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Info page for book:   Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmaking
Info page for book:   Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmaking
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Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmaking

The U.S. House of Representatives in the Postreform Era

Barbara Sinclair

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Recently plagued by gridlock, huge deficits, and deep policy differences between the president and congressional majorities, Congress has often been the target of relentless and bitter criticism. In this context, Sinclair asks, how has the House not only performed its legislative functions but also managed to enhance its role in the American political system? In Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmakers, Sinclair traces the emergence of a House majority party leadership that is highly active and deeply involved in multiple aspects of the legislative process, and yet one that leads by means of a...

Recently plagued by gridlock, huge deficits, and deep policy differences between the president and congressional majorities, Congress has often been the target of relentless and bitter criticism. In this context, Sinclair asks, how has the House not only performed its legislative functions but also managed to enhance its role in the American political system? In Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmakers, Sinclair traces the emergence of a House majority party leadership that is highly active and deeply involved in multiple aspects of the legislative process, and yet one that leads by means of a participatory and inclusive style.

Reviews

Reviews

A most remarkable undertaking. It represents a scholarly research effort that has stretched over nearly two decades. It has involved the getting and maintaining an unusual level of access to the workings of Democratic party leadership and yet an ability to remain sufficiently distant to develop the broader perspective. The end result is clearly a most important-if not the most important-book on party leadership and Congress.

A superb combination of description and analysis that captures the Democratic-dominated House of the 1980's and early 1990's... Sinclair has provided us with both a summing up and a benchmark as we proceed to analyze the so-called Republican Revolution as it reverberates through the U.S. House. We are in her debt.

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Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
352
ISBN
9780801857126
Table of Contents

List of Tables
Preface, 1998
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1. The Leadership Puzzle: An Introduction
Chapter 2. Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmaking: A Principal-Agent Approach
Chapter 3. The House and Its

List of Tables
Preface, 1998
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1. The Leadership Puzzle: An Introduction
Chapter 2. Legislators, Leaders, and Lawmaking: A Principal-Agent Approach
Chapter 3. The House and Its Leadership from the 1950s Through the 1970s
Chapter 4. The Emergence of Activist Leadership in the House of Representatives
Chapter 5. Leadership in a Changing Environment: Tasks, Resources, and Strategies
Chapter 6. Organization, Communication, and Accountability
Chapter 7. Information and Inclusion: The Whip System
Chapter 8. Structuring Choices: The Rules Committee
Chapter 9. Leaders, Committees, and the Prefloor Legislative Process
Chapter 10. Assembling Floor Majorities
Chapter 11. Setting the Agenda and Shaping Debate
Chapter 12. Does Activist Leadership Make a Difference? Legislative Success and the Lawmaking Process in the Postreform House
Afterword, 1998
References
Index

Author Bio
Featured Contributor

Barbara Sinclair

Barbara Sinclair is professor of political science at the University of California, Riverside.