James C. Clingermayer is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northern Kentucky University. Richard C. Feiock is Professor of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University.

"This book could have a profound effect on how we both study and teach local government decision making. It encourages local government scholars to once again include variables representative of local institutional arrangements in equations seeking to explain local government decision making." — J. Edwin Benton, University of South Florida"Institutional Constraints and Policy Choice should be a standard among urban oriented graduate courses. It summarizes a broad literature and integrates the latest research and methods, and demonstrates the connection between theory, method, and hypothesis testing. It is the best book written on this topic." — Max Neiman, University of California, Riverside

• Preface Acknowledgments CHAPTER 1Institutional Foundations of Local Governance CHAPTER 2Institutional Incentives and Policy Choice CHAPTER 3Constituencies, Contacting, and Casework CHAPTER 4Leadership Turnover and the Delivery of City Services CHAPTER 5Turnover, Time Horizons, and Credible Commitments: The Politics of Long-Term Obligations CHAPTER 6External Constraints and Local Policy Choice CHAPTER 7Conclusion: Institutions and Local Government Notes References Index