Colorado Politics and Policy

Thomas E. Cronin is the McHugh Professor of American Government and Leadership at Colorado College. He has received awards for teaching, research, and advising, and has authored, coauthored, or edited more than a dozen books, including best-selling books on American government and the American presidency. His latest book is Leadership Matters, coauthored with Michael A. Genovese. He is president emeritus of Whitman College and a past president of the Western Political Science Association and of the Presidency Research Group. He has been involved in politics at all levels, from local precinct chair to member of the White House staff.Robert D. Loevy is a political scientist at Colorado College, focusing on political parties, American elections, Congress, and state and local government. The author or coauthor of ten books on American government, he has won many awards for his teaching and service. He has worked on the staff of a U.S. senator and has held a wide range of civic positions in Colorado, including serving on the Colorado Springs Planning Commission and the Colorado State Reapportionment Commission. His latest book is Confessions of a Reapportionment Commissioner, available online.

“Tom Cronin and Bob Loevy have captured the complexities of Colorado policy making in this wonderful book. It clearly explains the challenges our state faces: conflicting constitutional measures; our inclination toward direct democracy through initiatives; and the personalities and organizations that sometimes join hands and sometimes oppose each other as measures move through the system. It’s a fascinating read.”—Gail Klapper, chair of Colorado Forum |“A valuable guide for reporters, legislators, activists, and others who want to understand Colorado’s often unique system of governance. Sections on finance and taxes are especially useful because of the strange things we Coloradans have done to complicate our fiscal policy.”—Fred Brown, veteran political columnist for the Denver Post|“Cronin and Loevy have given us a uniquely valuable handbook for anyone who is concerned with sustaining and strengthening the `consent of the governed’ in Colorado. The authors’ perspectives and prescriptions are stimulating, whether or not one agrees.”—John Andrews, former president, Colorado State Senate, and former Republican candidate for governor of Colorado |“A superb job of relating the past to the present and preparing the reader for tomorrow's Colorado.”—Duane A. Smith, Colorado historian, Fort Lewis College |“An excellent comprehensive volume on Colorado’s government and politics by two of Colorado’s premier scholars.”—John Straayer, political scientist, Colorado State University|“Terrific book! It captures the state, its politics, and its political culture extremely well. The issues and challenges laid out in the final chapter are right on.”—Jim Carpenter, partner, Stratton-Carpenter and Associates, and former chief of staff for Governor Bill Ritter

• List of Tables, Maps, and Figures000 Preface000 Acknowledgments000 1. The Character and Spirit of Colorado000 2. Coloradans and Their Political Beliefs000 3. A Brief Sociopolitical History of Colorado000 4. The Colorado Constitution and Its Politics000 5. Political Parties and Elections in Colorado000 6. Electing Colorado Legislators000 7. Legislative Politics and Processes000 8. The Colorado Governorship000 9. Judges and Justice in Colorado000 10. Colorado in the Federal System000 11. The Important Role of Local Government000 12. Colorado's Assets and Liabilities000 Notes000 Suggestions for Further Research000 Selected Bibliography000 Index000