ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the government sector. State governments were the first units of government to be organized in constitutional form after the Declaration of Independence. States are key actors in the intergovernmental system of policy production. States are also divided territorially into units called counties. Townships are local governments that provide public services for residents in a geographic area. Special-purpose governments are the fastest-growing type of local government and are creative instruments designed to produce specific services. Many Americans gain their experience with policymaking not indirectly through C-Span or CNN, but rather directly, at residential community associations board meetings and elections. Government policymaking was minimal at best and government regulation was unheard of. The government sector or its equivalent has always played an extensive, indeed formative, role in the lives of American citizens. The federal government worked closely with state and local authorities to produce domestic improvements needed to foster economic growth.
