Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy

by Cornelius M. Kerwin, Scott R Furlong

Rulemaking is the single most important function performed by government agencies. While Congress and the president provide the general framework for the government’s mission, rulemaking fills in the details that define the law and delineate how each agency carries out its responsibilities. Cornelius Kerwin, and new co-author Scott Furlong, update this highly regarded text with new data, fresh analysis of interest groups’ participation in rulemaking, as well as coverage of the Obama administration’s early actions, from executive orders and key personnel to agencies’ responses to changes. An invaluable and accessible guide to this intensely political process, Rulemaking contains the most current scholarship on a crucial yet understudied subject.

Genres: Grad School, Politics

344 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 1994

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

A fine work. . . . .

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kiran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gets the information across but really dry reading.