A textbook on how US government agencies bypass the executive and legislative branches by making rules, and the impact of that process and its products. Earlier editions appeared in 1994 and 1998; the third is updated to condemn the Clinton administration and praise the Bush administration. Annotati
Rulemaking by administrative agencies is one of the most important aspects of government decision-making. Yet it appears invisible to most people. This book by Kerwin addresses (page xi) ". . .the single most important function performed by agencies of government."
The book does a nice job of describing the rulemaking process, its significance, who participates, and so on.
The writing does not sing, but the style is functional and Kerwin makes his points well.
Very much a textbook look at rulemaking, high caliber of information but something to read for research purposes, as the academic style might make it inaccessible and dry to laymen trying to learn more about federal bureaucracies. Definitely intended for political science majors, but the information included is an amazing giant "literature review" with some original findings thrown in there as well.