Camelot A Role-Playing Simulation for Political Decision Making

by Woodworth, James; Gump, W. Robert

• ISBN13: 9780155078611
• ISBN10: 0155078615
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-17
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

CAMELOT introduces students the interactions of contending and contentious groups and individuals whose values and goals range from radical to reactionary. It addresses such issues as equal opportunity, right to life, freedom of expression, affirmative action, property rights, gay rights, and more. Students quickly learn that competing interests and viewpoints - with their varying degrees of organization and cohesiveness - make political decision-making complex, time consuming, exciting, and often difficult to predict.

Table of Contents

PART ONE Understanding Political Decision Making
Introduction	1	(3)
Local Government: Why Study It?	4	(8)
Governments and Communities	4	(1)
Two Meanings of Community	4	(4)
The Organized Local Community	8	(4)
Who Governs, and to What Ends?	12	(14)
Politics, Government, and Democracy	12	(4)
Power or Resources?	14	(1)
What is the Degree of Structuring in Community Decision Making?	15	(1)
Evolution of Community Power Patterns	16	(3)
Who Governs in Cities Today?	19	(3)
What Can We Conclude?	22	(4)
The Legal Authority of Cities: Constraints and Powers	26	(12)
Land-Use Control	29	(2)
Choosing the Form of Local Government	31	(1)
Housekeeping Functions	32	(1)
The Newer Uses of Eminent Domain	33	(2)
The Impact of Federal and State Regulation on Cities	35	(3)
Sources of Local Government Revenues and Their Constraints	38	(13)
Revenue Sources	39	(5)
The Property Tax	39	(1)
``Income'' Tax	39	(1)
Sales Tax	40	(1)
User Fees	41	(1)
Miscellaneous Fees	41	(1)
Intergovernmental Transfers	41	(1)
Borrowing	42	(1)
Gambling and Lotteries	42	(2)
Taxation Problems for Municipal Decision Makers	44	(7)
The Fairness Problem	44	(2)
The Competition Problem	46	(1)
The Enforcement Feasibility Problem	47	(1)
The Problem of Earmarking	48	(1)
The Problem of Preemption and Mandates	48	(1)
The Problem of Terms and Conditions of Grants	49	(1)
Other Administrative Costs	49	(2)
Organized Interests in the Decision-Making Process	51	(6)
What is an Organized Interest?	51	(1)
Organized Interests Operations	52	(5)
Institutional Groups	52	(1)
Economic Interest Groups	53	(1)
Ad Hoc Groups	54	(1)
Culture War Issues	55	(2)
Implementing Democracy	57	(16)
Policy Initiation	57	(3)
Citizen-Initiated Policy Proposals	57	(1)
Administration-Initiated Policy Proposals	58	(2)
Agenda Setting and the Policy Process	60	(2)
Political Recruitment	62	(4)
Who Runs?	62	(2)
How Are They Selected?	64	(2)
Local Government Issues	66	(5)
Two Types of Issues	66	(1)
The Scale of Issues	67	(1)
The Stakes of Issues	68	(1)
Citizen Access to Decision Makers	69	(1)
Responsiveness of Decision Makers	70	(1)
Redistributive Policies	70	(1)
Conclusion	71	(2)
Forms of Local Government	73	(11)
Weak-Mayor and Council Form	75	(2)
Strong-Mayor and Council Form	77	(2)
Commission Form	79	(1)
Council-Manager Form	79	(1)
The Strong-Mayor and Council Form versus the Council-Manager Form	80	(4)
Land-Use Planning, Planning Departments, and Planning Commissions	84	(8)
Land-Use Planning	84	(1)
Planning Department	85	(2)
Zoning	86	(1)
Planning Commission	87	(1)
Zoning Enforcement and Change	88	(3)
PART TWO Simulating Political Decision Making
Welcome to Camelot	91	(1)
Introduction to Simulation	92	(5)
