Pennsylvania Government and Politics

Thomas J. Baldino taught courses in American politics and governmental institutions for more than forty years, retiring as Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Wilkes University. He coauthored three books on voting behavior, campaigns, and elections, as well as articles and papers on Pennsylvania state and local politics. Paula A. Duda Holoviak has been Professor and Graduate Coordinator of the Master of Public Administration program at Kutztown University for thirty years. She has taught courses in state and local government, public policy, and public administration. She specializes in economic and community development in rural Pennsylvania, and she has published numerous research studies in collaboration with the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. She has also authored several articles on Pennsylvania government and politics.

Contents



List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Acknowledgments



Introduction



Chapter 1: Pennsylvania History



Chapter 2: Pennsylvania’s Political Culture and Political Geography



Chapter 3: Elections, Parties, Interest Groups, and the Media



Chapter 4: The Legislative Branch: The General Assembly



Chapter 5: The Governor



Chapter 6: The Executive Branch



Chapter 7: The Judicial Branch: Judges, the Law, and Pennsylvania’s Court System



Chapter 8: Pennsylvania and the Federal System



Chapter 9: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: State Government Relations with Its Counties, Local Governments, and Special Districts



Chapter 10: Pennsylvania Politics in the Time of a Pandemic and a Presidential Election



Appendix A: People Interviewed



Appendix B: Statewide Election Results, 1932–2020



Appendix C: Legal Actions Filed in State and Federal Courts Related to the Pandemic and 2020 Presidential Election



Appendix D: Pandemic-Related Actions of the General Assembly



Appendix E: Election-Related Actions of the General Assembly



Appendix F: Election-and Pandemic-Related Actions of the Executive Branch



Index