After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

• Outline the structure of federalism today.
• Discuss the impact of the political cultures that exist in different states.
• Describe the ways in which varying rules in state constitutions affect the process of devolution.
• Explain how state government institutions have changed in order to take on new tasks.
• Examine the relationships between local governments and state politics.
• Describe the relationships between citizens and their state and local governments.