Congress and the Politics of Problem Solving

摘要: How do issues end up on the agenda? Why lawmakers routinely invest in program oversight and broad policy development? What considerations drive legislative change? For many, Congress is an institution consumed by partisan bickering gridlock. Yet institution's long history of addressing significant societal problems - even recent years seems to contradict this view. Politics Problem Solving argues that willingness many voters hold elected officials accountable for conditions central appreciating why responds despite reasons mustered it cannot. The authors show that, across decades making, problem-solving motivations explain bipartisanship a common pattern congressional behavior offer best explanation issue attention change.