Public Personnel Management


Book Description




Model Government Charters


Book Description

The United States federal government is the oldest in existence and stands as the chief democratic model in the world. However, the exact workings of the various levels of the United States government are a mystery to many. Because the basis for each level's operations is the charter that formed it, this volume uses model charters to provide a straightforward explanation of why American governments work. Each chapter covers a different level of government (city, county, regional, state, and federal) and begins with information regarding that government's history, future, types and organization. Model charters, provided at the end of each chapter, describe the laws that form the basis of government. The charters are assembled from nationally recognized planning agencies and associations advocating good governmental practices. A glossary of commonly used terms is also provided as well as a national resource directory, which highlights major sources for further research on the topics covered in the chapters.







The Municipal Budget Crunch


Book Description

This book is based on a national literature search focusing on the best practices of cities, of all sizes and geographic locations, intended to maintain public services while holding down taxes. Many public officials have great ideas, but tend to work in a vacuum, so they don't know what other cities are doing. This volume codifies knowledge in this new field for the first time. Every case study included in this book has the city's website listed. This reference work makes it easy for professionals seeking additional information on any and all budget reduction methods that seem to work somewhere.







Personnel Literature


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The Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionalism


Book Description

“Thorough, engaging, and full of insight . . . a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the state’s governmental process and its political actors.” —Jeffrey M. Berry, author of Lobbying for the People: The Political Behavior of Public Interest Groups Are claims of Massachusetts’s special and instructive place in American history and politics justified? Alternately described as a “city upon a hill” and “an organized system of hatreds,” Massachusetts politics has indisputably exerted an outsized pull on the national stage. The Commonwealth’s leaders often argue for the state’s distinct position within the union, citing its proud abolitionist history and its status as a policy leader on health care, gay marriage, and transgender rights, not to mention its fertile soil for budding national politicians. Detractors point to the state’s busing crisis, sky-high levels of economic inequality, and mixed support for undocumented immigrants. The Politics of Massachusetts Exceptionalism tackles these tensions, offering a collection of essays from public policy experts that address the state’s noteworthy contributions to the nation’s political history. This is a much-needed volume for Massachusetts policymakers, journalists, and community leaders, as well as those learning about political power at the state level, inside and outside of the classroom. Contributors include the editors as well as Maurice T. Cunningham, Lawrence Friedman, Shannon Jenkins, Luis F. Jiménez, and Peter Ubertaccio. “One-stop shopping for an understanding of Massachusetts politics.” —CommonWealth Magazine