As congressional library supporters retire, establishing new commitments for library services and funding is a priority for advocates. Highlights retiring library champions in Congress, their contributions, and current congressional librarian, Representative Major Owens. Suggests ways to secure more support--educating legislators about libraries,…

The dataset presented here illustrates to students the utility of logistic regression. Its analysis results in a fit that explains much of how senators vote on a particular bill, and allows for quantification of the effects of ideology and money on the vote. A number of interesting quantitative interpretations follow from a good fit. A successful…

Organisational representative response is an important factor to consider when counselling employees who have experienced bullying and are considering approaching their organisation for assistance. The author argues that not all responses are supportive and that some responses can further harm an employee. The author presents a review of…

Each year over the past quarter century, undergraduate tuition and fees in the United States have increased by an average of 2.5 to 3.5 percentage points above the inflation rate. This continuous rise recently led one congressman to propose that the government penalize institutions that raise their tuition by more than twice the rate of inflation…

Typically, program evaluation agencies in the legislative branch of state government examine programs that have already been implemented. These evaluations often consider whether a program achieved the legislature's original goals or complied with statutory requirements. Program evaluations frequently determine whether executive branch agencies…

As most state governments were beginning their fiscal years on July 1, it looked like another tight year for state spending in many regions--and, by implication, also for appropriations for higher education institutions and state student assistance programs. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) spring report…

Both supporters and critics of Texas' Top 10 Percent law have been surprised at its popularity, but some UT officials and legislators would like to see the program scaled back. As a Texas state legislator, Jim McReynolds, D-Lufkin, knows a thing or two about influencing the voting positions of his colleagues. This past spring, when Texas House…

Provides information on how the Region 11 Vocational Center in Concord, New Hampshire, arranged a State Legislature Day. This project involved legislators visiting the Vocational Center and observing its programs. Shares several positive results from this outreach program. (CH)

Institutional factors that constrain the Congress's use of evaluation research are illustrated by a case history of congressional deliberations about the Professional Standards Review Organization program. Guidelines for researchers who would like to make their work more useful in the policymaking process are proposed. (Author/BW)

Most tributes to the late Barbara Jordan focused on her life in public service, but this appreciation recalls her brilliance as a teacher. The values behind her noted voice lent her speech, as political figure and teacher, its authority. (SLD)

At a seminar, two Congressional staff members offered good tips on how it is best to communicate with legislators. Although offered in the context of communicating with Congress, these insights are also valuable when working with state and local legislators. This article discusses the key points that were provided in the seminar. In addition to…

Sealed for 50 years, the transcripts of the executive session hearings conducted by Senator Joseph R. McCarthy, as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in 1953 and 1954, were recently opened for research. The Senate Historical Office edited the transcripts for publication by the Government Printing Office and on the…

Perhaps more than any other figure in American history, William Jennings Bryan is remembered for specific and identifiable moments of rhetorical action: the much-revered 1896 "Cross of gold" speech and the much-maligned Scopes "monkey trial" of 1925. The dissonance between these two events, at least with respect to the ways in…

Differences in political ideology between college and university administrators and federal legislators have brought about lack of communication, mistrust, and indifference between Congress and higher education. This article discusses the bridging of these differences through common understanding and collaboration to meet the challenges faced by…

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) hosts an annual undergraduate research poster session on Capitol Hill to communicate to the US Congress the importance of undergraduate research and to express thanks for the federal funding of undergraduate research programs. At the "Posters on the Hill" event held on 19 April 2005 in the Rayburn House…