Module 3: Legislative Performance

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, you are expected to complete all the readings prior to class meeting times. You are   strongly encouraged to bring copies of all readings to class each day, as well as to take notes as you read. This schedule is subject to change

11/4

The Budget Environment: The Media, Interest Groups, and the Public

BB Ch.6

Big Money Talks

Interest Groups Hedge Their Bets

11/9

Operating in the Red: Deficits, Debt, and the Elusive Balanced Budget

BB Ch.7

A Money Milestone

5-Year Infrastructure Plan

11/11 Vets Day
11/16

Draft Legislative Analysis Due

Draft Contents:

  1. Introduction, purpose of project, goals and objectives, description of team (2 points)
  2. Description of all relevant legislation introduced in the session (2 points)
  3. Bill Analysis: What patterns emerge in bills that get time/survive votes? How does the content of successful legislation change over time, and how does this content relate to innovations considered in the policy challenge? (3 points)
  4. Speaker Analysis: What is the association between speakers and time relative to your stakeholder/target population analysis?  How should players be categorized?  Work horses?  Hacks?  What evidence is there of disproportionate influence in the legislative process, in either financial support or information? (3 points)
  5. Legislative Performance: What are the benefits and costs of committee testimony?  How could it be improved?  What suggestions can you provide to policy makers to enhance innovation in policy design and implementation? (3 points)
  6. Assessment of DD: How does the platform perform as a tool for advocacy?  Public education?  Citizen engagement?  What “best practices” can you provide to future users? (2 points)
11/18

Top-Down Budgeting: Understanding Local Budgeting in the State System

BB Ch.8

Rethinking the State-Local Relationship

11/23

The Fix—Improving the Budget System

BB Ch.9
California’s Political Reform

Latner and Roach, Measuring the Consequences of Electoral Reform

11/25 Thanksgiving
11/30 Class/Lab Work on Legislative Analysis
12/3

 Legislative Analysis Due

 

Final Contents:

  1. Introduction, purpose of project, goals and objectives, description of team (2 points)
  2. Description of all relevant legislation introduced in the session (2 points)
  3. Bill Analysis: What patterns emerge in bills that get time/survive votes? How does the content of successful legislation change over time, and how does this content relate to innovations considered in the policy challenge? (4 points)
  4. Speaker Analysis: What is the association between speakers and time relative to your stakeholder/target population analysis?  How should players be categorized?  Work horses?  Hacks?  What evidence is there of disproportionate influence in the legislative process, in either financial support or information? (4 points)
  5. Legislative Performance: What are the benefits and costs of committee testimony?  How could it be improved?  What suggestions can you provide to policy makers to enhance innovation in policy design and implementation? (4 points)
  6. Assessment of DD: How does the platform perform as a tool for advocacy?  Public education?  Citizen engagement?  What “best practices” can you provide to future users? (4 points)
  Final (Four Short Answers, 5 points each)

 

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