Legislative Labyrinth: Congress and Campaign Finance Reform

This enlightening and accessible new book is a valuable resource for students, scholars, and anyone else who follows Congress, the policymaking process, or campaign finance reform. Legislative Labyrinth provides more than just a detailed narrative of what it takes to pass legislation. Written by political scientists who worked in key congressional offices as APSA fellows, Legislative Labyrinth offers an insider's perspective and fascinating insights that most other books about policy making do not. Arranged by topic, the book explores many components of the legislative process: the use of unconventional legislative procedures: the role of policy entrepreneurs and issue leaders; the importance of political parties; and the impact that outside forces -- such as the president, interest groups, and the media -- have on Congress's internal workings. The book also considers the policy questions raised by campaign finance reform and why this issue generates such intense debate within Congress.