The Seventh Edition of this best-selling text continues to provide the comprehensive and current coverage of institutions, political behavior, and policy-making at the state and local level. The strong policy orientation of the text, as well as its unifying theme of the increased capacity and responsibility of state and local governments, has established this text as the standard for this course. The authors' thorough examination of state and local governments includes a historical perspective that explains both the development of the existing structures as well as their function in the current political scene. New!Fully updated coverage includes a discussion of the roles of state and local governments in illegal immigration, homeland security, and natural disasters, as well as results of recent state elections. New!A four-color design presents information in a more visually appealing and accessible format. New!Breaking New GroundandDebating Politicsboxes facilitate critical thinking and class discussion with presentation of policy innovations and controversial issues in state and local government. Chapter Recapfeature helps students to review key concepts. Expanded coverage of Native American governments discusses their relationship to the federal and other state and local governments. Thoroughly updated coverage of e-government and the Internet explores the impact of technology on state and local government and on citizen participation. Updated and expanded web resources in every chapter offer students the latest information on using the Internet to research state and local governments. The enhancedState and Local GovernmentOnline Teaching and Study Centers offer additional resources for instructors and students.