Equally at home as a companion to an introductory text or as a stand-alone resource, Virginia Government offers an excellent introduction to the political institutions, actors, and policy processes of the Old Dominion State. Paying special attention to the governing arrangements that make Virginia unique, from statewide city-county separation to a single-term governor to shifting electoral alignments, Peaslee and Swartz strike the perfect balance, combining necessary background and historical analysis with current events and policy issues to make the information relevant and engaging for today’s students. Grounded in the comparative method, the text provides useful comparisons with governing institutions, political processes, and public polices in other states and localities.
KEY FEATURES:
- Contemporary examples and comparisons with other states highlight why Virginia’s governing arrangements look the way they do.
- Key concepts and suggestions for further reading make it easy for students to explore topics introduced in chapters.
- Chapter-by-chapter instructor resources include PowerPoint slides and a test bank.
Reviews
“Peaslee and Swartz’s Virginia Government is thorough, well written, and concise—all ideal for student comprehension. This book is an articulate, forthright, and astute analysis of what makes the Commonwealth of Virginia unique among the states. Students will appreciate the critical, yet approachable, analysis provided by Peaslee and Swartz.”
- Roy Kirby, Roanoke College“The authors have succeeded in presenting a thorough, clear and concise overview of Virginia’s system of governments, the different sources of governmental authority, the responsibilities of the various municipalities, and the revenue sources for implementation of those responsibilities. Students should be able to easily understand how the various pieces of municipal government fit into the matrix of state government and how financial obligations are shared between all entities.”
- Frederick M. Quayle, Old Dominion University“Liliokanaio Peaslee and Nicholas J. Swartz provide a much needed comprehensive introduction to Virginia government and politics that is essential to understanding the eccentricities of the state that V.O. Key, Jr. called the ‘political museum piece’.”
- Laura van Assendelft, Mary Baldwin College“Peaslee and Swartz have written an informative book on Virginia government and its history. The graphs and charts are timely and clearly articulate the important ideas and issues. Virginia Government: Institutions and Policy is an ideal companion book to any state and local government class.”
- Mary L. Carver, Longwood University
Bio(s)
Liliokanaio Peaslee, James Madison University
Liliokanaio Peaslee is assistant professor of public policy and administration in the Department of Political Science at James Madison University. She has an undergraduate degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Social Policy, and a joint Ph.D. in Politics and Social Policy. Dr. Peaslee has published in the area of community policing, youth development, rural education and employment policy, and university-community partnerships. Her research currently involves evaluating mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
Nicholas J. Swartz, James Madison University
Dr. Nicholas J. Swartz is assistant professor of Public Policy and Administration in the Department of Political Science at James Madison University. He is also the director of the Master in Public Administration program. He has an undergraduate degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Public Administration, and a Doctorate degree in Public Policy. Dr. Swartz has published in the area of emergency management, city-county governmental consolidation, local government and nonprofit management succession planning, and university-town collaborations. He has worked with a number of local governments and nonprofits in Virginia to facilitate local community and economic development.
Ancillaries
Instructor’s Resources Include:
Test bank
PowerPoint lecture slides
