Politics in States and Communities (15 Ed.) Thomas Dye and Susan MacManus

Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Participation in Community Politics

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Learning Objectives Describe the different ways that citizens participate in community politics, and compare the frequency of citizen participation at the local and national levels. Analyze the roles played by political parties in big-city politics, and assess the relative successes of the Democratic and Republican Parties in urban areas. Explain the tools used by old-style political machines to dominate big-city politics. Discuss the reforms sought by the progressive movement, and assess their success in bringing about the reforms and weakening political machines. Outline efforts by local governments to increase the involvement of citizens in the decision- making process through e-government and policy elections. Describe those who are likely to run for local office, and outline how the professionalization of local politics has influenced who chooses to run. Explain the role of city council members in shaping public policy, and assess the ability of citizens to hold elected local officials accountable for their decisions. Discuss the role that city managers play in local policymaking, and evaluate whether or not city managers should shun politics. Outline the powers and limitations of mayors. Describe the extent to which minorities and women participate in local politics, and assess the extent of their influence over public policy. List the types of interest groups that are active in community politics, and analyze their ability to influence local government decisions.

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizen Participation Volunteering as civic participation: Americans are volunteering more than ever before Voting in local elections: Is substantially lower than in state or national elections Local referenda voters: Referendum option available in 70 percent of cities; important aspect of local politics not found at national level Campaign contributors: In local politics, though not in big cities, still possible to run a low-budget campaign

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Changing Make-up of Local News

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Voter Turnout in Local Elections

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Transformation of Local Politics Old-style political machines: Bosses, patronage jobs, corruption, graft; also performed important social functions for city Reform: An effort to eliminate political machines, patronage, and party influence; and to install professional city management, nonpartisan elections, at-large districts, and the merit system of employment

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Reformers and Do-Gooders Social bases of reform: mostly the upper-class elite Reform Goals –Eliminate corruption –Nonpartisanship –Manager government –At-large districts –Short ballot –Strong executive –Merit system –Home rule The new personalized machines: Patronage still important Ethics: The never-ending battle to combat corruption: Crook County

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Reasons for the Machine’s Decline Decline in European immigration Federal social welfare programs Rising levels of prosperity Spread of middle-class values New avenues of upward social mobility Structural reforms Rise of self-financed candidates Emergence of television

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Local Government Ethics Code Coverage

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. New Connections with Citizens Interactive Web sites Social networks, YouTube, Twitter, text messaging Mobile “Apps” for everything Challenge.gov (crowdsourcing) Citywide “wireless” zones or Wi-Fi “hot spots” Targeting constituents/neighborhoods using GIS Keypad polling at public town hall meetings and forums Citizen satisfaction surveys Government access cable television stations Appearances by local officials on television and radio Citizen academies Active volunteer recruitment programs Kiosks at malls Better use of diverse communication skills Annual performance reports ed or mailed to each household Call centers

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Recruiting City Council Members Professionalization: Citizen politicians being replaced by career politicians Why run for city council?: Five types include the politico, self-regarder, community-regarder, local, and particularist City councils: Terms and elections: Over 80% of incumbents reelected Friends at city hall: Some council members initially appointed when someone else resigns; voluntary retirement the most common exit from community politics

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. City Managers in Municipal Politics Manager role orientations: Most trained city managers see themselves as policy rather than administrative managers How council members view managers: Many council members welcome policy leadership from the manager Professionalism: Most city managers are professionals, have been trained in graduate programs in public administration

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Mayors in City Politics Limited powers: Executive power in major cities often limited, fragmented Selecting mayors: If selected by councils or commissions, often job is mostly ceremonial Legislative powers: Veto power distinguishes “strong-mayor” from “weak-mayor” cities Administrative powers: Also distinguishes “strong” from “weak” Political powers: Often in form of “political broker”

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Mayors in City Politics

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Ideal Mayor Conditions

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Minorities and Women in Local Government About half of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. have minority or women mayors. Minority mayors: Growing numbers, as race becomes less important Minorities on councils: Blacks have achieved rough proportionality Policy consequences: Most obvious is more minorities in city jobs Women in local politics: Participation has risen dramatically in recent years; about 20 percent of mayors in cities of at least 30,000

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Interest Groups in Community Politics Civic Associations Taxpayer Groups Environmental and “Growth-Management” Groups Neighborhood Groups Business Groups Banks Contractors Real Estate Developers Newspapers, Television, and Radio Churches Municipal Employees

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizen Satisfaction with City Services

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Americans Serve Their Communities by Volunteering

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Citizen Voluntarism Rates

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. On the Web International City/County Management Associationwww.icma.org International City/County Management Associationwww.icma.org The United States Conference of Mayorswww.usmayors.org The United States Conference of Mayorswww.usmayors.org National Civic Leaguewww.ncl.org National Civic Leaguewww.ncl.org