The cornerstone of the American republic is an educated, active, and engaged citizenry; however, the multifaceted inner workings of government and the political forces that shape it are incredibly complex. Kentucky Government, Politics, and Public Policy is the first book in nearly three decades to provide a comprehensive overview of the commonwealth’s major governing and political institutions and the public policy issues that profoundly affect Kentuckians’ daily lives. In this groundbreaking volume, editors James C. Clinger and Michael W. Hail have assembled respected scholars from across the state to inform citizens about their governing institutions, the consequences of their policy choices, and the intricacies of the political process. They provide clear and authoritative information on Kentucky’s government and explain significant trends and patterns, exploring the legacy of the state’s political history and illuminating the contributions of influential Kentucky politicians such as Henry Clay, Abraham Lincoln, and Jefferson Davis. The contributors also address essential topics such as the structure and function of the three branches of government, the constitution, and federalism and intergovernmental relations, as well as administration, budgeting, and finance. They analyze key issues in education policy, economic and community development, and health care in great detail, explaining persistently controversial topics such as campaign finance, the cost of elections, ethics, and the oversight of regulatory agencies. From the executive branch to the legislature, from the court system to political parties, there is no better primer on government in the commonwealth.
表中的内容
Introduction: Government, Politics, and Policy in the Bluegrass State
The Kentucky Constitution
Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations in Kentucky
The Kentucky General Assembly: Divided by Party, United by Necessity
The Executive Branch
Gubernatorial-Legislative Relations: Executive Dominance No Longer
The Kentucky Judicial System
State and Local Public Administration
Public Finance and State and Local Budgeting
Political Parties and Elections in Kentucky
10Campaign Finance in Kentucky: Escalating Costs and the Search for Reform
Intermittent Attention: Political Oversight of Kentucky Regulatory Agencies
Look Before You Leap: Louisville’s Merger and Its Aftermath
From Fragmentation to Collaboration: The Evolution of Interlocal Relations in Northern Kentucky
Education Reform in Kentucky: Just What the Court Ordered
Hiring Practices in the State of Kentucky: The Ethical Conundrum
Developmental Disability Policies in Kentucky
Economic and Community Development in Kentucky
National Health Reform and Health in Kentucky
The Politics of Kentucky Pharmacy Regulation
Future Political Developments in the Commonwealth
关于作者
Sen. Mitch Mc Connell is the longest-serving US Senate Republican leader and longest-serving senator from Kentucky. He has represented the Commonwealth in the upper chamber since January 1985 and has served as Senate majority leader since January 2015. Prior to that, he was leader of the Senate Republican minority for nearly a decade. He is author of The Long Game: A Memoir.