Analyzing Congress Book

Preface xv

1 An (Unusual) Introduction to the Study of Congress 3

The Politics of Lineland: Spatial Voting Theory in One Dimension 7

The Politics of Flatland: The Multidimensional Spatial Voting Model 23

Two Unresolved Issues: Salience and Sophistication 36

Spatial Voting Theory and the Study of Congress 47

Further Reading 50

Summary of Key Concepts 50

Problems 52

2 The Constitutional Origins of Congress 58

The Failure of the First Congress of the United States 59

What the Framers Wrought 65

Spatial Analysis of Constitutional Features 74

Further Reading 88

Summary of Key Concepts 89

Problems 90

3 The History and Development of Congress 95

The Experimental Era, 1789-1812 101

The Democratizing System, 1820-1860 103

The Civil War System, 1865-1896 111

The Textbook Era, 1912-1968 117

The Candidate-Centered Congress 125

Conclusion 131

Further Reading 131

Summary of Key Concepts 132

4 The Choices Candidates Make: Running for Congress 138

Strategic Choice and Political Careers 140

Progressive Ambition in the United States 143

The Costs and Benefits of Running for Office 149

Incumbents, Challengers, and Open Seat Candidates 161

Conclusion: The Engine of Ambition in Congressional Elections 168

Further Reading 168

Summary of Key Concepts 169

Problems 170

5 The Choices Voters Make 175

The Decision to Vote 176

Deciding Whom to Support 190

The Problem of Multiple Constituencies: Primaries versus the General Election 195

Further Reading 200

Summary of Key Concepts 200

Problems 201

6 Regulating Elections 205

Running for Congress: The Basics 206

Congressional Districting 210

Campaign Finance 226

Conclusion 244

Further Reading 245

Summary of Key Concepts 245

Problems 247

7 Parties and Leaders in Congress 254

The History of Political Parties in Congress 255

Parties as Organizations 263

On the Strength of Parties 276

The Benefits of Strong Parties in Congress 285

Conclusion 289

Further Reading 289

Summary of Key Concepts 290

8 Committees in Congress 294

The Committee System 296

House-Senate Comparisons 333

Theoretical Perspectives on Committees 339

Further Reading 352

Summary of Key Concepts 353

Problems 356

9 Doing It on the Floor: The Organization of Deliberation and What We Can Learn from It 361

Why a Bill Does Not Become a Law 362

How a Few Bills Become Law 366

Roll Call Votes and What They Can Tell Us 397

Further Reading 407

Summary of Key Concepts 408

Problems 412

Appendix A Researching Congress 417

Studying Congress Generally 418

A Further Word about Congressional Documents 420

Scholarly Research on Congress 422

Other Electronic Sources for Studying Policy and Politics 424

Appendix B The United States Constitution 427

References 449