Local Government and Local Governance: 1944–2011

Abstract

Since the establishment of the tri-partite system of state education after the Second World War, the once simple relationships between central government and local government and the individual school have become increasingly complex. This article considers the key governance issues for schools and colleges in England and how they have been affected by the redistribution of power between central government and local government. The principal foci are the main legislative changes and the impact they have had on the respective powers and responsibilities of central government, local government and schools and colleges. The radical developments since the formation of the coalition government in May 2010 have accelerated the shift of power to central government from local government and by the end of the first term of the coalition the local authority will have little more than a vestigial role in the provision of secondary education and a diminishing role in primary and special education. As academy status becomes the norm (as it already is for secondary schools in some authorities) central government will be dealing directly with autonomous schools and academy chains. With more schools directly employing staff and with funding levels set nationally, the pattern and nature of public education will have been irrevocably changed.     

How Public Officials Gain Policy Influence—Lessons from Local Government in Sweden

That public officials influence public policy is generally agreed upon, but the issue of how individual officials gain this influence is less developed in the literature. Here, the stories and experiences of 10 officials, active in local environmental governing in Sweden, are used to identify, describe, and discuss key strategies for gaining policy influence. The result shows the importance of accessing key politicians; avoiding isolation within the administration; developing long-term strategies; and being skilled in communication, networking, and generating external resources. The way these officials act and think challenges some well-established theoretical notions and adds empirical insights to the democratic dilemma of bureaucratic power.     

警务合成实战训练理念探析

警务合成实战课的教学训练使体能、武力使用、射击、查缉等专业技能知识融为一体。警务合成技能训练的实用性、重视训练过程和灵活多变性的训练理念方法有助于提高民警的警务实战能力。     

论法治政府下行政立法听证制度的构想

法治政府是法治国家的必然要求。要建设法治政府,需要规范行政立法听证行为,我国《立法法》虽然对行政立法听证制度有明文规定,但条文过于简单,不具有操作性。因此,我国行政立法听证的范围、听证的物质保障、听证的主持人制度、参与人制度、笔录效力制度、运行程序制度都有进一步探讨的必要。     

对我国“大部制”改革若干问题的思考

大部制顺应了市场经济和服务型政府建设的要求,它是成熟市场经济国家与服务型政府职能相一致的政府组织体制,是与西方地方自治前提下的中央地方权力功能性分立相一致的。中国的国情决定我们在实行大部制改革过程中应深刻调整中央地方的关系,协调与党的机构、人大政协机构的关系,从决策、执行、监督相一致的高度设计,打破目前部门利益格局的权力运行框架。     

风险社会语境下的农业产业危机与政府干预——以海南“香蕉危机”为个案

在风险社会语境下,中国农业除要面对自然和市场的双重风险,还要面对科学技术和政策变递等带来的振荡。对农业风险的预防和治理需要政府发挥主导作用,而政府干预不当却可能诱发或加剧农业风险。海南爆发的“香蕉危机”作为中国现代农业产业危机的缩影再次暴露出在农业生产经营和农业风险管理方面政府干预存在的严重问题,文章试图通过对海南“香蕉危机”事件的分析,剖析政府干预在农业产业危机的形成与治理中的作用,并进而提出政府适度干预以应对农业产业危机的对策与建议。     

《政府信息公开条例》的民本思想探微

中国《政府信息公开条例》以法规的形式给予政府信息公开以强制性的规定,并作出了严格的制度安排。浏览其中条款处处彰显民本行政的思想,具体体现在法为民所立、权为民所用、利为民所谋、信为民所取、责为民所负五个方面,本文从以上方面入手探索其精神实质。     

资源环境监管视角下的行政检察监督

2013年6月，最高人民法院和最高人民检察院颁布实施的《关于办理环境污染刑事案件适用法律若干问题的解释》，再次将人们的视线引向政府对资源环境监管职责的落实：环境监管失职将受到严惩。在资源环境监管领域，目前我国立法只规定了行政监管责任，对有关行政监管权力行使的行政检察监督却缺乏相应的立法。加强行政检察监督，有助于促进政府依法严格履行保护资源环境、防止有关权力滥用的监管职责。     

促进政府职能向社会组织转移的对策——以吉林省为例

党的十八大确立了社会管理的新格局,使推进政府职能向社会组织转移成为必然。本文在实地调研的基础上,分析了现阶段吉林省政府职能向社会组织转移面临的主要问题,提出了提高认识,加强管理,建立体制机制,提升社会组织自身能力等相关对策。     

政府辟谣行为可诉性分析

随着社会信息化程度的加深，面对社会公众的质疑和猜忌，政府辟谣行为日益普遍。错误的辟谣信息不仅严重损害政府的公信力，同时也会损害公众的合法权益。依据辟谣行为性质将其分为政府信息公开类、行政指导类和不属于职能范围的一般性辟谣三大类，针对不同类型的行为，尝试在目前法律框架下探究司法救济思路和相关制度的改善。