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Objectives for Week Four State Government Basics State Government Basics History of State Governmental Institutions and Policy-making History of State Governmental Institutions and Policy-making Roles of Governors and Legislators Roles of Governors and Legislators Department of Social and Human Services Case Study Department of Social and Human Services Case Study
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State Legislatures Prior to 1960s Malapportionment and Gerrymandering Malapportionment and Gerrymandering Structure of institutions shapes policy-making activity Structure of institutions shapes policy-making activity Favortism, patronage, and poor capacity to act Favortism, patronage, and poor capacity to act Baker v. Carr (369 U.S. 186) 1962 Baker v. Carr (369 U.S. 186) 1962 Reynolds v. Sims (377 U.S. 533) 1964 Reynolds v. Sims (377 U.S. 533) 1964
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Professionalization of State Legislatures After 1960s Improving the formal rules governing legislative operation and decision-making Improving the formal rules governing legislative operation and decision-making Reducing favortism and malapportionment Reducing favortism and malapportionment Strengthening capacity of members to perform policy-making duties Strengthening capacity of members to perform policy-making duties Time Time Staff Staff Committees Committees Rise of career-oriented legislators Rise of career-oriented legislators
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Length of Legislative Sessions in Michigan, 1835 to 1980 Year Length in Days Laws Enacted 1835137 1875119234 190987322 196063163 1970120252 1980133524
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Legislative Productivity in Michigan, 1959 and 1969 Legislation... 19591969 Introduced6591,924 Reported Out of Committee 332495 Passed House 272310 Passed Senate 162198
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Committee System as Backbone of State Legislature Role of Committees in Legislature Role of Committees in Legislature Why Join Certain Committees? Why Join Certain Committees? Committees and Professionalism Committees and Professionalism
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Number of Committees in Michigan, 1901-2000 Year Number of Committees 190154 193966 195947 198931 200023
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Substantive Shift in Michigan Legislature, 1969 & 1998 Legislation in … 19691998 Civil Rights 1496 Transportation855 Sales Tax 1876 Campaign Finance 322 Insurance37185 Health2376 Environment188
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Why Does Heightened Legislative Professionalization Matter?
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What Factors Shape a Legislator’s Voting Behavior?
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The Role of Governors Historical Mistrust of Governors Historical Mistrust of Governors Resurgence of Governors in 1970s Resurgence of Governors in 1970s Gubernatorial Powers Gubernatorial Powers Formal powers Formal powers Informal powers Informal powers Governors = + Professional Today Governors = + Professional Today Constraints on Gubernatorial Powers Constraints on Gubernatorial Powers
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Executive Branch Reorganization Trend in 1970s to Reorganize Executive Branch Agencies Trend in 1970s to Reorganize Executive Branch Agencies Consolidation of Agencies Consolidation of Agencies Expansion of Executive Discretion and Power Expansion of Executive Discretion and Power Factors Driving Reorganization Initiatives Factors Driving Reorganization Initiatives
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Initial WA-DSHS Questions Why is political conflict bad for an agency, but good for a legislature? Why is political conflict bad for an agency, but good for a legislature? What are the advantages & disadvantages of being a large state agency? What are the advantages & disadvantages of being a large state agency? How can you get legislators to feel ownership over a program that otherwise seems distant? How can you get legislators to feel ownership over a program that otherwise seems distant? What was Gibbs strategy to arriving at a budget recommendation for the Governor? What was Gibbs strategy to arriving at a budget recommendation for the Governor?
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Group WA-DSHS Questions How would you structure the hearings? How would you structure the hearings? How would you work to retain what is most important to DSHS and its clients? How would you work to retain what is most important to DSHS and its clients? What factors affect the ease with which you can reduce the DSHS budget? What factors affect the ease with which you can reduce the DSHS budget? How would you explain your vote if you were a: How would you explain your vote if you were a: Rural legislator in a depressed farming area Rural legislator in a depressed farming area Urban legislator in a mixed-income Seattle district Urban legislator in a mixed-income Seattle district
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Readings for Next Week Chapters One through Three, The Price of Federalism, Paul Peterson Chapters One through Three, The Price of Federalism, Paul Peterson Chapter One, When Federalism Works, Paul Peterson, Barry Rabe, and Kenneth Wong Chapter One, When Federalism Works, Paul Peterson, Barry Rabe, and Kenneth Wong Chapter One, American Federalism: Competition Among Governments, Thomas Dye Chapter One, American Federalism: Competition Among Governments, Thomas Dye Two Page Memo on Final Paper Topic due in Week Six Two Page Memo on Final Paper Topic due in Week Six Brief background on the topic you have selected Brief background on the topic you have selected Specify the questions you are asking Specify the questions you are asking Identify how intergovernmental relationships are relevant Identify how intergovernmental relationships are relevant Outline how you anticipate moving forward with your work Outline how you anticipate moving forward with your work
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