Ghostwriting legislation : how the unelected write state policy / Mary Kroeger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kroeger, Mary (Author of Ghostwriting legislation), Author.

Series:

Cambridge Studies in American Legislatures.

Cambridge Studies in American Legislatures

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Legislative power--United States--States.

Legislative power.

Legislation--United States--States.

Legislation.

Separation of powers--United States--States.

Separation of powers.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvii, 217 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2026.

Summary:

State legislators introduce more than 100,000 bills per year and the resulting statutes that become law govern every aspect of life and business in those states. But who exactly writes these laws? In Ghostwriting Legislation, Mary Kroeger delves into the central and often-overlooked role that interest groups, think tanks, companies, and bureaucrats play in writing state law. While legislators are not expected to draft and pass legislation without the input of outside actors, Kroeger argues that a democratic defect may arise if elected officials must rely substantially on non-legislators to craft high-quality bills. Ghostwriting Legislation explores the disconnect between legislative power and legislative capacity, providing key data and insights for those who care about democracy and the separation-of-power dynamics in state legislatures.

Contents:

A Theory of the Interaction Between Legislator, Legislature, and Groups

Bring in the Bureaucrats

Legislating from the Outside in the Golden State

Prepackaged Policy : Model Bill Use in the 50 U.S. States

Complexity and Deliberation by Design

The Electoral Connection : Democratic Implications of Outsider Involvement

Conclusion : Democracy in the States.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 25 Jun 2026).

ISBN:

1-009-71014-1