Taking Chang Hua Irrigation Associations as a main object, the main issue of this paper is to research the political role the Irrigation Associations played. To examine the political role it played, qualitative analysis as well as cross-examination method are used. Not only from the view point of the organization, function and importance of the Irrigation Associations, but from the problems extend from internal elections of the Irrigation Associations and elections outside of the Irrigation Associations such as so-called ¡§black-gold,¡¨ local power struggle, party interruption, etc. to verify that the Irrigation Associations does play a active role in politics. In the beginning, the Irrigation Associations is hypothethized as politically active from a network viewpoint. To explain this hypothesis, this paper is categorized into six chapters. The title of Chapter Two through Chapter Five is listed as follows: Chapter Two: The structure of Irrigation Associations in Taiwan and their roles and functions Chapter Three: The structure of Chang Hua Irrigation Associations and it role and functions Chapter Four: The political function of Chang Hua Irrigation Associations Chapter Five: The election activities of Chang Hua Irrigation Associations After peeling all these infrastructures off sequentially, the evidences indicate that the polical role of the Irrigation Associations is related closely to governmental elections and ungovernmental elections. In addition to that, according to Mr. Che-Shen Chen, the election itself is already related to the ¡§Three Network.¡¨ Finally, the analysis above is matched with the proposal in this paper. During the researching process, I found that: 1. The formation of Irrigation Associations: In addition to historical factor, the main reason is that the leader had been called ¡§economical mayor.¡¨ Having the ability to influence elections, the election of the member of the Irrigation Associations is always coveted by every local powers. The election of the leader of the Irrigation Associations is another factor to make itself politically active. 2. The result of election system: The election system of Irrigation Associations is changed from indirect to direct election. The change also make the involvement of ¡§black-gold,¡¨ local power, party, etc. different. 3. Firm structure of the Irrigation Associations: The cooperation and involvement of the members of the Irrigation Associations are very high and strong. As a result, the influences on elections can not be overlooked or underestimated by any party.

The irrigation organizations have been organized in Taiwan for more than 400 years and set the foundation of Taiwan¡¦s agricultural development. This dissertation analyzes the 17 Taiwan irrigation associations¡¦ financial statements and discusses how the members of advisory board of irrigations associations interact with resources, rules and communication from the agency theory. The conclusions in the dissertation are as follows: 1.The type of city irrigation associations sold their useless assets and got the money to maintain and operate the associations. The type of country and fragmentary irrigation associations still irrigate the farms, but they have no unused assets to sell. The finance of these two types irrigation associations are not so sufficient, they should take actions to improve their finance by themselves or by the government. 2.Those factors as the levels of educations, the vocation, the types of associations-attending, the number of the types of associations-attending, the major cadres in the associations, the time to be a member of irrigation association, and be a politician or not, will influence with the members of advisory board of irrigations associations to communicate with members, know about the rules, constitute the irrigation association, and make the commitments to the associations. 3.The members of advisory board of different types of irrigation associations have different attitudes toward the constitutions of irrigation associations and the commitment of organizations. Especially the members of advisory board in the type of fragmentary irrigation associations, they are more concerned about the constitution of the irrigation associations, and the commitments of organizations are stronger. The suggestions have been addressed as follows: 1.The government should set up a system to monitor the finance of the irrigation associations. 2.The government should bring the new thoughts of business management to the irrigation associations. 3.The irrigation associations should operate more diversely. 4.The government should subsidize farming. 5.The government should support the irrigation associations to enlarge the irrigation areas.