politics in states and communities (15 ed.) · • voting in local elections: is substantially...

Politics in States and Communities(15 Ed.)

Thomas Dye and Susan MacManus

Chapter 11

Participation in Community Politics

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learning Objectives• Describe the different ways that citizens participate in community politics, and compare the

frequency of citizen participation at the local and national levels.• Analyze the roles played by political parties in big-city politics, and assess the relative

successes of the Democratic and Republican Parties in urban areas.• Explain the tools used by old-style political machines to dominate big-city politics.• Discuss the reforms sought by the progressive movement, and assess their success in bringing

about the reforms and weakening political machines.• Outline efforts by local governments to increase the involvement of citizens in the decision-

making process through e-government and policy elections.• Describe those who are likely to run for local office, and outline how the professionalization of

local politics has influenced who chooses to run.• Explain the role of city council members in shaping public policy, and assess the ability of

citizens to hold elected local officials accountable for their decisions.• Discuss the role that city managers play in local policymaking, and evaluate whether or not city

managers should shun politics.• Outline the powers and limitations of mayors.• Describe the extent to which minorities and women participate in local politics, and assess the

extent of their influence over public policy.• List the types of interest groups that are active in community politics, and analyze their ability to

influence local government decisions.


Citizen Participation

• Volunteering as civic participation: Americans are volunteering more

than ever before

• Voting in local elections: Is substantially lower than in state or

national elections

• Local referenda voters: Referendum option available in 70 percent

of cities; important aspect of local politics not found at national level

• Campaign contributors: In local politics, though not in big cities, still

possible to run a low-budget campaign


The Changing Make-up of Local News


Voter Turnout in Local Elections


Transformation of Local Politics

• Old-style political machines: Bosses, patronage jobs, corruption,

graft; also performed important social functions for city

• Reform: An effort to eliminate political machines, patronage, and

party influence; and to install professional city management,

nonpartisan elections, at-large districts, and the merit system of

employment


Reformers and Do-Gooders• Social bases of reform: mostly the upper-class elite • Reform Goals

– Eliminate corruption– Nonpartisanship– Manager government– At-large districts– Short ballot– Strong executive– Merit system– Home rule

• The new personalized machines: Patronage still important • Ethics: The never-ending battle to combat corruption: Crook County


Reasons for the Machine’s Decline

• Decline in European immigration

• Federal social welfare programs

• Rising levels of prosperity

• Spread of middle-class values

• New avenues of upward social mobility

• Structural reforms

• Rise of self-financed candidates

• Emergence of television


Local Government Ethics Code Coverage


New Connections with Citizens• Interactive Web sites• Social networks, YouTube, Twitter, text messaging• Mobile “Apps” for everything• Challenge.gov (crowdsourcing)• Citywide “wireless” zones or Wi-Fi “hot spots”• Targeting constituents/neighborhoods using GIS• Keypad polling at public town hall meetings and forums• Citizen satisfaction surveys • Government access cable television stations• Appearances by local officials on television and radio• Citizen academies• Active volunteer recruitment programs• Kiosks at malls• Better use of diverse communication skills• Annual performance reports e-mailed or mailed to each household• Call centers


Recruiting City Council Members

• Professionalization: Citizen politicians being replaced by career politicians

• Why run for city council?: Five types include the politico, self-regarder,

community-regarder, local, and particularist

• City councils: Terms and elections: Over 80% of incumbents reelected

• Friends at city hall: Some council members initially appointed when

someone else resigns; voluntary retirement the most common exit from

community politics


City Managers in Municipal Politics

• Manager role orientations: Most trained city managers see themselves as

policy rather than administrative managers

• How council members view managers: Many council members welcome

policy leadership from the manager

• Professionalism: Most city managers are professionals, have been trained

in graduate programs in public administration


Mayors in City Politics

• Limited powers: Executive power in major cities often limited,

fragmented

• Selecting mayors: If selected by councils or commissions,

often job is mostly ceremonial

• Legislative powers: Veto power distinguishes “strong-mayor”

from “weak-mayor” cities

• Administrative powers: Also distinguishes “strong” from “weak”

• Political powers: Often in form of “political broker”


Mayors in City Politics


Ideal Mayor Conditions


Minorities and Women in Local Government

About half of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. have minority or women

mayors.

• Minority mayors: Growing numbers, as race becomes less important

• Minorities on councils: Blacks have achieved rough proportionality

• Policy consequences: Most obvious is more minorities in city jobs

• Women in local politics: Participation has risen dramatically in recent

years; about 20 percent of mayors in cities of at least 30,000


Interest Groups in Community Politics

• Civic Associations• Taxpayer Groups• Environmental and “Growth-Management” Groups• Neighborhood Groups• Business Groups• Banks• Contractors• Real Estate Developers• Newspapers, Television, and Radio• Churches• Municipal Employees


Citizen Satisfaction with City Services


Americans Serve Their Communities by Volunteering


Citizen Voluntarism Rates


On the Web

• www.icma.org

International City/County Management Association

• www.usmayors.org

The United States Conference of Mayors

• www.ncl.org

National Civic League

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