| Perpetuating the Pork Barrel: Policy Subsystems and American Democracy Contributor(s): Stein, Robert M. (Author), Bickers, Kenneth N. (Author) |
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ISBN: 0521482984 ISBN-13: 9780521482981 Publisher: Cambridge University Press OUR PRICE: $90.25 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 1995 Annotation: This book details the policy subsystems - links among members of Congress, interest groups, program beneficiaries, and federal and subnational government agencies - that blanket the American political landscape. Robert Stein and Kenneth Bickers have constructed a new data-base detailing federal outlays to congressional districts for each federal program, and use it to examine four myths about the impact of policy subsystems on American government and democratic practice. These include the myth that policy subsystems are a major contributor to the federal deficit; that, once created, federal programs grow inexorably and rarely die; that, to garner support for their programs, subsystem actors seek to universalize the geographic scope of program benefits; and that the flow of program benefits to constituencies in congressional districts ensures the reelection of legislators. The authors conclude with an appraisal of proposals for reforming the American political system, including a balanced budget amendment, a presidential line-item veto, term limitations, campaign finance reform, and the reorganization of congressional committees. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Business & Economics | Public Finance - Political Science | American Government - General |
| Dewey: 336.390 |
| LCCN: 95000858 |
| Physical Information: 0.86" H x 6.33" W x 9.33" (1.21 lbs) 250 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This text details the policy subsystems - links among members of Congress, interest groups, programme beneficiaries, federal and subnational government agencies - that blanket the American political landscape. The authors have constructed a new data base detailing federal outlays to Congressional districts for each federal program, and use it to examine four myths about the impact of policy subsystems on American government and democratic practice. These include the myth that policy subsystems are a major contributor to the federal deficit; that once created, federal programs grow inexorably and rarely die; that to garner support for their programs, subsystem actors seek to universalize the geographic scope of program benefits; and that the flow of program benefits to constituencies in congressional districts ensures the reelection of legislators. The authors conclude with an appraisal of proposals for reforming the American political system. |