Maryland politics and government : democratic dominance / Herbert C. Smith and John T. Willis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Herbert C. (Herbert Charles), 1946-

Contributor:

Willis, John T., 1946-

Series:

Politics and governments of the American states

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Maryland--Politics and government.

Maryland.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xiv, 380 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, [2012]

Summary:

Tucked between the larger commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia and overshadowed by the political maneuverings of its neighbor, Washington DC, Maryland has often been overlooked and neglected in studies of state governmental systems. With the publication of Maryland Politics and Government, the challenging demographic diversity, geographic variety, and dynamic Democratic pragmatism of Maryland finally get their due.

Two longtime political analysts, Herbert C. Smith and John T. Willis, conduct a sustained inquiry into topics including the Maryland identity, political history, and interest groups; the three branches of state government; and policy areas such as taxation, spending, transportation, and the environment. Smith and Willis also establish a "Two Marylands" model that explains the dominance of the Maryland Democratic Party, established in the post-Civil War era, that persists to this day even in a time of political polarization. Unique in its scope, detail, and coverage, Maryland Politics and Government sets the standard for understanding the politics of the Free State (or, alternately, the Old Line State) for years to come. Book jacket.

Contents:

The Maryland identity

A Maryland political history

Contemporary political patterns

Maryland public opinion

Political parties, interest groups, and corruption

The Maryland Constitution

The Maryland General Assembly

The Maryland governor and the executive branch

The Maryland judiciary

The politics of taxation and spending

"Pleasant living" policies and politics

Maryland in the federal system

Local governments in Maryland

Maryland's future

Further reference for Maryland study.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780803237902

0803237901

OCLC:

712115604