Money In the House: Campaign Funds and Congressional Party Politics / Edition 1

by Marian Currinder

Overview

Money in the House provides a compelling look at how the drive to raise campaign money has come to dominate congressional party politics. Author Marian Currinder examines the rise of member-to-member and member-to-party giving as part of a broader process that encourages ambitious House members to compete for power by raising money for the party and its candidates. As the margin between parties in the House has narrowed, the political environment has become fiercely competitive. Because electoral success is largely equated with fundraising success, the party that raises the most money is at a distinct advantage. In addition to relying on outside interests and individuals for campaign contributions, the congressional parties increasingly call on their own members to give for the good of the whole. As a result, lawmakers must devote ever-increasing amounts of time to fundraising. The fundraising expectations for members who wish to advance in the chamber are even higher. By requiring their members to raise and redistribute tremendous amounts of money in order to gain power in the chamber, the parties benefit from their members' ambitious pursuits. Currinder argues that the new 'rule of money' is fundamentally altering the way House members pursue power and the way congressional parties define and reward loyalty.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813343792
Publisher:	Westview Press
Publication date:	08/05/2008
Series:	Transforming American Politics Series
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Marian Currinder is a senior fellow for the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. She has also taught at the College of Charleston and the University of Florida.

Table of Contents

* Introduction * Chapter 1 - Campaign Funds and Congressional Party Politics: An Overview. * Chapter 2 - Pursuing Ambition in a Congressional Parties Framework * Chapter 3 - The 1970s Reform Era: The Money Chase Begins * Chapter 4 - The 1980s: New Directions in Campaign Funding * Chapter 5 - A Republican Revolution in Politics and Money: The Gingrich Era * Chapter 6 - Paying to Play: Redistributing Money in the Post-Gingrich Era * Chapter 7 - Campaign Funds and the New Democratic Majority * Epilogue * Bibliography