Atuação do legislativo municipal nas políticas educacionais em Dourados-MS

Abstract

The Legislative Branch plays a relevant role in the development of public policies, especially at the municipal level. This study analyzes the performance of the City Council of Dourados/MS in the field of educational policy, comparing the 2015–2019 and 2020–2024 terms, within the context of the Municipal Education Plan (2015–2025). The objective is to understand legislative output, institutional constraints, and changes in the patterns of legislative action. A qualitative-quantitative approach was adopted, including the survey of legislative bills and the analysis of mandatory parliamentary amendments, based on data from the CEDOC system and a literature review.The results indicate that the increase in approval rates does not correspond to a strengthening of legislative protagonism. Instead, there is a predominance of low-conflict and symbolic proposals. At the same time, a shift toward the budgetary dimension is observed, with mandatory amendments assuming a central role in the implementation of educational actions.Initially aimed at structural interventions, these amendments become increasingly fragmented and directed toward the daily operational costs of schools, revealing weaknesses in the regular funding of education. Moreover, the generalization in the description of amendment objects compromises transparency and social accountability.It is concluded that the Legislature acts less as a formulator of structural policies and more as a distributor of resources. Although this dynamic enhances local responsiveness, it also contributes to the fragmentation of educational planning and to the redefinition of the boundaries between the Executive and Legislative branches in public policy-making.