Local Governments

In Tennessee, the state constitution allows for the creation of county governments as well as "consolidated" metropolitan governemnts. The state government usually allows local governments to create laws that are necessary in one particular part of the state, but state governements will not allow the creation of a law that is beneficiary to one individual. The state government often uses a population criteria to define the location of statutory coverage. The ability of the Tennessee's state government to allow local governments to create laws based on necessity is one a the major strengths of Tennessee's local governments. One of the weaknesses of Tennessee's local governments is that the General Assembly is allowed to provide alternative forms of government when approved by majority voters of the county.

Book Review

In the book, "Political Monopolies in American Cities: The Rise and Fall of Bosses and Reformers," assistant proffesor of political science Jessica Trounstine compares and contrasts two political figures to show how similar political bosses and reformers actuallly are. The first figures she studies is Richard J. Daley who governed Chicago, and built a political machine that would last from 1955 until his death in 1976. She also studies Anthony "Dutch" Hamann's reform centered government which established political control for Hamann in San Jose, California. She shows that both politcal machines and reform governments have bias in favor of incumbents, which creates monopolies of free governing coalitions that are dependent on the support of their broader communities.

Overcrowding in Prisons

The prisons in Tennessee are no different then those of any other state in the US. They're overcrowded. In the Tennessee the main focus in public safety is on the fight against methamphetimines, and homeland security. To help managa overcrowding in Tennessee it would be wise to increase the death penalty for serious offenders as well as lesson punishment for marijuana related crimes. Also, to lower the amount of prisoners in TN prisons it would be wise to create work programs for prisoners that would allow the prisoners to work off a sentence rather than serve the sentence and look to get out on good time.

Public Administrators

A public administrator in Tennessee is Chris Freeman, the president of Tennessee's Public Health Association. As the president it is Chris's job to help the group to use different disciplines to work together to obtain higher standards of preventive health practice through recommendations involving administrative policy and legislative action. TPHA is the official professional organization for those engaged or interested in public health services and is endorsed by the administration of the Tennessee Department of Health. TPHA is an affiliate member of the Southern Health Association and the American Public Health Association.

Spending

1. 13% Transportation (Road Maintenance, Construction, Public Transportation) because transportation and constuction should be put on hold until the recession is over.
2. 20% Public Safety (Police, Fire, etc.) because it is important to protect citizens so they have a safe place to live and grow.
3. 24% Education (public schools, university system, etc.) is very important because if a child recieves a better education then they are less likely to end up in state correctional vacilities and an education provides children with opportunities to live a better life.
4. 24% Social Services (welfare, unemployment, healthcare, etc.) is important because there is always going to be the need of some type of government supported welfare and/or healthcare
5. 19% Research (grant money to universities and businesses for innovation) would receive this percent of funding because research helps come up with new and more logical ways that give us a better quality of life.