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"The Illusion of Accountability: Transparency and Representation in American Legislatures Does open governance strengthen democracy? In The Illusion of Accountability, Justin H. Kirkland and Jeffrey J. Harden contend that it does not. Leveraging a wealth of data from decades of legislative politics in the American states, Kirkland and Harden assess the causes and consequences of "open meetings laws," which require public access to meetings and proceedings in state legislatures. They trace the roots of these laws back to the founding constitutions of some states and analyze the waves of adoptions and legislative exemptions to open meetings that occurred in the latter half of the twentieth century. They explain that these shifting positions on the reforms reflected the tension between legislators' ability to negotiate with one another in the pursuit of policymaking goals and their accountability to constituents as elected representatives. Kirkland and Harden then investigate the effects of these transparency laws on a host of politically consequential outcomes both inside and outside the legislature, such as policy productivity, responsiveness to public opinion, and citizen approval of the legislature. They consistently find that, contrary to what their theory of accountability would expect, open meetings do not influence legislators' behavior or citizens' capacity to alter that behavior. Instead, the authors uncover a link between transparent legislatures and an expanded system of organized interests. Ultimately, Kirkland and Harden conclude that transparency reform only creates the illusion of accountability in state government. It exists in principle with the stated goal of bringing citizens closer to their representatives. But the public does not sufficiently fulfill its democratic obligation to capitalize on this improved access, permitting unrepresentative interests to fill the void"--

Today's parents routinely consult pediatricians for care of sick youngsters, information on child development, and advice on problems of child management. Yet only a hundred years ago, special medical services for children barely existed. During the intervening century, physicians defined a new field and built occupational structures that established pediatrics as a permanent division of medical practice. Professor Halpern traces the development of American pe

"Hear the call to overcome today's conservative rhetoric of hate and bring virtue back to Christian living... While right-wing conservatives dare to call themselves Christians as they tear down equality and justice, commit horrible acts of violence, and fan the flames of fascism in America, Carter Heyward issues a call to action for Christians to truly hear God's message of peace and love. This book attempts to show ways in which, through our highly privatized theologies and personal spiritualities, we American Christians have played a major role in building and securing structures of injustice in American life. Rising tides of white supremacy, threats to women's reproductive freedoms and to basic human rights for gender and sexual minorities, the widening divide between rich and poor, and increasing natural disasters and the extinction of Earth's species all point to a world crying out for God's wisdom. To move forward as followers of Jesus, we must first call out these ingrained cultural attitudes for what they are-the seven deadly sins of white Christian nationalism. We must commit ourselves to building a more perfect union in small personal ways and in large public acknowledgment of what the culture of white Christian nationalism is doing to our country and world"--

"Equity is an essential aspect of education for all, and it is just as relevant to school and district leaders as it is to classroom teachers. Leaders need to know how to make equity the norm in their institutions. Author Lauryn Mascareñaz with her book Evident Equity: A Guide for Creating Systemwide Change in Schools provides a comprehensive way for leaders to demonstrate equity and integrate equity into every facet of their schools. Each chapter of the book covers a different aspect of equitable leadership, from organizing staff to benefit equity to staying strong in the face of inevitable adversity. Evident Equity seeks equitable education for all and shows how leaders can spearhead that movement"--

"Growing up in Erob, Alabama (Bore spelled backwards) Nina Barnes Enloe "Little Bit" grew up in the shadow of her imposing and controlling grandmother, Nina Barnes Enloe or "Biggie". If she wasn't being bossed around by Biggie, then the task fell to her best friend Win... Her name suits her. Win. She did. At everything. Her whole life. Bit figures it is because of Win's lifetime supply of "lucky dust". On a fateful day a funeral casserole was delivered by a new girl named Avery. She did not have a southern accent nor had she ever lived in the South. Rounding out this little group was Bit's older brother Haines and Carter Gideon the boy next door. Bit loved Avery's un-pretentiousness. Avery became the best friend Bit wanted and needed; But there was Win. Bit does not want to be forced to choose between them. Bit decides to move to New York to escape The clutches of Biggie and Win and where she is the only Nina Enloe listed . Biggie tries to keep Bit in-line with her "big" personality and force of nature. Yet Biggie is a master manipulator and exerts her control... Even from the grave . During her skirmishes with Biggie and Win, Bit discovers her true identity, learns the hard lessons of acceptance and forgiveness and finds comfort in the secrets of rainy days"--

Understanding conflicts of interest -- Pre-suit investigation and the pursuit of frivolous claims -- Surreptitious investigations and discovery -- Compensating fact witnesses -- Ex Parte communications : critical concerns for lawyers -- Social media and professional responsibility -- Accidental and impromptu clients -- Civility and saber-rattling -- Candor to the tribunal -- False testimony by clients and witnesses -- Lawyers as witnesses -- Professional responsibility and liability in negotiations -- Ethics on appeal.

Lawyers and social movements now : critical traditions and new directions -- A history of lawyers in social movements -- Movement lawyering in the new millennium -- The law-politics problem -- Legal liberalism and its discontents -- The empirical path of law and social movements -- The promise and problems of Mmovement liberalism -- Division : fault lines and fundamental problems -- Synthesis : integrated theory for integrated advocacy -- Reframing the foundational critiques -- Rethinking the progressive canon -- Past as future? reclaiming legal liberalism in illiberal times.

""Well before the existence of television and the internet, there were women that sought fame, flirted with infamy, and actively engaged with their fan base. In today's pop culture-filled world with figures like Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift, it can be hard to understand what the lives of these women were like. In this pre-suffragette world, women who attracted attention were considered scandalous and it was largely uncommon for women to become celebrities. The women who rose to fame in these times had to put up with societal standards for women on top of the lack of privacy and free speech.This book provides us with the details and context to get to know the women who captured America's heart in the 19th century. Rather than looking at influential women who strictly avoided notoriety, it covers the lives of 18 celebrities like Lydia Maria Child, Sojourner Truth, and Jane Addams."-Provided by publisher"--

Contract administration : personnel, workload, and processes -- Integrated project management (IPM) discipline -- Opportunity and risk management -- Contract changes management -- Contract financing, payment, and profitability -- Contract claims and dispute resolution -- Managing subcontracts : challenges and best practices -- Government property management : challenges and best practices -- Earned value management systems (EVMS) -- How it all ends : contract terminations and closeout -- Mitigating the risk of litigation -- Contract interpretation, U.S. government contracts policies, reviews and audits -- The future of contract administration : purpose driven governance -- Contract administration practical insights - lessons learned & best practices -- Serving as an expert witness in U.S. government contracts.