The American Legislative Process: Congress and the States

by William J. Keefe

/8770C-5, 0-13-087703-4, Keefe, William J., Ogul, Morris S., The American Legislative Congress and the States, 10/E//--> This book describes and analyzes the American legislative process using a wide variety of perspectives and sources to encompass legal, behavioral, normative, and historical dimensions. Its current content reflects evolving legislatures and the latest literature on the legislative process. Chapter topics include financing congressional elections, pork barrel politics in Congress, initiative and referendum, term limits, impeachment, redistricting and the courts, recruitment of legislative candidates, PACs, committee politics, committee floor relations, rules, legislative strategy, party caucuses, party voting, independent counsels, presidential leadership in Congress, congressional accountability, reapportionment, incumbency, congressional norms, house speakership, seniority, majority-minority districts, interest group influence, party impact on policy making, legislative-judicial relations, and legislative ethics. For anyone interested in the United States Congress, the legislative process, and American political institutions.

Genres: Politics

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Ericka Clou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in graduate school for Legislative Affairs, and I think we focused on Keefe's chapters on the uniqueness and necessity of committee power in the American system of government. He also says that members support the system of committee power because the committees’ recommendations are consistent with members’ policy preferences and because the majority party controls the committee system. (Although, obviously, whether or not the members are divided ideologically on the committee’s issues determines whether or not there will be a lot of conflict in the committee.)