A brief questionnaire was mailed to all legislators in Arkansas (n=135, with 75 responding) and Texas (n=181 with 67 responding) concerning possible gender differences in legislative effectiveness. Personal interviews were also conducted with all female legislators from both states and an equal number of randomly selected male legislators (20 in…

Content analysis was employed in an examination of nine major metropolitan daily newspapers to determine how they portrayed both black and white members of the United States House of Representatives from l979 to l983. Specifically, the study examined the amount of coverage given to a sample of 16 black and 16 white representatives, the way…

In recent years, television spot advertising has become an important part of political campaigns because it allows candidates to select the most favorable content, medium, time, and audience available to them. In the 1984 United States Senate campaign in Michigan, both the incumbent, Democrat Carl Levin, and the challenger, Republican Jack Lousma,…

This essay, an outgrowth of the Legislative Ethics and the Media Project, builds upon project meetings and interviews with members of a special task force made up of journalists representing various special ties and perspectives within the media as well as legislators, congressional staff members, and academic experts. The first of five sections…

The article discusses the funding of the 1972 Indian Education Act, and the obstacles that almost prevented its passage. The important steps are chronologically reviewed, also including the testimony of Indian leaders and a summary of appropriation requests. (KM)

The Congressional Rural Caucus, the Midwest Caucus of Democratic Senators, and a number of Republican Senators are all focusing their attention on rural issues and problems. (Author)

Stresses the need for creating a constituency in Congress, identifying issues such as dissemination of educational research and communication between researchers and politicians, and generating vocal support for educational research throughout the country. (AM)

To highlight forces that impede constructive relationships between legislators and agency representatives, advice is offered on presenting testimony in legislative sessions or providing information to a legislator, based on the viewpoint of a state legislator. It is advisable to avoid approaching legislators with the attitude that they are the…

In the past few years, the concept of local control of public education through elected school boards has been superseded by legislation mandating other forms of citizen involvement in educational decision-making. Specifically Alberta's enactment of the Department of Education Act and approval of Operational Plans for Early Childhood Services…

The value of satellite videoconferencing in providing a new mechanism for informed dialogue between congressmen and constituents is evaluated through actual demonstrations. The experimental demonstrations described include large and small group congressional-constituent meetings in urban and rural areas, and a congressional subcommittee hearing…

A nontechnical outline of the Federal lawmaking process is presented, from the origin of an idea for a legislative proposal to its publication as a statute. Seventeen chapters comprise the document. Chapters I through VII examine the structure of the Congress, sources of legislation, forms of congressional action, committee processes, reported…

This book is a study of the processes through which educational policies are formulated, adopted, and implemented at the national level of government. In particular, the author focuses his attention on policies affecting the programs administered by the U.S. Office of Education during the term of the 90th Congress (1967-68). Although the author's…

Analyzes the transformation of southern Whites in the House of Representatives from opponents to supporters of federal protection of minority voting rights. Three periods are examined: prior to massive participation by Blacks (1957, 1960), during rapid expansion of the Black electorate (1965, 1969-79), and one decade after passage of the Voting…

Analyzes the impact that interest groups have on a portion of the public policy process. Findings indicate that agencies with large and/or intense clientele support fare no better in the appropriations process than agencies without support. Bureaus with large and/or intense congressional support receive the same treatment as all other bureaus.…

Examines a statewide sample of Utah residents and their elected state representatives in terms of their respective support of land use planning over several months before, during, and after the defeat of a state land use act. Finds that models developed from classic democratic theory are generally ineffective in accounting for the relationships…