Changing Cultures in Congress - From Fair Play to Power Plays

The United States Congress has been described as dysfunctional, gridlocked, polarized, hyperpartisan, chaotic, and do-nothing. In Changing Cultures in Congress, Donald R. Wolfensberger explains the institutional dynamics behind Congress's devolution to a body plagued by a win-at-any-cost mentality and a culture of perpetual campaigning.

List of contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Rolling Rules: From Level Ground to Partisan Tilt
2. Making House Rules
3. Procedural Triage for Health Care Reform
4. Fraying Purse Strings
5. Whither the War Power?
6. Congress and the Iran Nuclear Deal: Rational Reactor or Design Flaw?
7. Governing in a Political World
Appendix
Notes
Glossary
Index

About the author

Donald R. Wolfensberger, a fellow at both the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Bipartisan Policy Center, is the author of Congress and the People: Deliberative Democracy on Trial (2000). He previously directed the Congress Project at the Wilson Center after spending twenty-eight years as a staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives, including as staff director of the House Rules Committee.

Summary

The United States Congress has been described as dysfunctional, gridlocked, polarized, hyperpartisan, chaotic, and do-nothing. In Changing Cultures in Congress, Donald R. Wolfensberger explains the institutional dynamics behind Congress’s devolution to a body plagued by a win-at-any-cost mentality and a culture of perpetual campaigning.

Additional text

Changing Cultures in Congress speaks to scholars of the legislative branch, those working within it, as well as those simply seeking to better understand it. Given its timeliness and the seemingly intractable levels of polarization and partisan animosity, it is likely to be informative for many years to come as well.

Product details

• Authors: Donald R. Wolfensberger, Professor Donald R. Wolfensberger
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.11.2018
• EAN: 9780231190145
• ISBN: 978-0-231-19014-5
• No. of pages: 200
• Series: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Woodrow Wilson Center Press Series; Woodrow Wilson Center Press Series; Woodrow Wilson Center Series
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; USA, HISTORY / United States / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / Legislative Branch, American government, United States of America, USA, Central / national / federal government, Central government