Legislative Style

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Politics, Practical Politics, Government
Cover of the book Legislative Style by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin, University of Chicago Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin ISBN: 9780226510316
Publisher: University of Chicago Press Publication: February 1, 2018
Imprint: University of Chicago Press Language: English
Author: William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
ISBN: 9780226510316
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication: February 1, 2018
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Language: English

Once elected, members of Congress face difficult decisions about how to allocate their time and effort. On which issues should they focus? What is the right balance between working in one’s district and on Capitol Hill? How much should they engage with the media to cultivate a national reputation? William Bernhard and Tracy Sulkin argue that these decisions and others define a “legislative style” that aligns with a legislator’s ambitions, experiences, and personal inclinations, as well as any significant electoral and institutional constraints.

Bernhard and Sulkin have developed a systematic approach for looking at legislative style through a variety of criteria, including the number of the bills passed, number of speeches given, amount of money raised, and the percentage of time a legislator voted in line with his or her party. Applying this to ten congresses, representing twenty years of congressional data, from 1989 to 2009, they reveal that legislators’ activity falls within five predictable styles. These styles remain relatively consistent throughout legislators’ time in office, though a legislator’s style can change as career goals evolve, as well as with changes to individual or larger political interests, as in redistricting or a majority shift. Offering insight into a number of enduring questions in legislative politics, Legislative Style is a rich and nuanced account of legislators’ activity on Capitol Hill.
 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Once elected, members of Congress face difficult decisions about how to allocate their time and effort. On which issues should they focus? What is the right balance between working in one’s district and on Capitol Hill? How much should they engage with the media to cultivate a national reputation? William Bernhard and Tracy Sulkin argue that these decisions and others define a “legislative style” that aligns with a legislator’s ambitions, experiences, and personal inclinations, as well as any significant electoral and institutional constraints.

Bernhard and Sulkin have developed a systematic approach for looking at legislative style through a variety of criteria, including the number of the bills passed, number of speeches given, amount of money raised, and the percentage of time a legislator voted in line with his or her party. Applying this to ten congresses, representing twenty years of congressional data, from 1989 to 2009, they reveal that legislators’ activity falls within five predictable styles. These styles remain relatively consistent throughout legislators’ time in office, though a legislator’s style can change as career goals evolve, as well as with changes to individual or larger political interests, as in redistricting or a majority shift. Offering insight into a number of enduring questions in legislative politics, Legislative Style is a rich and nuanced account of legislators’ activity on Capitol Hill.
 

More books from University of Chicago Press

Cover of the book A Commentary on The Complete Greek Tragedies. Aeschylus by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book American Girls in Red Russia by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book The Arc of War by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Hustling Is Not Stealing by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Little Kisses by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Housekeeping by Design by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Siege of the Spirits by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Collective Action and the Civil Rights Movement by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book International Bankruptcy by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Human-Built World by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Sovereignty and the Sacred by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Ekklesia by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Electing Judges by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Plant Evolution by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
Cover of the book Top 40 Democracy by William Bernhard, Tracy Sulkin
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy