The Republican Takeover of Congress [Paperback]

An electoral earthquake hit the American political landscape in 1994. As the Republican Party won control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 1954 and control of the Senate for the first time since 1986, the longest uninterrupted period of single party rule in the entire history of the United States Congress came to an end. The new congressional majorities were the most conservative in 50 years and immediately proceeded to dominate the political agenda in Washington. Scholars from Britain and the United States document these momentous developments, evaluating their impact on America's political institutions and political culture and their significance for the future development of American politics and government.List of Figures and Tables Preface and Acknowledgements Notes on the Contributors The Republican Takeover in Context; J.E.Owens The Mid-Term Election of 1994: Upheaval in Search of a Framework; B.E.Shafer The Republican Takeover: Institutional Change and Its Legislative Consequences; J.E.Owens Leading the Revolution: Innovation and Continuity in Congressional Party Leadership; B.Sinclair The Republicans' Policy Agenda and the Conservative Movement; N.Ashford Split-Party Control: Clinton on the Defensive?; M.Foley Congressional Democrats and the Republican Takeover: Strategy and Influence; D.McSweeney Republican Rule in the 80th Congress; A.Badger Conclusion: Perspectives on the Republican Takeover; D.McSweeney Index

'For political scientists, the 104th Congress presented a golden opportunity to test old theories, describe new arrangements and chart future prospects. This is the first book to take full advantage of the intellectual challenge. It is, at once, a wide-ranging treatment of congressional policymaking and an enlightening window on the new turn in American politics' - Professor Richard F. Fenno, Distinguished University Professor of Political Science, University of Rochester

'The startling 1994 midtelÓ3