Objective. The purpose of this research is to examine why some states have embraced digital government more extensively than others. Methods. Multivariate regression analysis is used to empirically test explanations for state innovation in egovernment. The primary dependent variable is the percent of state-level government websites offering online services to citizens. Results. Republican-controlled legislatures are more likely to embrace e-government, implying that efficiency concerns may drive reliance on digital government. Innovators in e-government were states with fewer households with Internet access and less use of the initiative process, indicating that citizen demand was not a factor. More extensive use of e-government is also associated with legislative professionalization and professional networks-factors that may be useful for explaining the diffusion of other administrative reforms, and technical issues lacking political salience. Conclusions. These data suggest e-government implementation is driven by legislative professionalism and, to a lesser extent, state professional networks, rather than citizen demand. These indicators fit Lowi's (1972) conception of ''constituent policy'' as a top-down process, confined to administrative or legislative circles, compared to distributive, regulatory, and redistributive policy. We hypothesize that other administrative reforms, particularly those lacking political salience, may exhibit similar relationships with legislative professionalization and professional networks.Arguably, one of the most recent significant innovations in information technology has been the creation and ongoing development of the Internet. The medium combines the audiovisual components of traditional forms of media such as the newspaper and television with the interactivity and speed of the telephone and mail. The Internet also increases communication flexibility (through e-mail and chat rooms) while reducing communication

In addition to improving etficiency and transparency of govemment services, e-govemment rnay increase the frequency of interaction t)etween citizens and government as well as improve perceptions of quality and trust in government more broadly. Analyses of citizen-initiated contact with government using Pew Intemet and American Life Project survey data indicate that e-govemment has motivated citizeninitiated contact with government among some demographic groups and magnified existing gaps for others. Online citizen-initiated contact improves the quality of interactions with govemment; however, the findings here do not support the argument that e-government increases trust among its users. Findings are consistent with the goals of the American government in adopting and promoting e-govemment. KEYWORDS. E-govemment, digital divide, citizen-initiated govemment contact, trust in govemment, government qualityArguably, one of the most recent significant we educate and entertain ourselves, work, cominnovations in information technology has been municate, and complete transactions (Pew the creation and ongoing development of the Internet & American Life Project, 2005). It has Internet. Over the last decade, Internet usage also changed the way that many interact with among American adults has grown appreciably govemment. from about 15% in 1995 to about 63% today.Over the last several years, federal, state, and The Internet has changed many domains in con-local governments have moved increasingly temporary America. It has transformed the way toward government adoption of electronic