Monday, February 28, 2011

Lecture 5: Policy and Politics of the Legislature

Lecture 5: Policy and Politics of the Legislature

How do people become legislators?
·         Previous experience – City Council, School Board, County Sup
·         Community activism
·         Personal or professional experience (the cranky factor)

How do you get elected?
·         Money, money, money. Where does it come from? Individuals, PACS
·         Grassroots v. media/ mail campaigns; party supported or not
·         Reapportionment/ Redistricting process
·         Party interests – competitive seats State Legislature is inside pool.

Once Elected – how do you organize and office.
·         It’s all about the district – prescence, especially the further from Capitol
·         Constituent Services

The needs of the Members to be on specific Committees (District v. Fundraising v. Caucus Leadership):
·         Policy/ Fiscal Committees germane to Member’s District or expertise
·         Policy/ Fiscal Committees for raising money – “Juice Committees”

About Caucus Leadership – how and why things happen.
·         Party above all (Caucus perspective)
·         Re-election (Members Perspective and Caucus too.)
·         District demands versus Caucus/ Party demands
·         How Leadership works

Link between members needs (re-election) and Caucus needs.

Policy and Politics

Bill Authors and Sponsors

Lobbying and Special Interests
·         So-called special interests and lobbying
·         Types of lobbying (Association, Corporate, Contract, Government)

And – Back to Elections!

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