Synopses & Reviews
Tucked between the larger commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia and overshadowed by the political maneuverings of its neighbor, Washington, D.C., 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 and#8220;Two Marylandsand#8221; model that explains the dominance of the Maryland Democratic Party, established in the postand#8211;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.
Synopsis
The Nebraska Constitution is one of the oldest state constitutions in the United States. But it is far from stagnant: the 1875 document has been amended 227 times. Some of those changes were dramatic (such as creating the unicameral legislature) while others have been less so (for example, rearranging the provisions dealing with education in 1970). But all these changes tell a complex story of a lengthy document representing the will of the Nebraska citizenry as it responds to the needs of the day and the controversies of the time. That story is told here. The tools for further research are also provided in an accessible format.and#160;This second edition of the only modern, comprehensive reference on the Nebraska Constitution has been completely revised and features an enhanced format, greater coverage of judicial doctrine, and up-to-date information on the latest constitutional amendments and case law. This easy-to-use single-volume guide is a valuable acquisition for any library serving students, scholars, legal professionals, and citizens.
About the Author
Herbert C. Smith is a professor of political science and international studies at McDaniel College. He has written numerous articles of political commentary published in the Baltimore Sun and works as a campaign consultant and television political analyst. John T. Willis is an executive in residence and director of the government and public policy program at the University of Baltimore. The author of Presidential Elections in Maryland, he has served as a party official at the local, state, and national level and was Marylandand#8217;s secretary of state from 1995 to 2003.