Parties and Leaders in the Postreform House (American Politics and Political Economy Series)

Since the Second World War, congressional parties have been characterized as declining in strength and influence. Research has generally attributed this decline to policy conflicts within parties, to growing electoral independence of members, and to the impact of the congressional reforms of the 1970s. Yet the 1980s witnessed a strong resurgence of parties and party leadership—especially in the House of Representatives. Offering a concise and compelling explanation of the causes of this resurgence, David W. Rohde argues that a realignment of electoral forces led to a reduction of sectional divisions within the parties—particularly between the northern and southern Democrats—and to increased divergence between the parties on many important issues. He challenges previous findings by asserting that congressional reform contributed to, rather than restrained, the increase of partisanship. Among the Democrats, reforms siphoned power away from conservative and autocratic committee chairs and put control of those committees in the hands of Democratic committee caucuses, strengthening party leaders and making both party and committee leaders responsible to rank-and-file Democrats. Electoral changes increased the homogeneity of House Democrats while institutional reforms reduced the influence of dissident members on a consensus in the majority party. Rohde's accessible analysis provides a detailed discussion of the goals of the congressional reformers, the increased consensus among Democrats and its reinforcement by their caucus, the Democratic leadership's use of expanded powers to shape the legislative agenda, and the responses of House Republicans. He also addresses the changes in the relationship between the House majority and the president during the Carter and Reagan administrations and analyzes the legislative consequences of the partisan resurgence. A readable, systematic synthesis of the many complex factors that fueled the recent resurgence of partisanship, Parties and Leaders in the Postreform House is ideal for course use.

Politics & Social Sciences

Rohde, David W.

Politics & Government

University of Chicago Press

Since the Second World War, congressional parties have been characterized as declining in strength and influence. Research has generally attributed this decline to policy conflicts within parties, to growing electoral independence of members, and to the impact of the congressional reforms of the 1970s. Yet the 1980s witnessed a strong resurgence of parties and party leadership—especially in the House of Representatives. Offering a concise and compelling explanation of the causes of this resurgence, David W. Rohde argues that a realignment of electoral forces led to a reduction of sectional divisions within the parties—particularly between the northern and southern Democrats—and to increased divergence between the parties on many important issues. He challenges previous findings by asserting that congressional reform contributed to, rather than restrained, the increase of partisanship. Among the Democrats, reforms siphoned power away from conservative and autocratic committee chairs and put control of those committees in the hands of Democratic committee caucuses, strengthening party leaders and making both party and committee leaders responsible to rank-and-file Democrats. Electoral changes increased the homogeneity of House Democrats while institutional reforms reduced the influence of dissident members on a consensus in the majority party. Rohde's accessible analysis provides a detailed discussion of the goals of the congressional reformers, the increased consensus among Democrats and its reinforcement by their caucus, the Democratic leadership's use of expanded powers to shape the legislative agenda, and the responses of House Republicans. He also addresses the changes in the relationship between the House majority and the president during the Carter and Reagan administrations and analyzes the legislative consequences of the partisan resurgence. A readable, systematic synthesis of the many complex factors that fueled the recent resurgence of partisanship, Parties and Leaders in the Postreform House is ideal for course use.

American Government: People, Institutions, and Policies teaches solid fundamentals with an institutional approach.

American Government: People, Institutions, and Policies

Miller, Gary J.

Aldrich, John H.

Ostrom, Charles W.

Houghton Mifflin School

Supreme Court Decision Making

Supreme Court decision making

Business & Money

Management & Leadership

W.H.Freeman

Book by Abramson, Paul R., Aldrich, John H., Rohde, David W.

Change and Continuity in the 1984 Elections

Abramson, Paul R.

Cq Pr

Change and Continuity in the 1988 Elections

Change and Continuity in the 1992 Elections

Drawing on analysis of the National Election Study survey data for both elections, as well as Gallup polls, exit polls, and official election returns, the authors place the 1996 and 1998 elections in historical context and assess the patterns of post-WWII politics and elections. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Change and Continuity in the 1996 and 1998 Elections

History

Americas

The peculiar 2000 US election cannot be understood without putting it in a historical context, say political scientists Abramson (U. of Michigan), John H. Aldrich (Duke U.), and David W. Rohde (Michigan State U.). They draw on surveys and other data to compare elections from 1944 to 2000 and analyze trends and patterns. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Change and Continuity in the 2000 Elections

Change and Continuity in the 2000 and 2002 Elections (Change and Continuity Series)

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Books by Rohde, David W.