In this groundbreaking work, Scott A. Frisch and Sean Q Kelly draw on significant new data from congressional archives—gleaned from the papers of both Democratic and Republican leaders from the 85th to the 103rd Congress—to reveal the complex process through which congressional members get assigned to the powerful committees of the House. They conclude that parties differ in their committee assignment methods and that party approaches can change over time depending on leadership. They also pay particular attention to the increasing roles of race and gender in the assignment process. Based on extensive primary and secondary research, this volume fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the internal dynamics of the American political system.

The second edition of Legislative Leviathan provides an incisive new look at the inner workings of the House of Representatives in the post-World War II era. Re-evaluating the role of parties and committees, Gary W. Cox and Mathew D. McCubbins view parties in the House - especially majority parties - as a species of 'legislative cartel'. These cartels seize the power, theoretically resident in the House, to make rules governing the structure and process of legislation. Most of the cartel's efforts are focused on securing control of the legislative agenda for its members. The first edition of this book had significant influence on the study of American politics and is essential reading for students of Congress, the presidency, and the political party system.

Common Ground shows that while committees in the House of Representatives face overlapping and ambiguous jurisdictions on issues ranging from health care reform to homeland security, the problem of turf wars is overstated as panels are able to bargain and cooperate successfully matters of shared interest.

Using the Committee on Ways and Means for a case study, Strahan assesses the far-reaching effects of internal reform efforts in the House of Representatives in the 1970s. Responsible for reviewing tax, trade, and social welfare legislation, the committee became an epicenter of the upheavals that rocked the House. The author focuses on the role of the committee in the unexpected breakthrough on comprehensive tax reform and emphasizes the importance of leadership on the postreform committee. Originally published 1990. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

An explanation of why Congress can, at times, pass difficult and controversial legislation