Surveys legislators in Minnesota about their attitudes toward family policy and related activities. Findings indicate a need for broad public discussion about family policy so that family policy maps of legislators may be more clearly drawn and prospects of coherent family policy more likely. (Author/BEF)

The problems, issues, concerns, and preferred solutions concerning occupational licensing are discussed in this guide designed for state policymakers confronting decisions regarding the credentialing of various occupations and professions. Chapter 1 focuses on the guidelines for occupational regulation. Three issues are discussed: deciding whether…

An attitudinal survey of 28 Minnesota legislative and interest-group policy makers in education examined educational groups' fragmentation, linkages, lobbying power, legislators' information resources, and initiation and accommodation between legislators and interest groups. Among the conclusions is that educational lobbyists' power in the…

A 1996 survey of state policymakers and public college representatives in states with performance funding (Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee) is presented. Although differences exist across states in a number of areas, findings challenge the assumption of an irreconcilable gap between…

An analysis of structured interviews conducted in 1973, 1979, and 1984 with state legislators and school lobbyists and 14 case studies that investigated issues in Minnesota state school policymaking reveal that influence relationships do not correspond to the bureaucratic model. Political leaders influence policymaking far more than do…

A literature-based model of the legislative politics of policy innovation is examined in light of Minnesota's experiences with the school choice issue. A revised model, reflecting case-study findings, is presented. The leadership area is identified as the arena where lawmakers can exert leverage on restructuring public education. (SLD)