Legislative Labyrinth

by Dwyre, Diana

• ISBN13: 9781568025681
• ISBN10: 1568025688
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Cq Pr

Summary

This engaging and accessible case study&BAD:-of interest to those studying Congress, the policymaking process, or campaign finance reform&BAD:-analyzes the contemporary policy making process through the lens of the recent effort to enact campaign finance reform. Written by two scholars who worked in key congressional offices as APSA fellows, Legislative Labyrinth offers an insider's perspective and fascinating insights that most other books on policy making do not. The book explores the many components of the legislative process: the use of unconventional legislative procedures; the role of policy entrepreneurs and issue leaders; the importance of political parties; and the impact that outside forces (such as the president, interest groups, and the media) have on Congress's internal workings. The book also considers the policy questions raised by campaign finance reform and why this issue generates such intense debate within Congress. Arranged by topic, the book complements textbook coverage and gives students a thoroughly rich view of the process.

Author Biography

Diana Dwyre (Ph.D., Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University) is associate professor of political science at California State University, Chico Victoria A. Farrar-Myers (Ph.D., University at Albany, SUNY) is assistant professor of political science at the University of Texas, Arlington

Table of Contents

Figures and Boxes	vii
Preface	ix
Campaign Finance Reform: A Catalyst for Policy Innovation	1	(34)
Campaign Finance Reform and the Legislative Labyrinth	2	(1)
Campaign Finance Reform in Historical Context	3	(25)
A Tale of Unorthodox Policymaking	28	(4)
Plan of the Book	32	(3)
Entering the Labyrinth: Considering Campaign Finance Reform in the Senate and Debating the Constitution	35	(28)
An Impetus for Reform? Congress Addresses the 1996 Scandals	37	(2)
Debating Reform in the Senate	39	(10)
Calling on the Constitution and the Courts	49	(10)
Reform Dies in the Senate-Again	59	(1)
Conclusion: At a Crossroads in the Labyrinth	60	(3)
Campaign Finance Reform in the House: An Issue Whose Time Had Come?	63	(52)
In the Other Chamber: Addressing the 1996 Scandals	64	(2)
The First Standoff in the House: Unorthodox Methods Prevail	66	(3)
The Freshman Bill	69	(4)
Promises, Promises	73	(9)
Scramble for Control: Campaign Finance Reformers Fight Back	82	(4)
The Republican Leadership's ``Death by Amendment'' Strategy	86	(8)
In Spite of It All, the Bill Passes the House	94	(6)
Conclusion: Successfully Negotiating the Labyrinth	100	(15)
Strategic Considerations: Issue Leaders, Policy Entrepreneurs, and Issue Networks	115	(26)
Issue Leaders and Policy Enterpreneurs	116	(4)
The Issue Leaders, Policy Entrepreneurs, and Issue Networks of the Campaign Finance Reform Debate	120	(3)
The Shays-Meehan Issue Network	123	(12)
Other Issue Leaders and Why They Failed	135	(2)
Conclusion: The Guides through the Labyrinth	137	(4)
A High-Stakes Partisan Battle: The Role of Political Parties in the Campaign Finance Reform Debate	141	(26)
Setting the Stage	142	(2)
Parties and Partisanship in Congress	144	(4)
Partisanship, Bipartisanship, and Crosspartisanship	148	(3)
The Republicans and Campaign Finance Reform	151	(6)
The Democrats and Campaign Finance Reform	157	(5)
The President's Role	162	(2)
Conclusion: The Place of Parties in the Labyrinth	164	(3)
The External Issue Network: Interest Groups and the Media	167	(34)
Interest Groups and Congress	168	(19)
The Role of the Media	187	(11)
Conclusion: Help from Outside the Labyrinth	198	(3)
The 106th Congress: History Repeating Itself	201	(26)
This Time the House Goes First	202	(11)
On to the Senate	213	(9)
Incremental Reform: A Small Hope for Comprehensive Reform or an Election Year Strategy?	222	(3)
Conclusion: The Never-Ending Labyrinth?	225	(2)
Lessons from the Labyrinth	227	(20)
Institutional Forces	228	(7)
Understanding Congressional Leadership	235	(2)
Party Developments	237	(1)
From Iron Triangles to Issue Networks	238	(1)
The Triumphs of Unorthodox Lawmaking	239	(3)
Campaign Finance Reform Policy	242	(2)
The Future of Campaign Finance Reform	244	(3)
Notes	247	(26)
Index	273