Overview

Close competition for majority party control of the U.S. House of Representatives has transformed the congressional parties from legislative coalitions into partisan fundraising machines. With the need for ever increasing sums of money to fuel the ongoing campaign for majority control, both Republicans and Democrats have made large donations to the party and its candidates mandatory for members seeking advancement within party and congressional committee hierarchies. Eric S. Heberlig and Bruce A. Larson not only analyze this development, but also discuss its implications for American government and democracy. They address the consequences of selecting congressional leaders on the basis of their fundraising skills rather than their legislative capacity and the extent to which the battle for majority control leads Congress to prioritize short-term electoral gains over long-term governing and problem-solving.

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9780472118137

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Reviews

Clearly, the findings and conclusions in this book make a contribution to the study of parties in Congress by expanding our knowledge of the different ways parties exert leverage over legislators. However, this information is especially pertinent as scholars come to terms with analyzing a political climate defined by party polarization and deep ideological cleavages. <br>-- APSA Legislative Studies Section Newsletter <br><br>--Tyler Hughes, University of Oklahoma APSA Legislative Studies Section Newsletter (08/22/2012)

Heberlig and Larson provide a necessary and stimulating revision of party theory. <br> --- Political Science Quarterly --Adam Zelizer, Columbia University Political Science Quarterly

""Heberlig and Larson make an important contribution to the scholarly literature by providing a new perspective regarding the relationships among campaign finance, political parties, and the operations of the US Congress. ... [T]he research and writing are skillfully done; the authors should be commended for their efforts. Highly recommended."" — B. W. Monroe, Choice -- B. W. Monroe * Choice * ""Clearly, the findings and conclusions in this book make a contribution to the study of parties in Congress by expanding our knowledge of the different ways parties exert leverage over legislators. However, this information is especially pertinent as scholars come to terms with analyzing a political climate defined by party polarization and deep ideological cleavages."" —APSA Legislative Studies Section Newsletter * APSA Legislative Studies Section Newsletter *

Clearly, the findings and conclusions in this book make a contribution to the study of parties in Congress by expanding our knowledge of the different ways parties exert leverage over legislators. However, this information is especially pertinent as scholars come to terms with analyzing a political climate defined by party polarization and deep ideological cleavages."" —APSA Legislative Studies Section Newsletter ""Heberlig and Larson make an important contribution to the scholarly literature by providing a new perspective regarding the relationships among campaign finance, political parties, and the operations of the US Congress. ... [T]he research and writing are skillfully done; the authors should be commended for their efforts. Highly recommended"" — B.W. Monroe, Choice ""Heberlig and Larson provide a necessary and stimulating revision of party theory."" — Political Science Quarterly ""Heberlig and Larson have delivered an excellent and insightful contribution. Scholars of Congress, parties, campaign finance, and elections should read this book, and will likely be citing it with great frequency."" — Congress and the Presidency

Author Information

Eric S. Heberlig is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Bruce A. Larson is Associate Professor of Political Science at Gettysburg College.

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