Table of Contents
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
