Federalism in America [Two Volumes] An Encyclopedia

Subjects:

• Political Science » American Politics/Government
• Political Science » State & Local Politics
• History » American History (General)
• Law » Constitutional Law

Reviews:

• Federalism is the way the US shares and distributes power and authority between federal, state, and local governments. Unfortunately, many Americans are unaware of the history or principles of federalism. This encyclopedia is an effort to remedy this state of affairs. In more than 430 alphabetical entries, a team of scholars provides detailed information on issues ranging from abortion to zoning. Each contribution is well written and intended for a general audience; in fact, the editors have targeted the volumes for undergraduates taking basic courses in government and political science. Also of substantial value are two easy-to-use lists of the entries in alphabetical order and chronological order. The editors also include a time line for all of the major events in American federalism from the Albany Plan in 1754 to the Patriot Act in 2001. The encyclopedia concludes with the full texts of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution as well as a useful index and a list of contributors. This encyclopedia will be a welcome addition to the reference shelf of almost any public or academic library. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers.
  —Choice September 2006
• If you or your students are interested in abortion or zoning, and everything in between these political issues, this set of volumes will be a welcome addition to the office or library....Perhaps the greatest compliment to be paid to these volumes is through the discussions they can create within ourselves and our classrooms.
  —H-Net Reviews September 2007
• The 378 articles explain the constitutional provisions, Congressional legislation and Supreme Court decisions that have shaped the relationship of the state and federal governments in the United States....From abortion and Affirmative Action to slavery and welfare policy, historic policy debates are used to illustrate the changing roles of government....This scholarly survey provides students of political science and history with an excellent introduction to one of the fundamental issues of American government. The set is recommended for high school, public and academic libraries.
  —Lawrence Looks at Books September 2006
• [W]ill receive a place on the shelves of libraries which take a particular interest in American affairs...
  —Reference Reviews May 1, 2006
• The strength of this work is its combination of broad reach and specificity, covering contemporary topics such as Age discrimination; Block grants; O'Connor, Sandra Day; and Police power along with historical topics such as Adams, John and Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. Entries on the varieties of federalism (coercive, competitive, cooperative, creative, layer cake, marble cake, and picket fence, to name a few) make interesting reading, and each one is a civics lesson. The summaries of 96 Supreme Court cases and their impacts are succinct and clear introductory explanations. This is a work to browse and read for widening understanding as well as use as a reference to answer specific questions. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.
  —Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin April 2007

Table of Contents:

• Alphabetical List of Entries
• Topical List of Entries
• Preface
• Introduction
• Timeline of American Federalism
• The Encyclopedia
• Appendix 1: Articles of Confederation
• Appendix 2: United States Constitution and Amendments
• List of Contributors

PDF Catalogs:

Sale Catalog 2008.pdf