Institutions, individuals, policies, and interactions are identified as the four research perspectives that have guided most legislative studies and that could help to identify promising areas for future investigation of education issues. The discussion of each perspective includes a review of landmark research and comments on its contributions…

Presents summaries and extracts of testimony taken from the hearings on the Department of Education Act held before the Senate Committee on Government Affairs in May, 1978. (MA)

Seven politicians who have spent some time in the college classroom as professors or lecturers comment on the influence of their teaching experience on their approaches to law-making. The legislators are: Senator Phil Gramm, Senator Paul Simon, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Representative Roscoe G. Bartlett, Representative Bob Filner, Representative…

The evaluator as purveyor of truth may be seen as one more lobbyist competing for politicians' attention. This article explains how evaluators can present their results forcefully in the political arena. Available from: Evaluation, 501 South Park Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415. (CP)

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…

This guide to the legislative process provides information on how to work within the legislative process for changes benefiting children and families. The guide is divided into 5 major sections: (1) know the issues and know the state and congressional legislative systems; (2) know how to express an opinion; (3) communications from non-profit…

The first session of the 100th Congress has been transitional for national research and development policies because of the emergence of competitiveness as a major theme in American politics, the formation of a broad-based university-corporate alliance for lobbying, and growing public awareness of the potential commercialization of technology.…

Many campus administrators in Alabama also serve in the state legislature, participating in debates and votes affecting their institutions. The potential for conflicts of interest has damaged state policy on higher education. Some recent incidents are described. (MLW)

Consideration is given to determining strategies that are most effective, deciding which people from the university are most effective in influencing which government officials using what methods, and presenting a united front to state governments. (Author/LBH)

Perspectives on the legislative process in Virginia and the relationship between the higher education community and the legislature are presented by a state senator. Virginia's legislature operates on a 60-day calendar basis, has an executive budget, and the governor has item veto power. The budget process requires that constituencies needing…

This paper discusses pregnancy disability compensation policies. On December 7, 1976, the Supreme Court held in "General Electric v. Gilbert" that exclusion of pregnancy and pregnancy related disabilities from coverage under an otherwise comprehensive temporary disabilities plan was not a violation of Title VII's prohibition of…

This paper discusses the current attitude of Congress and the administration toward federal support of education and suggests what steps educators can take to encourage the enactment of desirable legislation. The author argues that it is both appropriate and necessary for professional educators to involve themselves in the political progress, and…

This monograph reports an exploratory study of legislative behavior in the field of education. The study sampled a large number of legislators' rollcall votes involving educational policy under various conditions of partisanship. The specific objectives of the study were to (1) determine the changes that occur in patterns of rollcall voting on…

Suggestions are presented to help vocational education programs become effective lobbyists: decide what you want, choose the appropriate forum, take a position, review current laws, know what is allowed, identify your leaders, form a network, cultivate legislative leaders, take part in hearings, provide information, testify, and build working…

Describes the organization and purpose of the National and World Affairs Division of the National University Extension Association (NUEA) and discusses the need for public policy programing in continuing education. Proposes debate in the NUEA and its member organizations on the subject of members' role in such a policy. (MF)