Series Information:
Financial Sector of the American Economy

In recent years, special congressional appropriations-- earmarks --have become synonymous with wasteful government spending and corruption. In this timely, provocative, and highly-readable book Frisch and Kelly challenge the conventional wisdom arguing that earmarks are good for American democracy. They argue that the Founders of the American republic invested the power of the purse in the U.S. Congress to ensure that spending would reflect the priorities of constituents and to balance the legislature against the executive branch of government. Using extensive interviews with Washington insiders and well-developed examples they: Illustrate how earmark projects that were highly pilloried responded to the needs of local communities that would otherwise go unaddressed by unelected bureaucrats. Demonstrate how the selfish motives of members of Congress can produce spending that benefits the nation. Argue that lobbyists far from corrupting the earmark process provide valuable services to groups seeking earmarked funds, and help members of Congress and their staff navigate the appropriations process. Take a critical look at media coverage of earmarks and argue that trends in media coverage lead to superficial and hyper-dramatic coverage of the earmark process. Explain why the number of earmarks has surged over the last fifteen years. Assess recent reforms in Congress and explain why recent reforms aimed at increasing transparency will not result in greater public trust."Cheese Factories on the Moon" is a much-needed challenge to a widespread but deeply flawed consensus about what is wrong with congressional appropriations earmarks.Please visit the authors' website here: Cheese Factories on the MoonAnd don't miss Professor Sean Kelly's appearance on the PBS News Hour: PBS News Hour"

In recent years, special congressional appropriations-- earmarks --have become synonymous with wasteful government spending and corruption. In this timely, provocative, and highly-readable book Frisch and Kelly challenge the conventional wisdom arguing that earmarks are good for American democracy. They argue that the Founders of the American republic invested the power of the purse in the U.S. Congress to ensure that spending would reflect the priorities of constituents and to balance the legislature against the executive branch of government. Using extensive interviews with Washington insiders and well-developed examples they: Illustrate how earmark projects that were highly pilloried responded to the needs of local communities that would otherwise go unaddressed by unelected bureaucrats. Demonstrate how the selfish motives of members of Congress can produce spending that benefits the nation. Argue that lobbyists far from corrupting the earmark process provide valuable services to groups seeking earmarked funds, and help members of Congress and their staff navigate the appropriations process. Take a critical look at media coverage of earmarks and argue that trends in media coverage lead to superficial and hyper-dramatic coverage of the earmark process. Explain why the number of earmarks has surged over the last fifteen years. Assess recent reforms in Congress and explain why recent reforms aimed at increasing transparency will not result in greater public trust."Cheese Factories on the Moon" is a much-needed challenge to a widespread but deeply flawed consensus about what is wrong with congressional appropriations earmarks.Please visit the authors' website here: Cheese Factories on the MoonAnd don't miss Professor Sean Kelly's appearance on the PBS News Hour: PBS News Hour"

First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Debates over U.S. government policy frequently follow a philosophy of devolution in authority from federal government to local government. This concept opens the possibility of greater local involvement in national policy implementation-and provides international treaties an opportunity to advance global policy by incorporating the efforts of local actors into their implementation framework. Much of international policy involves enforcement through international-to-national linkages forming an "implementation chain," but devolution offers the potential to extend the implementation chain by providing national-to-local linkages. This new book explores the nature of such linkages, taking as a case study the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) via its domestic analog, the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The analysis employs both quantitative and qualitative methods including interviews, surveys, statistical analysis, and document review. The author concludes that while the framework of CITES enforcement in the U.S. allows for national-to-local extension of the CITES implementation chain, it also presents challenges that should be addressed by international policymakers who consider devolution as a way of assisting global policy. The book includes a Foreword by Scott A. Frisch, a professor of political science (and chair of the department) at California State University, Channel Islands. Frisch notes that "in this book Jonathan Liljeblad offers an enlightening and long-overdue look at the issue of local implementation of international policy.... Liljeblad is able to arrive at insightful conclusions as well as concrete recommendations for policymakers wishing to improve coordination and execution of international policies that rely on local governments for their implementation." He concludes, "Liljeblad's recommendations would foster a climate of greater understanding of the connections between international and domestic policy and should be heeded by all levels of government to remove unnecessary roadblocks that can derail implementation." A new study in the international protection of animal and plant species, presented by Quid Pro Books.

