Why States Matter: An Introduction to State Politics.

• Author: Simmons, Tricia
• Position: Book review

Why States Matter: An Introduction to State Politics

By Gary Moncrief and Peverill Squire

Paperback $29.95

Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc.

"Why States Matter," by Gary Moncrief and Peverill Squire, not only answers the question of why, but even more important, why we should care. Today, with many Americans' knowledge of government limited to news clips and sound bites about the breakdown of the federal government, a full understanding of how state governments influence citizens' daily life, as well as the country's big picture, is woefully lacking.

"Why States Matter" provides a solid framework for why states are an essential part of the nation's federal system. Moncrief and Squire explain in a straightforward fashion why and how states differ, how innovative policies that originated at the state level have rippled through the entire country, and why all this is important.

The authors make the case that legislators and governors have more opportunity to innovate and experiment as the federal government shifts more financial responsibility onto them. Moncrief and Squire are confident that more than any other time in our country's history, states have the capacity and resources not only to handle more responsibility but to handle it better than the federal government does.

States historically have been leaders in pioneering policy in the areas of public education, transportation, administration of justice, economic development, licensing and public health. And over the past two generations, they have continued to make significant policy changes. In "Why States Matter," the authors focus on the important role states play in the judicial system (only at the state level are judges elected) and with elections. From the presidential election down, states establish almost all the electoral rules of candidacy and qualifications. They determine who can vote, how they vote (in person...