POLS 207: State & Local Government

Megan K. Dyer January 20, 2017

 Introduction

Today: Comparing States & Communities

1. State police powers & public policy
2. State differences
Population & demography
Economies
Religion & religiosity
3. Immigration & political communities
 Public Policy & State Police Powers

A Political Approach to State & Communities

Problem of of collective action

Policy conflict as result of human difference

What should be done?
How should it be done?
Should government do anything?

Managing conflict through:

political institutions
political processes
Say you want to build a park
 Public Policy & State Police Powers

Studying States & Communities Comparatively

States & communities will come to different solutions!

Why? ! problem of explanation

States are different

1. Populations & political actors
2. Social & economic conditions
3. Cultures & historical circumstances
4. Institutions & political systems

How do these factors explain different policy outcomes?

 Public Policy & State Police Powers

Why do state differences matter?

State POLICE POWERS

(i.e. policy powers)
States & localities have power to make laws and regulations
that promote the HEALTH, SAFETY, WELFARE, & MORALS of their communities

These goals are (to some extent) defined by the community & its values
e.g. Does public safety require a seatbelt law? A curfew?
e.g. Should govt prohibit the sale of alcohol? On Sundays?
 Public Policy & State Police Powers

*Some* Policy Responsibilities of States & Local Govts

Public order & safety

Police & firefighters, jails, prisons, & corrections
Criminal law

Social
Public schools, educating children!!!*
Health & welfare, Medicaid, food stamps
Civil law

Economic
Transportation, infrastructure (including highways!**)
Utilities, land use, property sales
Contracts, licensing, & regulation
 State Populations & Demography

State Populations

Total population 2010 (map)

Uneven growth!

Growth rates
% increase over last decade
Texas +21%
Michigan -0.6%

Benefits & costs of growth

 State Populations & Demography

Demographics Texas Population Today

Differences in racial & ethnic composition Other

! policy variation Black, non-
Hispanic
Composition of the electorate matters!

Hispanic Anglo
 State Populations & Demography

Demographics

Re: Notable shifts among minority populations

majority-minority nation by 2043?

Population cohorts (Texas):

Your Grandparents Your Parents You Your Younger Siblings
 State Economic Differences

State Economies

The (U.S.) economy

v. state & local economies

Different activities, varying importance to states

Mining & resource extraction
Light & heavy industry
Energy*
Ag, forestry, & fishing
Professional, scientific & tech. services
Health care
Finance
Once booming, Gary, IN is now emblematic of the
Retail & service
economic decline of Midwestern industrial cities.
 Real Economic Output by State, 2009

State economic resources

! potential for development

1. Geography

2. Human resources
Population
Education level

Business climate?
(a policy choice!)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

 Religiosity in the States

Religion as explanation for state differences

Important on salient & divisive moral issues

Abortion
Same sex-marriage
Legalization of certain drugs

RELIGIOSITY: How powerful/important is religion as a social force?

How might we measure religiosity?

Differences among the states

 Religiosity by State (Pew Research, Feb. 2016)

Religiosity in the States

TX: #11 in religiosity

64% of adults highly religious

Measures:
1. worship attendance
2. prayer frequency
3. belief in God
4. Self-indicated importance of
religion in ones life

Note: U.S. in global context

 Immigration & Political Communities

Re: A community & its values

Immigration
! Changes in a communitys composition

Not a new thing!

States (+ colonies) settled by different populations
Internal migrations too!
Note: free movement

Aside: Immigration & settlement as mechanism behind state differences

 Immigration & Political Communities

Immigration as NATIONAL Policy

Federal govt makes immigration law:

1. U.S. Constitution defines national citizenship

2. Federal govt defines refugee status, naturalization, green card status, visas, etc.

3. Federal agencies responsible for border security & control (ICE)

 Immigration & Political Communities

Immigration & Federalism:

National policy affects:

state budgets
demand for public services
security & public order
social character of communities

Different costs:
Not all states are border states!

Immigration detention center in California

 Immigration & Political Communities

Immigration & Federalism:

Some cities & states have tried to make their own policy
e.g. sanctuary cities
e.g. restrictions on welfare & services
e.g. AZs tough immigration enforcement policies

Preview of intergovernmental conflict

National govt v. states
States v. local govts
Re: TX 85th Lege

TX Gov. Abbott tweets about his

legislative priorities for the session.
 Immigration & Political Communities

Important State Differences

! Differing ideas about policy (what to do)

! Differing ideas about whether something should be done

& who/what should do it

What is the role of govt

In the economy?
In society?
Next: Political Ideologies