Given the dearth of training in archival research, the editors envisioned a book that addresses the "how to" of archival research by involving the perspective of archivists. The editors identified chapter authors who demonstrate in their research-oriented essays how archival research influences and improves empirical political science research. They weave their scholarly contributions together with their practical experiences and "boots on the ground" advice to ease readers toward their first foray into the archives. Because archives were largely abandoned by political scientists in the 1950s, archivists' understanding of their collections and their archival practices is heavily influenced by the habits and methodological concerns of historians. The essays in this volume help archivists better understand the somewhat unique perspectives and habits political scientists bring to archival collections. This volume challenges archivists to think "outside the box" of the conventions of history and reconsider their collections from the perspective of the political scientist. This first-of-its-kind book-traversing political science and library and information science-challenges political scientists' reliance on "easy data" promising in return "better data." The editors propose that the archival record is replete with data that are often superior to current, available public data, both quantitative and qualitative. Substantive chapters in Doing Archival Research in Political Science illustrate how archival data improve understanding across the array of subfields in American politics. It also challenges archivists to rethink their collections through the prism of political science. Doing Archival Research in Political Science holds tremendous cross-disciplinary appeal. Students and faculty in political science are exposed to a fertile but underutilized source of empirical data. Political scientists will benefit from the methodological perspectives, the practical advice about doing archival work, and the concrete examples of archives-based research across the subfields in American politics (e.g., congressional studies, presidential studies, public opinion, national security, interest groups, and public policy). Students and faculty in library and archival studies will benefit greatly from the candid discussion of the unique theoretical and methodological concerns inherent in political science, improving their ability to reach out and promote their collections to political scientists. Examples of archives-based political science research will help library faculty better understand how their collections are being utilized by users.

Awarded the prestigious CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title, this book is also highly praised by noted political science professors as well as leading practitioners."This book adds broadly to the dynamics of presidential leadership in Congress and makes a real contribution to the literature on presidential influence in Congress." -Lance T. LeLoup, Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Washington State University"Do you want to know how Washington really works? Read Frisch and Kelly's Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars. They bring to life the events surrounding a critical turning point in the Carter Presidency. This is required reading for anyone interested in presidential leadership in Congress." -Representative Butler Derrick (D-South Carolina, retired)"Frisch and Kelly not only tell a great story, but also systematically analyze the effect of Carter administration efforts to lobby members of Congress. The result is an important study of presidential influence in Congress." -John Anthony Maltese, Albert Berry Saye Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia

"So much of the literature on presidential influence on congressional voting relies on assertions and assumptions about presidential influence in Congress. This study measures actual presidential influence on a member by member basis. The discovery of the White House records on presidential calls to House members adds a whole new level of depth to our understanding of how the relatively unpopular Carter won those floor votes. This work adds broadly to the dynamics of presidential leadership in Congress. Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars makes a real contribution to the literature on presidential influence in Congress." - Lance T. LeLoup, Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Washington State University "Do you want to know how Washington really works? Read Frisch and Kelly's excellent and well-researched chronicle Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars. They bring to life the events surrounding a critical turning point in the Carter Presidency. This is required reading for anyone interested in presidential leadership in Congress." - Representative Butler Derrick, (D-South Carolina, retired) "Part political history, part political science, this engaging book does both well. Jimmy Carter and the Water Wars is an important addition to our understanding of the Carter presidency. It sheds new light on Carter's legislative leadership and, by focusing on the politics of pork, serves as a backdrop to ongoing debates over congressional expenditures. Combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, Frisch and Kelly not only tell a great story, but also systematically analyze the effect of Carter administration efforts to lobby members of Congress. The result is an important study of presidential influence in Congress." - John Anthony Maltese, Albert Berry Saye Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia

In this groundbreaking work, Scott A. Frisch and Sean Q Kelly draw on significant new data from congressional archives-gleaned from the papers of both Democratic and Republican leaders from the 85th to the 103rd Congress-to reveal the complex process through which congressional members get assigned to the powerful committees of the House. They conclude that parties differ in their committee assignment methods and that party approaches can change over time depending on leadership. They also pay particular attention to the increasing roles of race and gender in the assignment process. Based on extensive primary and secondary research, this volume fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the internal dynamics of the American political system.

In this groundbreaking work, Scott A. Frisch and Sean Q Kelly draw on significant new data from congressional archives--gleaned from the papers of both Democratic and Republican leaders from the 85th to the 103rd Congress--to reveal the complex process through which congressional members get assigned to the powerful committees of the House. They conclude that parties differ in their committee assignment methods and that party approaches can change over time depending on leadership. They also pay particular attention to the increasing roles of race and gender in the assignment process.

Based on extensive primary and secondary research, this volume fills a crucial gap in our understanding of the internal dynamics of the American political system.