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Congressional Caucuses in National Policy Making by Susan Webb Hammond
The author describes and explains the role, activities and influence of the groups know on Capitol Hill as "caucuses" - the voluntary groups of members of Congress which share interests but which are outside the formal legislative and policy-making structure.Exactly what role do groups like The Senate Centrist Coalition; the Coalition (Blue Dogs); and the Black Caucus play in congressional decision making? In this work, Susan Webb Hammond describes and explains the role, activities, and influence of the groups known on Capitol Hill as "caucuses". Defined as voluntary groups of members of Congress that share interests, but which stand outside the formal legislative and policy making structure, caucuses are prime players in influencing policy and setting the legislative agenda. Over the past five Congresses, Hammond counts the formation of more than 250 caucuses, varying widely in size and membership. They can be organized into six categories: party affiliation, personal interest, national constituency, regional issues, state interests, and district industrial interests. Within the caucuses, members share information, co-ordinate legislative plans, seek ways to influence colleagues and even strategize on agenda setting. While the caucuses can contribute to greater co-ordination, efficiency, and even effective policy planning, Hammond finds that they also tend to fragment the congressional system, because they serve as alternative sources of information, communication and voting coalitions outside the formal structure of Congress. In fact, caucuses have survived recent attempts at elimination by doing away with legislative service organizations. |
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| Author(s) : Susan Webb Hammond | Format : Paperback Book |
| ISBN-10 : 0801868173 | ISBN-13 : 9780801868177 |
| RRP : £14.00 | Best available price : £ / $ |
| Prices as of : BST check live prices | |
Product Details:
Country Publication : United States
Publication Date : 10/10/2001
Publisher : Johns Hopkins University Press
Page Length : 272mm
Page Size : 229mm