Delaware Politics and Government

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Delaware Politics and Government

William W. Boyer and Edward C. Ratledge

Politics and Governments of the American States Series

234 pages

Paperback

April 2009

978-0-8032-6220-1

$35.00 Add to Cart
eBook (PDF)
Ebook purchases delivered via Leaf e-Reader

April 2009

978-0-8032-2472-8

$35.00 Add to Cart
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About the Book

This volume provides a comprehensive analysis of both the historical and the contemporary dimensions of the politics and government of the “First State.” Once a sparsely populated, agrarian, and relatively insignificant polity, Delaware has become a densely and diversely populated financial and legal center often called the “corporation capital of the world.” Delaware’s prime location has been central to its development and transition from a goods-producing economy to a fast-growing, service-based economy. Despite its diminutive size, Delaware is, in many ways, the nation’s preferred corporate home.
 
William W. Boyer and Edward C. Ratledge provide an overview of Delaware’s history, structure, and present politics and explain why one of the smallest states in the country is also one of the most powerful. Delaware continually promotes pro-business legislation, business and public objectives are entwined, and privatization is a dominant theme in public affairs. The state has an individualistic political order in which public participation is indirect and citizen activism is limited.

Author Bio

William W. Boyer is the Charles Polk Messick Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware. He is the author of several books, including Governing Delaware: Policy Problems in the First State. Edward C. Ratledge is an associate professor at the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy and the director of the Center for Applied Demography and Survey Research at the University of Delaware. He is the coauthor of Handbook on Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems in Law Enforcement.

Table of Contents

Map and Figures

Authors’ Preface

One:  Delaware in Transition

Two:  Political Culture of the “First State”

Three:  Delaware in the Federal System

Four:  The Constitution

Five:  Political Parties and Elections

Six:  The Governor and Administration

Seven:  The General Assembly

Eight:  Courts, Judges, and Lawyers

Nine:  State-Local Relations

Ten:  Public Finance

Eleven:  Nongovernmental Influence and Participation

Twelve:  Sprawl, Pollution, and Health

Epilogue

Appendix: Suggested Sources and Readings

Notes

Index

Also of Interest

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