In praise of deadlock
Subtitle: how partisan struggle makes better laws
By: W. Lee Rawls.
Publisher: Woodrow Wilson Center Press; Johns Hopkins University Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Washington, D.C; Baltimore
Language: eng
Number of pages: 144
ISBN-13: 9780801894046; 9780801894039
Subjects: United States. -- Congress. -- Senate -- Freedom of debate; United States. -- Congress -- Rules and practice; Filibusters (Political science) -- United States; Legislation -- United States -- History; Parliamentary practice -- United States
Description: In this portable supplementary text, Rawls (Thomas Jefferson School of Public Policy, College of William and Mary) examines the nature of the American legislative machine and how well it functions for American democracy. Chief of staff to the director of the FBI, with 14 years of experience as chief of staff to various US senators, Rawls offers an insider's perspective on the partisan struggle, which he sees as essential to advancing new policy and generating consensus. Such grappling, he concludes, results in better laws that have benefited from minority input.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: The American legislative process-for adults only; title: The legislative machine; title: Moving parts : the veto and the House rules committee; title: The filibuster and the minority tool kit; title: Legislative dialectics and the birth of reconciliation; title: Legislative dynamics : strategic options and timing; title: Performance and parties; title: Prospects.