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Engines of Democracy: Politics and Policymaking in State Legislatures, by Alan Rosenthal of the Eagleton Institute of Politics, likens the state legislature to the Little Engine That Could. "The legislature (and not the executive or the judiciary) is truly the engine of democracy." Acknowledging that state constitutions also provide for executive and judicial branches of government, "Yet in the order in which provisions are specified in constitutions, the legislative branch comes first, ahead of the executive and judiciary. The legislature is not only the first branch of government, it is the branch closest to the people." 466 pp.
JK2488 R68 2009 (ISBN 978-0-87289-459-4)


State & Local Government Procurement: A Practical Guide. Considered the flagship publication of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), this updated guide covers, among other subjects, emerging issues such as:

• Pervasiveness of information technology and its implications
• Streamlined procurement processes and emphasis on performance-based contracting
• Convergence of federal and international policies and practices
• Vendor opposition to terms and conditions
• Growth of green purchasing, immigration enforcement and other social policies

422 pp.
JF1525 P85 N37 2008


Encouraging Bicycling and Walking: the State Legislative Role from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) reports on recent trends in bicycling and walking and examines state legislative activity in funding, planning, and safety.

• Funding - Reviews efforts to finance biking and walking infrastructure and programs, including funding stream mechanisms
• Planning - Examines how states have integrated biking and walking into transportation plans and projects
• Safety - Discusses increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, including creating new laws; increasing penalties; targeting enforcement; and increasing responsibility for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists

76 pp.
HN85 N37 (08-4)