Legislative Relations
Instructor(s): Mordecai Lee, Ph.D, Professor, UWM School of Continuing Education
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Location
UWM School of Continuing Education
161 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 6000
www.sce-gov.uwm.edu
ph: 414/227-3200
fx: 414/227-3146
Almost all administrators come into contact with elected officials. This workshop will analyze the role of administrators in the legislative process and provide training for effective participation by administrators in that process. While often misperceived as an activity limited to elected officials, the law-making process is actually one that public managers should be involved in by giving ideas, suggestions and comments at appropriate stages. We will explore the law-making process on a step-by-step basis in an effort to demystify it. The session will explore in detail the law-writing process, giving an insider's perspective on what happens and what roles by outsiders - such as government administrators - are considered helpful. Participants will be familiarized with the basic documents and stages of legislation. The role of committees, the importance of timely and informed input, the importance of communication and the willingness to consider compromises will be discussed. There will be a discussion of the appropriate role of an administrator in legislative deliberations and a review of the key stages when administrators can play an effective and proper role in the shaping of public policy. The premise of the discussion will be that administrators should actively participate in the legislative process and can do so without forsaking their professional obligations. A key step in the law-making process - whether at the municipal, county, state or federal level - is the public hearing on a proposal. This workshop will focus on effective roles that an administrator can play at a public hearing. A mock legislative public hearing will be conducted so that administrators will be able to hone their skills for testifying before elected officials and interacting effectively with them.
Fee:$165
Contact: Shirley Bufford
ph: 414/227-3157
fx: 414/227-3330
Program Manager
UWM School of Continuing Education