Colorado Politics and Policy

E. Cronin Thomas, D. Loevy Robert

Description

Survey after survey reveals that many Coloradans believe that the U.S. government is too big, too wasteful, and too intrusive. Yet Colorado is arguably one of the most federally subsidized states in the union, with forests, national parks, military bases, and research laboratories benefiting from the federal government’s largesse.

A concise history of Colorado’s constitution and central political institutions, Colorado Politics and Policy offers a probing analysis of the state’s political cultures. It shows how the state, in many ways a template of the deeply contrary politics of the nation, puts political power into the hands of an ever-more-polarized electorate increasingly inclined to put the concerns of government to the test of the citizen-initiative.

 

Colorado Politics and Policy is the result of broad-gauged and sophisticated research which includes author interviews with citizens and officials across the state, three specially commissioned statewide public opinion surveys, and extensive interviews with governors, legislators, judges, lobbyists, interest group leaders, and leading political analysts.

 

This fresh and engaging interpretation is essential reading for those who want to understand Colorado’s major election trends, chief public policy and budget challenges, and this distinctively purple state’s unique political history.

Sujets

• USA
• United States of America
• Region
• Administrative division
• Regional
• États-Unis
• Colorado

Informations

• Publié par: Nebraska Paperback
• Date de parution: 15 octobre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780803244894
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

colorado politics and policy

Politics and Governments

of the American States

Founding Editor

Daniel J. Elazar

Published by the University of

Nebraska Press in association

with the Center for the Study of

Federalism at the Robert B.

and Helen S. Meyner Center

for the Study of State and Local

Government, Lafayette College

thomas e. cronin and robert d. loevy

Colorado Politics and Policy governing a purple state

university of nebraska press lincoln and london

©2012by Thomas E. Cronin and Robert D. Loevy All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cronin, Thomas E.

Colorado politics and policy: governing a purple

state / Thomas E. Cronin and Robert D. Loevy.

p. cm.—(Politics and governments of the

American states) Includes bibliographical references and index. Rev. and expanded ed. of: Colorado politics & government. c1993. isbn 978-0-8032-4074-2(pbk.: alk. paper) 1. Colorado—Politics and government—1951– I. Loevy, Robert D.,1935– II. Cronin, Thomas E. Colorado politics & government. III. Title. jk7816.c77 2012 320.9788—dc232012008246

In loving memory of Constance Loevy, and to our long, wonderful friendship with Jerry and Anabel McHugh

contents

List of Tables, Maps, and Figures, ix

Preface, xi

Acknowledgments, xv

one The Character and Spirit of Colorado,1

two Coloradans and Their Political Beliefs,36

three A Brief Sociopolitical History of Colorado,77

four The Colorado Constitution and Its Politics,95

five Political Parties and Elections in Colorado,122

six Electing Colorado Legislators,146

seven Legislative Politics and Processes,167

eight The Colorado Governorship,195

nine Judges and Justice in Colorado,235

ten Colorado in the Federal System,270

eleven The Important Role of Local Government,295

twelve Colorado’s Assets and Liabilities,320

Notes,363

Suggestions for Further Research,385

Selected Bibliography,387

Index,395

tables, maps, and figures

tables

1. Recent and Future Demographic Trends,39

2. Is Colorado Going in Right/Wrong Direction?,43

3. Populist Initiatives—Right and Left,49

4. Colorado’s Political Landscape,55

5. Government Role in Discrimination,60

6. Environmentalism,70

7. Creationists versus Evolutionists,74

8. Political Outlook of Coloradans,132

9. Women in the Colorado State Legislature,169

10. Colorado Legislative Committees,177

11. Departments of Colorado State Government,210

12. Colorado’s Twenty Most-Populous Cities,302

13. Colorado’s Twenty Most-Populous Counties,306

maps

1. Colorado’s Predominant Population Center,8

2. Major Rivers of Colorado,10

3. Six Geographical Regions of Colorado,18

4. Republican, Democratic, and Swing Counties,138

5. Gubernatorial Vote in2010,143

6. Income Inequality,350