Discusses the information needs of Congress and the use of online databases by librarians, analysts, and staffers to meet those needs. The features of online services that are particularly appropriate for responding to the needs of Congress are identified and possible future trends are explored. (one reference) (CLB)

Larry Echo Hawk, Idaho attorney general and former state legislator, discusses success factors in college and law school; early experiences as an Indian lawyer; first election campaign; and his views on tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relationship, gambling, and his dual responsibility to the general public and Native American issues. (SV)

To help parents become informed consumers of child care services, caregivers can become advocates for children and families, post articles, join professional organizations to educate the public, inform legislators about the role of child care in allowing mothers to become self-supporting, and be able to refer parents to resources that help educate…

Recounts the role of Congress in creating much of the New Deal legislation. Argues that the impetus for many pieces of legislation came from Congress, not from President Roosevelt. Suggests that the story of Roosevelt as mastermind was fostered by his assumption of greater executive power during World War II. (DSK)

Discusses a report published by the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) entitled Toxic Deception: How the Chemical Industry Manipulates Science, Bends the Law, and Endangers Your Health. Voices concerns that the federal regulatory system receives favors from the chemical industry that create bias. (PVD)

We describe a theory of legislative logic. This logic is based on the observation that each succeeding stage of the legislative process has increasingly stringent rules and becomes more consequential. This logic unevenly distributes the influence of social movements across the legislative process. Social movements should have less influence at…

Learning disability label establishes accommodation eligibility and civil rights protection but provides an excuse for school officials and legislators to adopt a medical model of learning disabilities and ignore other problems in the educational and social systems. A commitment to inclusion and equality requires an acknowledgement of various…

Students can learn great lessons when placed in decision-making roles. Simulating a Senate confirmation hearing can give students a glimpse of how government works and a chance to evaluate historical figures and issues. Any simulation, however, is an imperfect imitation of a real event. Having to make a decision based on incomplete information…

Reading became a hotbed of policy activity during the 1990s with both state and federal policymakers launching major initiatives to raise reading achievement. When President George W. Bush introduced his Reading First initiative in early 2001, we saw a unique opportunity to investigate the policy processes, antecedents, and unplanned events…

Despite rosy economic news, highlighted by the 8.2 percent surge in the nation's economy in the third quarter of 2003, state coffers aren't growing at pace to meet the needs of schools and other high-priority programs such as Medicaid and prisons. Last month, many states started issuing estimates of how the money they'll have to spend in the 2005…

In this article, the authors explore this new level of tribal political sophistication and how the tribes sought to pressure state legislators by pursuing a public relation campaign centered on issues of economic interest and sovereignty. Though they have been unsuccessful in recent legislative sessions, there is evidence of a growing…

The dataset presented here illustrates to students the utility of logistic regression. Its analysis results in a fit that explains much of how senators vote on a particular bill, and allows for quantification of the effects of ideology and money on the vote. A number of interesting quantitative interpretations follow from a good fit. A successful…

The Institute for Educational Leadership works with a volatile combination--legislators and educators--and with results that show both the better for it. (Editor)

Causes and effects are examined for recent cuts in the budgets of the Office of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) and the National Institute of Education (NIE). Through interviews with agency executives the author finds new priority placed on selling themselves and their products to Congress. (JT)

While the California State Department of Education (SDE) holds the primary responsibility for the success of the California educational system, the Federal Government also supports state and local educational activities. The intent of this document is to assist local educators in understanding federal education programs and communicating with the…