Description
As the U.S. Congress has steadily evolved since the Founding of our nation, so too has our understanding of the institution. The second edition of New Directions in Congressional Politics offers an accessible overview of the current developments in our understanding of America’s legislative branch. Jamie L. Carson and Michael S. Lynch help students bridge the gap between roles, rules, and outcomes by focusing on a variety of thematic issues: the importance of electoral considerations, legislators’ strategic behavior to accomplish objectives, the unique challenges of Congress as a bicameral institution in a polarized environment, and the often-overlooked policy outputs of the institution.
This book brings together leading scholars of Congress to provide a general overview of the entire field. Each chapter covers the cutting-edge developments on its respective topic. As the political institution responsible for enacting laws, the American public regularly looks to the U.S. Congress to address the important issues of the day. The contributors in this volume help explain why staying atop the research trends helps us better understand these issues in the ever-changing field of American politics.
New to the Second Edition
- New and updated chapters highlighting party recruitment, redistricting, women in Congress, the nationalization of Congressional elections, and the reassertion of Congressional oversight.
- A first look at Congressional-executive relations in the Trump era.
- Updated data through the 2018 Midterm elections.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: Politics and Elections
1. Congressional Elections: Electoral Structure and Political Representation
Erik J. Engstrom
2. Making the Right Bet: The Long-term Consequences of Successful Party Recruitment
Austin Bussing, Maura McDonald and Sarah Treul
3. Recent Developments in Congressional Redistricting
Ryan D. Williamson
4. Women in Congress
Sarina Rhinehart and Michael H. Crespin
5. Congress and the Nationalization of Congressional Elections
Jamie L. Carson, Jason M. Roberts and Rachel Porter
Part II: Institutions
6. Parties and Polarization in Congress
Danielle M. Thomsen
7. Change and Continuity for Committees in Congress
James M. Curry
8. The Erosion of "Regular Order" in the U.S. House: A Historical Examination of Special Rules
Michael S. Lynch, Anthony J. Madonna and Allison S. Vick
9. The U.S. Senate: Chamber at a Crossroads
Gregory Koger
10. The Challenges of Partisan Conflict for Lawmaking in Congress
Laurel Harbridge-Yong
Part III: Policy Process
11. Congress and the Executive in the Age of Trump
Josh M. Ryan
12. New Directions in Congressional Politics Research on Judicial Selection
Bethany Blackstone
13. The "Flip-Side" of Delegation: Examining Congressional Reassertion Efforts
Justin Peck and Jeffery A. Jenkins
14. Historical Lessons from the Study of Congress
Joel Sievert
15. Congressional Reform: Lessons of the Past for Today’s Reform Efforts
Patrick Rickert and Steven S. Smith
