Recent years have witnessed a dramatic growth in the number of black elected officials. Although blacks still constitute barely 1 percent of elected officeholders in the nation, their increasing political power cannot be denied. In Black Representation and Urban Policy, Albert K. Karnig and Susan Welch focus on the election of blacks to mayoral and city council seats, using the most current data available on more than 250 cities. They address two major questions: What conditions promote blacks' chances of winning election to public office? Does the election of blacks to municipal office have an effect on urban policy? In exploring the factors that underlie the election of blacks to public office, the authors found that the resources of the black community itself—the size as well as the education and income of the black population—are the best predictors of blacks' winning political office. The authors' assessment of the impact of black elected officials on urban policy constitutes perhaps their most profoundly important finding. Cities with black mayors have had greater increases in social welfare expenditures than have similar communities without black mayors. The authors point out that election of blacks to mayoral posts, then, can have more than symbolic consequences for public policy.

Black Representation and Urban Policy

Politics & Social Sciences

Karnig, Albert

Welch, Susan

Social Sciences

University of Chicago Press

Throughout this century, reformers have fought to eliminate party control of city politics. As a result, the majority of American cities today elect council members in at-large and nonpartisan elections. This result of the turn-of-the-century Progressive movement, which worked for election rules that eliminated the power of the urban machine and the working class on which it was based, is today still a subject of lively debate. For example, in the mid-1980s, regular Democrats in Chicago sought to institute a nonpartisan mayoral election. Supporters thought that reform would make the electoral process more democratic, while opponents charged that it was meant to dilute the voting powers of blacks. Clearly, the effect of urban reform remains an important issue for scholars and politicians alike.Susan Welch and Timothy Bledsoe clarify a portion of the debate by investigating how election structures affect candidates and the nature of representation. They examine the different effects of district versus at-large elections and of partisan versus nonpartisan elections. Who gets elected? Are representatives' socioeconomic status and party affiliation related to election form? Are election structures related to how those who are elected approach their jobs? Do they see themselves as representatives concerned with the good of the city as a whole?Urban Reform and Its Consequences reports an unprecedented wealth of data drawn from a sample of nearly 1,000 council members and communities with populations between 50,000 and 1 million across 42 states. The sample includes communities that use a variety of election procedures. This study is therefore the most comprehensive and accurate to date.Welch and Bledsoe conclude that nonpartisan and at-large elections do give city councils a more middle- and upper-middle-class character and have changed the way representatives view their jobs. Reform measures have not, however, produced councils that are significantly more conservative or more prone to conflict. Overall, the authors conclude that partisan and district elections are more likely to represent the whole community and to make the council more accountable to the electorate.

Urban Reform and Its Consequences: A Study in Representation

Bledsoe, Timothy

Politics & Government

Univ of Chicago Pr

Throughout this century, reformers have fought to eliminate party control of city politics. As a result, the majority of American cities today elect council members in at-large and nonpartisan elections. This result of the turn-of-the-century Progressive movement, which worked for election rules that eliminated the power of the urban machine and the working class on which it was based, is today still a subject of lively debate. For example, in the mid-1980s, regular Democrats in Chicago sought to institute a nonpartisan mayoral election. Supporters thought that reform would make the electoral process more democratic, while opponents charged that it was meant to dilute the voting powers of blacks. Clearly, the effect of urban reform remains an important issue for scholars and politicians alike. Susan Welch and Timothy Bledsoe clarify a portion of the debate by investigating how election structures affect candidates and the nature of representation. They examine the different effects of district versus at-large elections and of partisan versus nonpartisan elections. Who gets elected? Are representatives' socioeconomic status and party affiliation related to election form? Are election structures related to how those who are elected approach their jobs? Do they see themselves as representatives concerned with the good of the city as a whole? Urban Reform and Its Consequences reports an unprecedented wealth of data drawn from a sample of nearly 1,000 council members and communities with populations between 50,000 and 1 million across 42 states. The sample includes communities that use a variety of election procedures. This study is therefore the most comprehensive and accurate to date. Welch and Bledsoe conclude that nonpartisan and at-large elections do give city councils a more middle- and upper-middle-class character and have changed the way representatives view their jobs. Reform measures have not, however, produced councils that are significantly more conservative or more prone to conflict. Overall, the authors conclude that partisan and district elections are more likely to represent the whole community and to make the council more accountable to the electorate.

