I. Federalism and intergovernmental relations. 1. The unknown impact of federal fiscal decisions -- 2. The top 5 state-local issues facing the Feds -- 3. Rethinking federalism for more effective governance. II. Elections and political environment. 4. Are voter ID opponents winning the battle but losing the war? -- 5. Not yet Section 5's time to die -- 6. The ramifications of changing the Electoral College -- 7. Can you separate federal issues from state elections? III. Political parties and interest groups. 8. Pressured companies leave ALEC -- 9. Men and women lobbyists in the American states -- 10. Political demographic trends brighter for Democrats. IV. Legislatures. 11. Newbies infiltrate state legislative chambers -- 12. The effects of legislative term limits on state fiscal conditions -- 13. The Conservative difference-- 14. As legislatures become more partisan, Nebraska holds out. V. Governors and executives. 15. Brownback's dilemma: how to balance the Kansas budget after massive tax cuts -- 16. Governors balance pardons with politics -- 17. Gender and gubernatorial agenda -- 18. Where have all the governors gone? VI. Courts. 19. The 2012 budget survey of state court administrators -- 20. Death penalty is experiencing technical difficulties -- 21. Private prisons-grade: incomplete -- 22. Courts struggle to maintain safety. VII Bureaucracy. 23. How did 2012 treat public employees? -- 24. Are public employees overpaid? -- 25. Teleworking in Texas -- 26. Should state education chiefs be elected? VIII. Local government. 27. The local squeeze: falling revenues and growing demand for services challenge cities, counties, and school districts -- 28. City-county consolidation and local government expenditures -- 29. Counties: an outdated concept or the future? IX. Budget and taxes. 30. Struggling to grow-- 31. Fracking for state dollars -- 32. Municipal bankruptcy and the role of states -- 33. The "B" word: is municipal bankruptcy's stigma fading? X. Policy challenges. 34. Legislating social media in the states -- 35. Legally green -- 36. How will boomers reshape U.S. cities? -- 37. Private manners, public roles: recognizing different standards for public board service.