The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations, 15th Edition (2011)
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Abstracts from The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations
A complete abstract (short description) listing of all of the chapters and appendix articles.
Excerpts from The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations, 15th Edition (2011):
Appendix A 2
Eight Questions
In any system of governance, there are six questions which must be addressed by the leadership of any organization:
(1) What power do you have?
(a) What control over resources do you have?
(b) What control over the system do you have?
(c) Can you create positions and appoint officers?
(d) Can you change the system without concurrence of higher authority or consent of the governed?
(e) Is your power based upon a strong and enforced constitution, an assemblage of tradition and custom (poorly documented), or are the rules sort of laissez faire ( [French] "anything goes")?
(f) Do you have the authority to innovate?
(2) From whom do you get your power?
(a) Was it conferred by higher authority or is it derived from below?
(b) Is it broadly-based or is it based upon a clique?
(c) Is it based upon election or appointment?
(3) How do you exercise your power?
(a) Are you an active or passive leader?
(b) Are you an autocrat or a democrat? Is your style of leadership authoritarian or democratic-participative?
(c) Do you believe in a narrow ideology or the "Big Tent"?
(d) Is your management style productive and satisfying to those whom you are supposed to lead?
(4) In whose interests is that power exercised?
(a) Are you acting for a party?
(b) A clique? An elite?
(c) A small or large minority?
(d) A controlling majority?
(e) Special interests?
(f) All citizens?
(5) Do you know the limits of your power?
(a) Are you aware of some of the limits of your power?
(b) Can you command obedience or merely suggest (tactfully) and obtain cooperation ... and, results?
(c) Do you have institutional power or merely personal power?
(d) How much of your agenda (or, your vision) can you reasonably expect to be achieved?
(i) In the short run?
(ii) In the medium run?
(iii) In the long run?
(e) Are the restraints of your power based upon:
(i) Internal resistance of constituents?
(ii) Budgets (money) and resources?
(iii) Institutional factors; e.g., by-laws, a constitution, administrative rules, accounting practices, etc.?
(f) Do you have any control over outside forces; i.e., factors that impinge upon the operations of the group?
(6) To whom are you accountable?
(a) A clique?
(b) A party, only?
(c) Is a system of checks and balances present?
(7) How can we get rid of you?
(a) Length of term?
(b) Term limits? [A maximum limit on the number of terms which may be served]
(c) Recall?
(d) Vote of confidence?
(e) Rotation in office?
(f) Are rules of tenure written into a constitution? And, is that constitution widely recognized and enforced?
(8) Who is watching (what you are doing)?
(a) Higher authority; e.g., the institution, the administration?
(b) The group advisor?
(c) The Press?
(d) A Watch Dog; e.g., an Inspector General, Comptroller, Auditing Committee?
(e) Is there an institutionalized and regular oversight exercised?
Excerpt: [complete] Table of Contents of the PHB/SGO - XIII (2009)
Introduction (I 1-4): Justification (for the book); The Game (of student politics & government); What is Student Government? (Excerpted and stored in Student Government Operations Archives. Click on link at bottom of page.); The Credible Candidate Transfer of Learning
Candidacy and Campaigning (C 1-10): Campaign Organization; Campaign Manager; Ethics; Campaigning; Communications; Media; Image; Intelligence, Espionage, and Dirty Tricks; Lobbying; The Press The Campaign Speech
Leadership (L 1-3): Authority; Leadership Styles; Delegation
Management (M 1-11): Types of Organizations; Officers: Duties and Qualifications; Conduct of Meetings; Principles of Management; Management Effectiveness; Bureaucracy; Budgets; Auditing; Committees; Public Relations; Presentation: the Art, Science, and Technique of Getting Your Idea Across Training, Training Programs, & Trainers
Offices & Officers (O 2 thru O 47) Chapters dedicated to virtually all positions and offices found in student government organizations with extensive discussion of definition of the office and officers, title variations, position in the organization and authority, job description (what the officer does), job specification (specifies the qualifications of the officer or candidate for the job, guidelines and tricks-of-the-trade (techniques for making the job easier and more efficient), and references for suggested reading (relative to that position).
