Description: Congress Overwhelmed by Lee Drutman, Kevin R. Kosar, Timothy M. Lapira Papers based on presentations at the State of Congressional Capacity conference, held at New America, March 1-2, 2018. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Congress today is falling short. Fewer bills, worse oversight, and more dysfunction. But why? In a new volume of essays, the contributors investigate an underappreciated reason Congress is struggling: it doesnt have the internal capacity to do what our constitutional system requires of it. Leading scholars chronicle the institutional decline of Congress and the decades-long neglect of its own internal investments in the knowledge and expertise necessary to perform as a first-rate legislature. Todays legislators and congressional committees have fewer—and less expert and experienced—staff than the executive branch or K Street. This leaves them at the mercy of lobbyists and the administrative bureaucracy. The essays in Congress Overwhelmed assess Congresss declining capacity and explore ways to upgrade it. Some provide broad historical scope. Others evaluate the current decay and investigate how Congress manages despite the obstacles. Collectively, they undertake the most comprehensive, sophisticated appraisal of congressional capacity to date, and they offer a new analytical frame for thinking about—and improving—our underperforming first branch of government. Author Biography Timothy M. LaPira is associate professor of political science at James Madison University. He is coauthor, with Herschel F. Thomas, of Revolving Door Lobbying. Lee Drutman is a senior fellow in the Political Reform Program at the New America Foundation think tank. He is the author of The Business of America Is Lobbying. Kevin R. Kosar is vice president of policy at the R Street Institute think tank in Washington, DC, where he directs its Alcohol Policy Program. He is the author of Moonshine and Whiskey, both published by Reaktion Books. Table of Contents 1 Overwhelmed: An Introduction to Congresss Capacity Problem Timothy M. LaPira, Lee Drutman, and Kevin R. Kosar Part 1 The Foundations of Congressional Capacity 2 Capacity for What? Legislative Capacity Regimes in Congress and the Possibilities for Reform Lee Drutman and Timothy M. LaPira 3 The Decline in Congressional Capacity Molly E. Reynolds 4 How Congress Fell Behind the Executive Branch Philip A. Wallach Part 2 Knowledge and Expertise in Congress 5 The Congressional Capacity Survey: Who Staff Are, How They Got There, What They Do, and Where They May Go Alexander C. Furnas, Lee Drutman, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, Timothy M. LaPira, and Kevin R. Kosar 6 What Do Congressional Staff Actually Know? Kristina C. Miler 7 How Committee Staffers Clear the Runway for Legislative Action in Congress Casey Burgat and Charles Hunt 8 Legislative Branch Support Agencies: What They Are, What They Do, and Their Uneasy Position in Our System of Government Kevin R. Kosar Part 3 The Politics of Capacity in the Legislative Process 9 Still Muddling Along? Assessing the Hybrid Congressional Appropriations Process Peter Hanson 10 Congress and the Capacity to Act: Overcoming Gridlock in the Senates Amendment Process James Wallner 11 The Issue Dynamics of Congressional Capacity Jonathan Lewallen, Sean M. Theriault, and Bryan D. Jones 12 Congressional Capacity and Reauthorizations E. Scott Adler, Stefani R. Langehennig, and Ryan W. Bell 13 How Experienced Legislative Staff Contribute to Effective Lawmaking Jesse M. Crosson, Geoffrey M. Lorenz, Craig Volden, and Alan E. Wiseman 14 Capacity in a Centralized Congress James M. Curry and Frances E. Lee 15 Congressional Capacity and Bipartisanship in Congress Laurel Harbridge-Yong Part 4 Capacity and the Politics of Reform 16 Lessons from the History of Reform Ruth Bloch Rubin 17 Dodging Dead Cats: What Would It Take to Get Congress to Expand Capacity? Anthony Madonna and Ian Ostrander Acknowledgments Notes References List of Contributors Index Online appendixes are available at Review "Congress Overwhelmed brings together a strong set of congressional scholars addressing some of the most important issues facing the institution today. It will appeal not just to other scholars but also to observers of Congress, such as members of the media, staffers, and anyone working in and around Capitol Hill. The book offers an honest assessment of existing congressional limitations and how Congress can become more productive and functional." -- Josh Ryan, Utah State University"Congress Overwhelmed brings together the leading experts on Congress to address a critical issue facing American democracy: what can be done to ensure that Congress fulfills its role as a coequal branch in our political system? The volume provides a clear and compelling account of the many challenges facing todays Congress and offers valuable lessons for reformers seeking to improve the legislative branchs capacity." -- Eric Schikler, University of California, Berkeley"The United States Congress is a dysfunctional institution. Congress falls short on just about every measure of its myriad responsibilities. But how is Congress broken and why? Moreover, what can be done about it? These are the critical questions that Congress Overwhelmed seeks to address." * Congress & the Presidency * Review Quote "Congress Overwhelmed brings together the leading experts on Congress to address a critical issue facing American democracy: what can be done to ensure that Congress fulfills its role as a coequal branch in our political system? The volume provides a clear and compelling account of the many challenges facing todays Congress and offers valuable lessons for reformers seeking to improve the legislative branchs capacity." Details ISBN022670257X Pages 352 Year 2020 ISBN-10 022670257X ISBN-13 9780226702575 Format Paperback Imprint University of Chicago Press Subtitle The Decline in Congressional Capacity and Prospects for Reform Place of Publication Chicago, IL Country of Publication United States Edited by Kevin R Kosar DEWEY 328.73 Short Title Congress Overwhelmed Language English Publication Date 2020-12-07 UK Release Date 2020-12-07 AU Release Date 2020-12-07 NZ Release Date 2020-12-07 US Release Date 2020-12-07 Author Timothy M. Lapira Publisher The University of Chicago Press Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:161781224;
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ISBN-13: 9780226702575
Book Title: Congress Overwhelmed
Number of Pages: 352 Pages
Publication Name: Congress Overwhelmed: the Decline in Congressional Capacity and Prospects for Reform
Language: English
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Item Height: 229 mm
Subject: Government
Publication Year: 2020
Type: Textbook
Subject Area: Political Science
Author: Kevin R Kosar, Lee Drutman, Timothy M Lapira
Item Width: 152 mm
Format: Paperback
