Editor:	BYRON E. SHAFER, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Co-Editor:	RAYMOND J. LA RAJA, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Book Review Editor:	NICOL RAE, Florida International University
Editorial Assistant:	AMBER WICHOWSKY, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Current Issue: Volume 7, Issue 4 (2009)
Whither the American State?

Introduction

"Whither the American State?" is the focus of this issue of The Forum. In search of an answer, Adam Sheingate uncovers the parts 'hidden' below the national level, Julian Zelizer restores Congress to its rightful place, and Brian Balogh rescues elements hidden by a distinctive approach to policy-making. In a look at major efforts to reorganize 'the permanent government', Loch Johnson considers the long-running effort to coordinate intelligence agencies, while Anne Khademian attends to the most-recent effort to coordinate economic recovery. In a look at cross-cutting attempts to reorganize governmental personnel, David Lewis considers personnel reform as a management tool, and Don Moynihan evaluates the impact of performance management under Presidents Bush and Obama. Beryl Radin then brings both focuses together in an examination of one great overhead agency, the OMB. Lastly, in a return to grand argument about the prospective evolution of the American state, Elaine Kamarck goes in search of its essential roots in public support, while Paul Quirk outlines a critical change in the contribution of the general public. In two book reviews involving the amorphous role of American political parties in all of this, Jay Cost addresses The Party Decides, while John Pitney attends to No Middle Ground.