The substance of representation : Congress, American political development, and lawmaking / John S. Lapinski.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lapinski, John S., 1967-

Series:

Princeton studies in American politics.

Princeton studies in American politics : historical, international, and comparative perspectives

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Legislation--United States.

Legislation.

United States--Politics and government.

United States.

United States. Congress.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (196 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Lawmaking is crucial to American democracy because it completely defines and regulates the public life of the nation. Yet despite its importance, political scientists spend very little time studying the direct impact that the politics surrounding a particular issue has on lawmaking. The Substance of Representation draws on a vast range of historical and empirical data to better understand how lawmaking works across different policy areas. Specifically, John Lapinski introduces a theoretically grounded method for parsing policy issues into categories, and he shows how policymaking varies in predictable ways based on the specific issue area being addressed. Lapinski examines the ways in which key factors that influence policymaking matter for certain types of policy issues, and he includes an exhaustive look at how elite political polarization shifts across these areas. He considers how Congress behaves according to the policy issue at hand, and how particular areas--such as war, sovereignty issues, and immigration reform--change legislative performance. Relying on records of all Congressional votes since Reconstruction and analyzing voting patterns across policy areas from the late nineteenth to late twentieth centuries, Lapinski provides a comprehensive historical perspective on lawmaking in order to shed light on current practices. Giving a clear picture of Congressional behavior in the policymaking process over time, The Substance of Representation provides insights into the critical role of American lawmaking.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Chapter I. Policy Issue Substance and the Revitalization of Legislative Studies

Chapter II. Bringing Policy Issue Substance Back In

Chapter III. Political Polarization and Issues: A New Perspective

Chapter IV. The Case Studies: Policy Issue Substance and the Political Behavior of Members of Congress (with David Bateman)

Chapter V. Legislative Accomplishment and Policy Issue Substance

Chapter VI. Explaining Lawmaking in the United States, 1877-1994

Chapter VII. At the Crossroads: Policy Issue Substance, Congress, and American Political Development

Bibliography

Index

Backmatter

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780691137827

069113782X

9781400848638

1400848636

OCLC:

852899131