Why a Simulation?	92	(2)
What to Look for	94	(1)
Other Things to Keep in Mind	95	(2)
Starting the Simulation	97	(10)
How to Use the Materials	97	(1)
How to Begin	98	(2)
Simulation Time and Real Time	98	(1)
The Camelot Daily News	99	(1)
The Order of Business in A Sample City Council Meeting	100	(1)
Council Meeting: First Session of Simulation, Agenda	101	(1)
Planning Commission Meeting: First Session of Simulation, Agenda	101	(1)
Council Meeting: Second Session of Simulation, Agenda	102	(1)
Planning Commission Meeting: Second Session of Simulation, Agenda	102	(1)
How to Run a Meeting	103	(1)
Rules of Parliamentary Procedure	103	(1)
How to Put a Motion on the Floor	104	(1)
How to Get to the Vote on Any Debatable Motion	104	(3)
Issues	107	(65)
Introduction	107	(1)
Resolution of Sympathy	108	(1)
The Gay Rights Issue	109	(1)
Officer Protection Program Issue	109	(3)
Background Information	110	(2)
The Beauty Salon Zone Variance Issue	112	(1)
The Downtown Hotel Plaza Issue	113	(5)
The Budget Issue	118	(13)
The Massage Therapy Facility Issue	131	(1)
The ``Obscene Photographs'' Issue	132	(2)
The Affirmative Action Issue	134	(8)
The Legal Setting	134	(2)
The Development of Affirmative Action in Camelot	136	(6)
The Strip Mall Development Issue	142	(4)
The Home for Unmarried Pregnant Teenagers Issue	146	(2)
The Topless Bar and Grill Issue	148	(3)
The Handgun Registration Issue	151	(1)
The Noise Ordinance Issue	152	(3)
The Drug Testing Issue	155	(1)
The Wildflowers Issue	156	(2)
The Private Use of Public Space Issue	158	(3)
Background	158	(1)
The Simulation	159	(1)
The Issues	160	(1)
The Couches in the Yards and on the Porches Issue	161	(2)
The Curfew Issue	163	(1)
The Rights of a Homeowner Issue: Home Decoration	164	(3)
Zoning Appeals Board Issues	167	(5)
The Carport Variance Request	168	(1)
The Art Sale from the R-2 Home Variance Request	168	(1)
``The Sideyard or Backyard?''	169	(3)
Reference Materials	172	(14)
Camelot: Basic Data	172	(1)
Population	172	(1)
Economics in Camelot	173	(1)
Camelot: Area Descriptions	173	(4)
Camelot Heights	173	(1)
The Central Business District (CBD)	174	(1)
College Town	174	(1)
Crown Knolls	174	(1)
Forest Acres	175	(1)
Madisonville	175	(1)
North Madisonville	175	(1)
River Town	176	(1)
University Park	176	(1)
Camelot Acres	176	(1)
South Ridge	177	(1)
The Charter	177	(5)
The Charter of the City of Camelot	178	(1)
Preamble	178	(1)
Article I. Incorporation, Form of Government, Powers	178	(1)
Article II. The Council	178	(1)
Article III. Ordinances and Resolutions	179	(1)
Article IV. City Manager	179	(1)
Article V. Taxation and Borrowing	180	(1)
Article VI. Boards and Commissions	180	(1)
Article VII. Initiative, Referendum, and Recall	181	(1)
Article VIII. General Provisions	181	(1)
Zoning Regulations and Land Use	182	(2)
Camelot Zoning Regulations	183	(1)
The ``Sunshine Law''	184	(2)
Elections	186	(3)
Election Procedures---City of Camelot	186	(1)
City of Camelot Sample Nominating Petition	187	(2)
Role Descriptions, Settings, and Lists of Duties	189	(28)
How to Use the Role Descriptions	189	(1)
Camelot City Government and Lists of Duties of Some of its Officers	189	(22)
The Mayor	189	(1)
The Council, City Manager, and Assistant Manager	190	(5)
The Planning Commission	195	(3)
The Newspaper Roles	198	(1)
Involved Citizens	199	(12)
Role Request	211	(2)
City of Camelot Nominating Petition	213	(2)
Your Evaluation of Camelot	215	(2)
Topical Bibliographies	217	(4)
Index	221	(19)
Quick Reference Page	240