About the Book
Ever since Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery included both a woman and a black man in their voting process, politics and government in the state of Washington have often been progressive. A political adviser to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once described the United States as being comprised of 47 states and the "Soviet of Washington," indicating the presence of a distinct political culture; one that was considerably more radical than that of other states. Indeed, the Evergreen state was the first to have a voter-approved state Equal Rights Amendment; one of the first to elect a woman governor; and the first to elect a Chinese-American governor. It also has the nation’s highest percentage of female legislators and one of the most open ballot-access conditions in the country.
Washington’s rich, sometimes quirky, and utterly fascinating experiment with self-government often takes unexpected twists and turns as the ingenious and dynamic people of the Evergreen State continue to institute change. Washington State Government and Politics will interest both the student of government and the more casual reader with its absorbing look at the "big picture" of an evolving state political system as well as its presentation of intriguing case studies, including the increasing use of the initiative process and alternative approaches for managing environmental conflicts.
Readers will learn that the federal Bill of Rights contains generally "negative" rights, or rights that prohibit government from taking certain actions, while by contrast, state constitutions often contain positive affirmations of rights as well as provisions that require government to act. They will discover which Evergreen state organizations had the most active political action committees in a recent year, and the impact that these special interest groups have had on government. "Evidence suggests that at the very least, substantial contributions and lobbying, coupled with good organization, serve to protect the ‘fair share’ of state resources allocated to a major interest."
With chapters on public opinion, the court system, the legislature, budgeting, environmental concerns and more, this newest volume provides fresh discussions and analysis from top political authorities throughout the state.