The politics of herding cats : when Congressional leaders fail / John Lovett.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lovett, John, 1982- author.

Series:

Legislative politics & policy making.

Legislative politics & policy making

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Congress--Leadership.

United States.

Communication in politics--United States.

Communication in politics.

Mass media--Political aspects--United States.

Mass media.

United States--Politics and government--1963-.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (215 pages).

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor, Michigan : University of Michigan Press, [2021]

Summary:

In The Politics of Herding Cats, John Lovett looks at the relationship between media, Congress, and public policy, showing that leaders in Congress under normal circumstances control public policy on issue areas due to their status both within Congress and in the media by and large. When issue coverage on topics increases in media, however, other members seize on the opportunities to engage in the issue and shift public policy away from leader desires. As more members engage and more groups become involved, leaders lose the ability to control the process and are more likely to have problems actually getting public policy enacted. Lovett look at this phenomenon using newspaper coverage in the Washington Post over a 40-year period, both in terms of general analysis as well as individual case studies exploring agricultural subsidies (a low coverage topic), immigration (a changing coverage topic), and health care (a high coverage topic). As coverage increases, the amount leaders can control in the process decreases. Only under extreme circumstances, as seen in the Affordable Care Act, can leaders get anything done at all. The Politics of Herding Cats would be useful for those who wish to better understand the relationship between the media and Congress. It will also be useful to those who want to understand the relationship between actors in government and how the media has influenced American politics, as well as how individual members of Congress can go against party leaders on major issues.

Contents:

The failures of cat herding

Members of Congress and the expansion of conflicts

Member of Congress' involvement in policy and leadership response

From outside to inside : issue coverage and congressional activity

Agricultural subsidies : the power of leadership

Immigration reform : early changes, later failures

Health care policy : success and failure in the face of mass focus

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 189-194)

Description based on information from the publisher.

ISBN:

9780472128457

0472128450