Congress and Policy Making in the 21st Century [Hardcover]

Leading political scientists analyze how Congress tackles - and fails to tackle - national challenges, from health care to immigration.Can Congress govern in a polarized age? In one illuminating chapter after another, Congress and Policy Making in the 21st Century reveals the political dynamics that shape Congress's performance in the domestic arena. A must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding why Congress often fails.Can Congress govern in a polarized age? In one illuminating chapter after another, Congress and Policy Making in the 21st Century reveals the political dynamics that shape Congress's performance in the domestic arena. A must-read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding why Congress often fails.Congress is frequently said to be 'broken', 'dysfunctional', and 'weak', but how does the contemporary Congress really work? Does Congress have the capacity to solve major policy problems? Can it check an aggrandizing executive, oversee a powerful Federal Reserve, and represent the American people? Can Congress cope with vast changes in the American political economy, including rising income inequality? Congress and Policy Making in the 21st Century takes a fresh look at the performance of Congress in the domestic arena, focusing on issues such as immigration, health care, and the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'. With original contributions from leading scholars, this important volume examines how Congress tackles - and fails to tackle - key policy challenges in an era of growing social diversity and ideological polarization. Rich in analysis and illuminating detail, the book reveals the full complexity of the institution at work.1. The evolving textbook Congress: polarization and policy making on Capitol Hill in the twenty-first century Jeffery A. Jenkins and Eric M. Patashnik; Part I. Congressional Policy Making in a Polarized Age: 2. Entrepreneurial politics, policy gridlock, and legislative effectivenessl+