A comprehensive yet simple introduction to quantitative methods for the policy analyst and the public manager! Intended for students as well as practitioners in public administration, public policy, and various social sciences, this concise volume offers thorough coverage of both research methods and statistics as they relate to problems that typically exist within public agencies. Exercises and relevant examples are included to help readers understand the concepts presented in each chapter, and Research in Practice sections feature summaries of actual research projects that illustrate how the techniques discussed have been applied by researchers. While not meant to serve as a complete statistics text, the authors introduce a variety of methods and statistics managers will find useful. Those who complete the book will be able to compute statistics involving one or two variables, be able to interpret some of the more commonly used multivariate statistics, and have the ability to converse knowledgeably with researchers about problems encountered in the research process. Titles of related interest from Waveland Press: Johnson, Public Administration: Partnerships in Public Service, Fifth Edition (ISBN 9781478610908) and Sylvia-Sylvia, Program Planning and Evaluation for the Public Manager, Fourth Edition (ISBN 9781577667780).

Quantitative methods for public administration: Techniques and applications (Dorsey series in political science)

Dorsey Press

This brief version of Welch et al., American Government encourages students to analyze the American government through current political research. Every aspect of this text has been proven successfulQthe solid research, the lively writing style, the in-depth coverage of women and minority issues, the pertinent boxed features, and the extensive ancillary package. This edition includes an expanded budget policy chapter and two new pedagogical features: New Populism boxes discuss current topics as they affect and disturb middle class Americans; and Symbolic Solutions for Complex Problems boxes focus on how politicians often look for simplistic solutions to complex problems that more often than not fail to solve the problem.

Understanding American Government

West Group

UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT is highly respected and trusted for its attention to research and issues of diversity as well as its award-winning team of authors. While covering the basic foundations and features of American Government, this text also moves beyond the nuts and bolts, to explain why and how important features of government have evolved, their impact on government and individuals, and why these features are controversial (if they are) and worth learning. More than just narrating facts and current issues, UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT attempts to leave the students with an understanding of the "why," so their knowledge can be applied long after the course is completed. UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN GOVERNMENT is a three-time winner of the American Government Textbook Award for the Best Treatment of Women in Politics, by the Women's Caucus for Political Science.

History

Americas

Focusing on the responsiveness of government, Welch et al., helps students understand how and why important features of government have evolved and their impact. It fosters student analysis of the political process, is well-referenced, and includes award-winning coverage of women's issues and participation in the political process. This edition features an analysis of the 1994 Congressional elections. Populism boxes discuss current topics as they affect/disturb middle class Americans. Symbolic Solutions to Complex Problems focus on how politicians look for simplistic solutions to difficult and lingering problems.

American Government

Education & Teaching

Gruhl, John

Comer, John

Rigdon, Susan M.

Steinman, Michael

Schools & Teaching

Wadsworth Publishing

Study Guide for American Government

This text focuses on the responsiveness of government and helps students understand how and why important features of government have evolved, and their impact on government and individuals. It covers the core topics of an American government course, paying special attention to the participation in public life by women and minorities. It features a special chapter on the influence of money in politics.

American Government, Post Election Update

This brief version of Welch et al., American Government encourages students to analyze the American government through current political research. Every aspect of this text has been proven successfulQthe solid research, the lively writing style, the in-depth coverage of women and minority issues, the pertinent boxed features, and the extensive ancillary package. This edition includes an expanded budget policy chapter and two new pedagogical features: New Populism boxes discuss current topics as they affect and disturb middle class Americans; and Symbolic Solutions for Complex Problems boxes focus on how politicians often look for simplistic solutions to complex problems that more often than not fail to solve the problem.

Study Guide for Understanding American Government

Vermeer, Jan

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Welch, Susan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Welch, Susan

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Welch, Susan. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Black Representation and Urban Policy

Urban Reform and Its Consequences: A Study in Representation

Urban Reform and Its Consequences: A Study in Representation

Quantitative methods for public administration: Techniques and applications (Dorsey series in political science)

Understanding American Government

Understanding American Government

American Government

Study Guide for American Government

American Government, Post Election Update

Study Guide for Understanding American Government