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.

• ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables AcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1: Pennsylvania History Chapter 2: Pennsylvania’s Political Culture and Political Geography Chapter 3: Elections, Parties, Interest Groups, and the MediaChapter 4: The Legislative Branch: The General AssemblyChapter 5: The GovernorChapter 6: The Executive BranchChapter 7: The Judicial Branch: Judges, the Law, and Pennsylvania’s Court SystemChapter 8: Pennsylvania and the Federal SystemChapter 9: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: State Government Relations with Its Counties, Local Governments, and Special DistrictsChapter 10: Pennsylvania Politics in the Time of a Pandemic and a Presidential ElectionAppendix A: People InterviewedAppendix B: Statewide Election Results, 1932–2020Appendix C: Legal Actions Filed in State and Federal Courts Related to the Pandemic and 2020 Presidential ElectionAppendix D: Pandemic-Related Actions of the General Assembly Appendix E: Election-Related Actions of the General AssemblyAppendix F: Election-and Pandemic-Related Actions of the Executive BranchIndex

“This book is an excellent text that one can use for personal growth. It can also help laypeople develop reasonable expectations of their political leaders.”—Pennsylvania Magazine