The Sagebrush State

A dynamic study of Nevada’s government and politics from the state’s inception to the present day.

Starting with Michael W. Bowers’s first edition published in 1996, this concise volume explains the unique dynamics of Nevada’s formation and its political and economic development. David F. Damore continues this legacy in the book’s seventh edition by describing how even today, Nevada is unlike the other states in its politics and culture: economically conservative and averse to strong state government, yet socially libertarian and home to widespread gaming anchored by a 24/7 industry. Nevada has the highest percentage of federally owned lands and one of the highest rates of urbanization in the United States, yet it has often been dominated by rural legislators.

This comprehensive and insightful volume examines how Nevada’s history and founding have shaped its political culture and how its government operates today. The Sagebrush State serves as a highly readable and accessible text for the study of Nevada’s political history and constitution. The seventh edition is updated through 2023 and includes the results of the 2022 elections, policies advanced during the 2023 legislative session, and Nevada’s continuing recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 recession. The full text of the state constitution with extensive annotations of all amendments to the original 1864 document is provided as an appendix.