On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000

Hardback

Main Details

Title On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Julian E. Zelizer
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:376
Dimensions(mm): Height 229,Width 152
ISBN/Barcode 9780521801614
ClassificationsDewey:328.73
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises; Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 22 March 2004
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Thirty years after the 'Watergate Babies' promised to end corruption in Washington, Julian Zelizer offers the first major history of the demise of the committee era Congress and the rise of the contemporary legislative branch. Based on research in over 100 archival collections, this book tackles one of the most enduring political challenges in America: barring a wholesale evolution, how can the institutions that compose representative democracy be improved so as best to fulfill the promises of the Constitution? While popular accounts suggest that major scandals or legislation can transform how government works, Zelizer shows that reform is messy, slow, multidimensional, and involves many institutions. This moment of reform in the 1970s revolved around a coalition that had worked for decades, the slow reconfiguration of the relationship between institutions, shifts in the national culture, and the ability of reformers to take advantage of scandal and elections.

Author Biography

Julian Zelizer teaches political history at the State University of New York at Albany.

Reviews

'All members of the Legislative Studies Section should read this book ... When asked, 'where can I find a good narrative history of the modern Congress?' we now have an answer.' Ron Peters, APSA Legislative Studies Section Newsletter