"American Intergovernmental Relations," a collection of 41 readings, deals with a variety of questions relating to the challenges of a network of more than 80,000 governments - including federal, state, county, municipal, and special-district units - functioning effectively. The nature of federalism, the roles played by public interest lobbying groups, the politics and economics of various grants and revenue sharing programs, the cities' experiences in implementing programs, the impact of changing administrations and policy goals, and the trend toward contracting out of public services are some of the topics presented. The articles offer students a firm grounding in the fundamental arrangements of the intergovernmental system, as well as the opportunity to explore contemporary issues.

Featuring relevant case studies drawn from recent headlines, American Intergovernmental Relations examines how the dynamic social, economic, and political forces that impinge on American government at all levels shape the way that our federal system functions. Beginning with the key elements of federalism, the authors trace these principles as they have evolved since the founding of the republic and through the various phases and types of federal arrangements as they exist today. They examine and analyze the extreme complexity of the system and the cooperative and conflicting components of vertical and horizontal intergovernmental relations. Stephens and Wikstrom also discuss the impact of public policy and intergovernmental relations on American society in light of rising globalism, rapidly changing technology, and new security concerns.