The Political And Institutional Effects of Term Limits

by Sarbaugh-Thompson, Marjorie; Thompson, Lyke; Elder, Charles D.; Elling, Richard; Strate, John

• ISBN13: 9781403975850
• ISBN10: 140397585X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-08-22
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

Discontent with politics and politicians has led to calls for term limits in the belief that new faces would bring new perspectives and the influence of monied special interests would decrease. This innovative volume examines the effects of term limits by combining statistical analysis of the effects of terms limits on electoral competition, campaign contributions, and the activities of the Michigan legislature with in-depth interviews with legislators. The book sheds important light on the political, institutional and individual effects of terms limits. The authors find many surprises that neither advocates nor opponents anticipated, included shifts in the balance of power, changes within and between political parties, and new career paths for politicians.

Author Biography

Marjorie Sarbaugh-Thompson is Associate Professor, Charles D. Elder is Professor, Lyke Thompson is Professor, Richard Elling is Professor, and John Strate is Associate Professor, all at Wayne State University.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(16)
Part One Political Impacts of Term Limits	17	(48)
1 Electoral Competition and Incumbency Advantages	19	(18)
2 Funding Campaigns in a Term-Limited House	37	(18)
3 The Interest Group Connection: Money, Access, and Support	55	(10)
Part Two Term-Limited Representatives: Who They are and Where They're Going	65	(52)
4 The New Breed of Term-Limited State Legislators	67	(18)
5 Career Paths of Term-Limited State Legislators	85	(12)
6 Home Style Under Term Limits: Responding to Constituents	97	(20)
Part Three Term Limits and the Michigan House as an Institution	117	(86)
7 Networking in the House: Winning Friends and Influencing People	119	(16)
8 Conflict, Compromise, and Partisanship: Committees Under Term Limits	135	(18)
9 Deciding How to Vote: Sources Legislators Rely On	153	(18)
10 Checks and Balances: Intragovernmental Relationships and Outside Influences	171	(14)
11 Conclusions: Term Limits' Report Card	185	(18)
Appendix	203	(4)
Notes	207	(16)
References	223	(8)
Author Index	231	(4)
Subject Index	235