The Contentious Senate: Partisanship, Ideology, and the Myth of Cool Judgment / Edition 1

by Colton C. Campbell, Nicol C. Rae, Richard A. Baker, Roger H. Davidson, Christopher J. Deering

Overview

The Senate is becoming more like the House of Representatives in its increasing levels of partisanship and ideology. A transformation of the institution is underfoot, posing questions about the Senate's role as the chamber in which 'cool judgment' prevails. Leading scholars, including U.S. Senate historians, discuss and analyze changes in Senate life including rules and procedures, leadership and party organization, executive and Senate relations, debate and deliberation, and perhaps above all, media spotlight. With all these changes comes a re-examination of Senate efficacy, legitimacy, and appropriateness as an aristocratic chamber in an increasingly democratic system of government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742501164
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/13/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.76(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Colton C. Campbell is assistant professor of political science at Florida International University, and is currently a visiting assistant professor of political science at American University. He is the coeditor of New Majority or Old Minority? The Impact of Republicans on Congress. He served as an APSA Congressional Fellow in 1998-99 in the office of U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-Fla.).

Nicol C. Rae is professor of political science at Florida International University. He is author of The Decline and Fall of the Liberal Republicans: From 1952 to the Present, Southern Democrats, and Conservative Reformers: The Republican Freshmen and the Lessons of the 104th Congress. He served as an APSA Congressional Fellow in 1995-96 in the office of U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.).

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 List of Tables and Figures
Chapter 2 Preface
Chapter 3 Introduction
Chapter 4 Party Politics and Ideology in the Contemporary Senate
Part 5 Deliberation, Committees and Public Policy
Chapter 6 Senate Floor Deliberation: A Preliminary Inquiry
Chapter 7 Principle or Party? Foreign and National Security Policy-Making in the Senate
Part 8 Leadership and Message Politics
Chapter 9 The Senate Leadership Dilemma: Passing Bills and Pursuing Partisan Advantage in a Non-Majoritarian Chamber
Chapter 10 Senate Leaders, Minority Voices: From Dirksen to Daschle
Chapter 11 Message Politics and Senate Procedure
Part 12 Senate Reform in Historical Perspective
Chapter 13 Twentieth Century Senate Reform: The View From the Inside
Chapter 14 Twentieth Century Senate Reform: Three Views From the Outside
Chapter 15 Reflections on Forty Years of the Senate
Chapter 16 Bibliography
Chapter 17 Index
Chapter 18 About the Contributors

Editorial Reviews

Taken together, there's something to enjoy in this collection, whether one is enrolled in a political science course or teaching it.

The Journal Of Legislative Studies

A series of informative and stimulating essays about the contemporary United States Senate. Campbell and Rae have assembled in this slender volume eight timely essays by some of the best-known congressional scholars. Because of the controversial character of many of the authors' conclusions about the contemporary Senate, this book is guaranteed to spark lively discussions.

Perspective On Political Science

The Contentious Senate contains some of the best insights into how the current Senate works in the context of mounting partisanship and increased party discipline. The well-known congressional scholars who have contributed to this volume are some of the best in the business and their chapters show it. I recommend this book for those who want to understand the workings of the Senate in the era of divided party government, the permanent campaign, and extreme partisanship.

James A. Thurber

It is a noteworthy addition to the congressional literature that previously explored similar prior developments in the House of Representatives. Strongly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and professionals.

Choice Reviews

It is a noteworthy addition to the congressional literature that previously explored similar prior developments in the House of Representatives. Strongly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and professionals.

Choice

It is a noteworthy addition to the congressional literature that previously explored similar prior developments in the House of Representatives. Strongly recommended for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and professionals.

CHOICE

Senate scholars address various aspects of increasing partisanship and ideology in the contemporary Senate and their implications for the Senate as an institution. An introductory chapter traces the evolution of partisanship in the Senate in recent decades, and later chapters look at components fundamental to the legislative process in the Senate, implications of enhanced partisanship for party leaders in the Senate, and the issue of whether or not the Senate remains faithful to the visions of the Constitution's framers. The authors teach political science at Florida International University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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