Home
Governing Washington

Governing Washington

Politics and Government in the Evergreen State

Edited by Cornell W. Clayton and Nicholas P. Lovrich

by David Ammons, Andrew Appleton, Francis Benjamin, Maria Chávez, Jacob Day, Todd Donovan, Reneé Edwards and Richard Elgar

Published by: WSU Press

Imprint: WSU Press

280 Pages, 152.00 × 229.00 × 17.00 mm

Paperback
9780874223088
Published: November 2011

£19.99

Buy

Description
Contents
Authors

Washington was the first to have a voter-approved state Equal Rights Amendment. It was the first state to elect a woman as governor, and the first to elect a Chinese-American to the position. Still today, the state's political affairs take unexpected twists and turns as voters continue to speak out and introduce change. Governing Washington provides an absorbing look at an evolving state political system and presents intriguing case studies.

Readers will learn how the state charter of rights differs significantly from the federal Bill of Rights. They will examine the impact of special interest groups and the increasing use of the initiative process. They will be introduced to the complex budget realities facing states in the twenty-first century. With chapters on public opinion, the court system, the legislature, the political parties, budgeting, changing demographics, and more, this volume updates the popular Washington State Government and Politics, offering fresh discussions and analysis from top political authorities throughout the state.

Foley Institute Sponsorship
Foreword David Ammons

Section I

Chapter 1 The Political Culture of Washington State
John Pierce, Nicholas Lovrich, and H. Stuart Elway

Chapter 2 Elections in Washington
Todd Donovan

Chapter 3 Political Parties in Washington
Andrew Appleton and Reneé Edwards

Chapter 4 Interest Groups in Washington State: The Political Dynamics of Representation, Influence, and Regulation
Clive S. Thomas and Richard Elgar

Chapter 5 Changing Faces of Diversity in Washington State
Luis Ricardo Fraga and María Chávez

Chapter 6 Media and Politics in Washington in the Post-Post-Intelligencer Age
Kathleen Searles and Austin Jenkins

Section II

Chapter 7 Washington's Constitution: The Politics of State Constitutional Interpretation
Cornell W. Clayton and Lucas McMillan

Chapter 8 The Washington State Judiciary: Decentralization, Responsiveness, and Independence
Simon Zschirnt, J. Mitchell Pickerill, and Carl J. McCurley

Chapter 9 The Executive Branch in Washington State Government
Steven D. Stehr and Michael J. Gaffney

Chapter 10 The Governor and Other Statewide Officials
David Nice and Jacob Day

Chapter 11 The State Legislature
Francis Benjamin and Nicholas Lovrich

Chapter 12 Public Finance and Budgeting in Washington State
Jenny L. Holland and Steve Lundin

Contributors

Cornell W. Clayton is the director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute of Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University, where he also serves as the Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government. He has published widely in the areas of American politics, judicial politics, and constitutional law.

Nicholas P. Lovrich is Regents Professor Emeritus at Washington State University. He served as the director of the Division of Governmental Studies and Services for more than three decades.