Advisor: Making Use of Advisors; Guidelines for Advisors
Appendix (A 1-35): Selecting the Right Group for You (to Join); Six Questions (of Governance) (excerpted above) ; Student Participation (in Student Government); Printing and Copying; Mailer Form; Mailer Example; Negative Campaigning; Enlightened Self-Interest; Charismatic Leaders; Organizational Incentives (Why People Join, Stay In, and Leave); Span of Management; Letter of Welcome (to new members); Ballot Design; Logo (Logotype: trademark design); News Release Example; Cliques; Leadership Characteristics Operating Manual (guide to managing an activity); The Annual Report; Treasurer Guidelines; Problem Solving Procedure; Lobbying - the Influencing of Votes; Transition - Coming In & Going Out; Charter - the Authorization to Exist and Function; Rules of Organization; Constitution - the Fundamental Law; By-Laws; Rules of Order; Standing Rules; Systemic Rules; The Executive Order - an expedient needing careful control; Statistics; Bargaining, Negotiating and Compromise; Succession - the problem of Replacing Officers; Commissions; Office and/or Position Incentives - Why People Seek Office, Remain and Serve, and Exit; Partying - a Variety of Viewpoints; E-Mail, the Internet & Websites; Facilities & Equipment; The Political Base The Library: Personal, Corporate & Public Organizational Webmastering the Details of an S.G.A./S.G.O. Website Webmastering the Details of a Campaign Website Recruitment, Orientation, Integration, Utilization & Retention Self-Promotion or the Gentle Art [& sometimes brash act] of Hyping Oneself Slogans Networks and Networking Splintered Authority and Split Executive Revenue Cost Analysis of a Campaign Meeting procedures for Executive Councils, Cabinets, & House Councils Mathematical Modeling a Campaign; an Exercise in Political Science and in Estimating the probability (Chance) of Success Fusion Ticket: an Advanced Concept in Forming a Winning Full Slate and Requiring Intelligence, Planning, and Bargaining The Open meeting: Concept, Use & Opportunity On Being a Joiner Campaign Theme and the Message Staffs and Staff Development Mission Statement: the Development of and Purpose Organizational Models, Examples, and Applications Proxy & Proxy Votes: Theory & Application Academic Strategy-a course-by-course approach to Maximizing Learning as well a earning a High Grade
Readings and References: Readings of Interest and Value; Glossary
Index
Total word count: 274,144
[Cataloging Data]
Landa
The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations, 15th Edition, 2011 / Henry C. Landa and Douglas Cox Landa
632 pages (exactly, including a 23 page index), 274,144 words, 28 cm. (8.5" wide x 11" high)
The guide to candidacy, campaigning, leadership and management of student-controlled organizations; with special section on advisory functions and oversight.
ISBN 0-931974-21-6 $42.50 list price (soft cover)
1. Landa, Henry C. 2. Politics, Practical - Student Governance.
I. Landa, Douglas Cox II. Title
JF 2051.L2.53x 2011 329.0 L253
Publisher: FICOA, 5928 W. Michigan St., Wauwatosa, WI 53213-4248, U.S.A.
[end of Cataloging Data]
reviews:
The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations, 15th Edition by Henry C. Landa and Douglas Cox Landa (2011) FICOA, Wauwatosa/Milwaukee, WI, 528 pp., 28 cm. / 11 in., softcover, ISBN 0-931974-21-6, $42.40 list.
"This book provides a helpful guide to candidacies, campaigning, leadership, management, and other issues related to fair and efficient student government. Though geared toward student leaders, the book also features an advisory section for school faculty and administrators." - NEA Today Magazine.
[Note: This is a review of the first edition (1997, 136 pages). The latest edition (15th, 2011) contains 632 pages.]
"The singular book which addresses the only training ground (student government and activities) and the initial source of experience for working in organizations. A work in progress. 3.9#" - hcl [Note: Reviewer (hcl) is the author-editor of the PHB/SGO.]
go to The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations
Go to Student Government Operations Archives
Abstracts from The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations A complete abstract (short description) listing of all of the chapters and appendix articles.
How to Order Send check or money
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FICOA
5928 W. Michigan St.
Wauwatosa, WI 53213-4248 [Wauwatosa is a close-in suburb of Milwaukee.]
Direct price* (single copy, soft cover w/sewn binding, ISBN 0-931974-21-6) from the publisher: $41.95 postpaid in the U.S.A.
Direct price* (single copy, hardcover library binding, ISBN 0-931974-22-4) from the publisher: $58.95 postpaid in the U.S.A.
*Books purchased directly from the publisher (FICOA) carry a money-back guarantee:
* "Guarantee: If The Political Handbook for Student Government Operations does not fulfill your needs or expectations, FICOA will refund the purchase price provided the book is returned within ten (10) days of receipt and in good condition."
[This guarantee has been in effect since 1974 and exactly one book (a copy of (our) The Solar Energy Handbook) has been returned ... and that was OK with us.]
May 2011