The New England Town Meeting

The New England Town Meeting PDF Author: Joseph F. Zimmerman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0313003637
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
In this groundbreaking study, Zimmerman explores the town meeting form of government in all New England states. This comprehensive work relies heavily upon surveys of town officers and citizens, interviews, and mastery of the scattered writing on the subject. Zimmerman finds that the stereotypes of the New England open town meeting advanced by its critics are a serious distortion of reality. He shows that voter superintendence of town affairs has proven to be effective, and there is no empirical evidence that thousands of small towns and cities with elected councils are governed better. Whereas the relatively small voter attendance suggests that interest groups can control town meetings, their influence has been offset effectively by the development of town advisory committees, particularly the finance committee and the planning board, which are effective counterbalances to pressure groups. Zimmerman provides a new conception of town meeting democracy, positing that the meeting is a de facto representative legislative body with two safety valves—open access to all voters and the initiative to add articles to the warrant, and the calling of special meetings to reconsider decisions made at the preceding town meeting. And, as Zimmerman points out, a third safety valve—the protest referendum—can be adopted by a town meeting.

The New England Town Meeting

The New England Town Meeting PDF Author: Joseph F. Zimmerman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0313003637
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 248

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this groundbreaking study, Zimmerman explores the town meeting form of government in all New England states. This comprehensive work relies heavily upon surveys of town officers and citizens, interviews, and mastery of the scattered writing on the subject. Zimmerman finds that the stereotypes of the New England open town meeting advanced by its critics are a serious distortion of reality. He shows that voter superintendence of town affairs has proven to be effective, and there is no empirical evidence that thousands of small towns and cities with elected councils are governed better. Whereas the relatively small voter attendance suggests that interest groups can control town meetings, their influence has been offset effectively by the development of town advisory committees, particularly the finance committee and the planning board, which are effective counterbalances to pressure groups. Zimmerman provides a new conception of town meeting democracy, positing that the meeting is a de facto representative legislative body with two safety valves—open access to all voters and the initiative to add articles to the warrant, and the calling of special meetings to reconsider decisions made at the preceding town meeting. And, as Zimmerman points out, a third safety valve—the protest referendum—can be adopted by a town meeting.

How Our Laws are Made

How Our Laws are Made PDF Author: John V. Sullivan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Government publications
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description


Local Government Economics

Local Government Economics PDF Author: Stephen Bailey
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1349274151
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Book Description
Local Government Economics progresses on from the author's earlier book, Public Sector Economics, addressing many of the same themes but at a more advanced level, and specifically within the context of local government. Suitable for both UK and international readerships, it reflects the multidisciplinary nature of local government and is aimed at final year and postgraduate students on economic or multidisciplinary degrees.

Outsourcing State and Local Government Services

Outsourcing State and Local Government Services PDF Author: John O'Looney
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0313035350
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Should we be doing—or trying to do—everything ourselves, or might it be better to contract some tasks out to others? Could they do them better and cheaper than we can? More and more state and local governments are asking these questions, and while there are many answers on the Federal level, these answers often don't apply lower down the line. Nevertheless, it is evident that contracting out is often the better strategy—but how best to go about it? What are the benefits and what are the hidden risks? Dr. O'Looney's book provides precisely the guidance that state and local managers need: first, how to decide to outsource a government service, then step-by-step how to proceed. Based on extensive interviews and other research, O'Looney takes managers through the intricacies of contract outsourcing and administration, but in doing so he makes clear that he appreciates the importance of government. His book is not an argument for privatization, as so many other books are; rather, it is an affirmation of government and the benefits of its many services. Readers will find theory and advice on the services that are most suitable for contracting out; a listing and review of the components of a high-quality analysis, including the analysis of often overlooked political, organizational, and functional aspects of government; advice on how to go from deciding to outsource to actually designing, implementing, and monitoring a contract in situations that could prove hazardous to the livelihoods of government workers. He also discusses the changes that need to be made in the organizational culture, management, and employee training as a result of the change to a contract-based system of providing services; the considerations in designing work specifications and other critical aspects of the government-vendor relationship, and how ideal contracting processes and ideal contracts can differ according to the nature of the service being contracted. The result is a thorough and highly practical volume for executives and managers in the public sector, and for those who hope to do business with them.

Exit, Voice, and Loyalty

Exit, Voice, and Loyalty PDF Author: Albert O. Hirschman
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674276604
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 180

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Book Description
An innovator in contemporary thought on economic and political development looks here at decline rather than growth. Albert O. Hirschman makes a basic distinction between alternative ways of reacting to deterioration in business firms and, in general, to dissatisfaction with organizations: one, “exit,” is for the member to quit the organization or for the customer to switch to the competing product, and the other, “voice,” is for members or customers to agitate and exert influence for change “from within.” The efficiency of the competitive mechanism, with its total reliance on exit, is questioned for certain important situations. As exit often undercuts voice while being unable to counteract decline, loyalty is seen in the function of retarding exit and of permitting voice to play its proper role. The interplay of the three concepts turns out to illuminate a wide range of economic, social, and political phenomena. As the author states in the preface, “having found my own unifying way of looking at issues as diverse as competition and the two-party system, divorce and the American character, black power and the failure of ‘unhappy’ top officials to resign over Vietnam, I decided to let myself go a little.”

Government and Innovation, Field Hearings

Government and Innovation, Field Hearings PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Technology
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Federal government
Languages : en
Pages : 470

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Book Description


Congressional Record

Congressional Record PDF Author: United States. Congress
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1324

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Book Description


The Political Economy of Local Government

The Political Economy of Local Government PDF Author: Brian Dollery
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 9781782541165
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
A study of local government policy formulation, drawing on developments in economics - such as new institutional economics - and advances in the theories of social capital and leadership. The authors also examine rival minimalist and activist approaches to local government reform.

Organizing for Social Change

Organizing for Social Change PDF Author: Kimberley A. Bobo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
Feel comfortable speaking useful Mandarin Chinese in just three hours with this accessible audio course.

Government Code

Government Code PDF Author: Texas
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Local government
Languages : en
Pages : 556

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Book Description