Living Legislation

by William J. Novak, Jeffrey E. Cohen, Matthew Eshbaugh-Soha, Sean Gailmard, Christopher R. Berry, Barry C. Burden, William G. Howell, Forrest Maltzman, Charles R. Shipan, Amihai Glazer, David E. Lewis, Stuart Chinn, Vesla M. Weaver, David R. Mayhew, Sidney M. Milkis

2012 · University of Chicago Press

Political scholars examine the dynamic evolution of laws over time in a volume that "pushes the frontiers of knowledge about lawmaking in the US" ( Choice). Politics is at its most dramatic during debates over important pieces of legislation. And while debates over legislative measures can rage for years or even decades before an item is enacted, they also endure long afterward, when the political legacy of a law eventually comes into focus. With a diverse set of contributors—including quantitative political scientists, political development scholars, historians, and economists— Living Legislation provides fresh insights into contemporary American politics and public policy. Many of the contributors to this volume focus on the question of why some laws stand the test of time while others are eliminated, replaced, or significantly amended. Others discuss how laws emerge from—and effect change within—coalition structures; the effectiveness of laws at mediating partisan conflicts; and the ways in which laws interact with broader shifts in the political environment. An essential addition to the study of politics, Living Legislation enhances understanding of democracy, governance, and power.

Congress and Its Members

by Roger H. Davidson, Walter J. Oleszek, Frances E. Lee, Eric Schickler

2019 · CQ Press

"I think Congress and Its Members is a near-perfect example of what a textbook is supposed to be. It provides a clear foundation of factual knowledge for students, along with an accessible summary of the current state of scholarly knowledge in the field, and well-chosen examples from today’s headlines to better enable students to understand the implications of what they have read." —James B. Cottrill, St. Cloud State University The Gold Standard for Congress Courses for Over Thirty Years Congress and Its Members offers comprehensive coverage of the U.S. Congress and the legislative process by examining the tension between Congress as a lawmaking institution and as a collection of politicians constantly seeking re-election. The highly anticipated Seventeenth Edition considers the 2018 elections and the Trump administration, discussing the agenda of the new Congress, White House–Capitol Hill relations, party and committee leadership changes, judicial appointments, and partisan polarization, in addition to covering changes to budgeting, campaign finance, lobbying, public attitudes about Congress, reapportionment, rules, and procedures. Always balancing great scholarship with currency, this bestseller features lively case material along with relevant data, charts, exhibits, maps, and photos. Instructors! Sign in at study.sagepub.com/davidson17e for additional teaching resources.