actually informs the public.” — Jimmy Breslin “Three Men in a Room is a perceptive account of a state legislature in urgent need of reform, and of how to accomplish it. Senator Lachman had a front-row seat in Albany, as I once did. He also brings years of academic experience to this compelling and important book. Read it and take it seriously—for democracy’s sake.” — Hugh L. Carey, New York State Governor (1975–1983) “Required reading for any New Yorker who wants to understand what’s gone wrong in Albany—and why. This book provides an invaluable dissection of Albany’s dysfunction from the perspective of an idealistic insider who emerged from the experience with his principles and credibility intact.” — Edmund J. McMahon Jr., Director, Empire Center for New York State Policy “Both edifying and horrifying: Lachman’s privileged perspective on New York’s legislative practices is essential reading for would-be reformers.” — Artvoice

The U.S. House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives PDF Author: Matthew Spieler
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1250040361
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 189

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Book Description
In the third in this unique civics series, Matthew Spieler clearly and concisely explains the functions and importance of the United States House of Representatives

Storming the Statehouse

Storming the Statehouse PDF Author: Celia Morris
Publisher: Scribner
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
In 1990 Ann Richards and Dianne Feinstein ran the two most conspicuous political campaigns in the country, aiming for governorships in Texas and California. An insider's look at these two races, this book draws on the author's unparalleled access to political advisers, consultants, campaign staff, reporters, and friends.

Sisters in the Statehouse

Sisters in the Statehouse PDF Author: Nadia E. Brown
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199352437
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
"Theories of descriptive representation that keep identity constant over time and context fail to account for the substantive work of minority women legislators. Sisters in the Statehouse addresses this gap in the literature by utilizing humanistic inquiry to examine the connection between descriptive and substantive representation in the case of Black women legislators. This link hinges on how such legislators see the effects of their own race-gender identity on their legislative work. By combining humanistic and social science techniques, such as feminist life histories, elite interviews, and participant observation in conjunction with legislative case studies as well as bill sponsorship data, I present a fuller description of how identity informs Black women state legislators' descriptive and substantive representation. Linking personal narratives to political behavior, my study elicits the feminist life histories of African American women legislators to understand how their experiences with racism and sexism have influenced their legislative decision-making and policy preferences. I reveal several distinctions that inform the legislative work of these legislators to provide a broader perspective that exemplifies how an intersectional approach can enhance our understanding of political representation"--