Qualified exceptionalism: the US Congress in comparative perspective : WestminsterResearch

Publication dates
Title	Qualified exceptionalism: the US Congress in comparative perspective
Authors	Owens, J. and Loomis, B.A.
Abstract	The framers of the American Constitution devised a singular bicameral legislative body, which invested substantial power in both a broadly representative lower chamber and a second "deliberative" chamber that was both insulated from the voters and unrepresentative of the population as a whole. Until the early 20th Century, the singular U.S. Congress changed little, but with growing national responsibilities, it sought to construct organizational forms that could address a consistently stronger executive. Since the 1980s, the Congress has relied increasingly on stronger parties to organize its activities. This development, embraced in turn by Democrats and Republicans, has led to changes that have edged the Congress in the direction of parliamentary democracies. We conclude this analysis has real, but limited utility, as congressional party leaders continue to barter for votes and, in the context, of narrow chamber majorities, often rely heavily on presidential assistance on divisive issues that are important to their party brand. Yet, the traditional features of the American separated system - bicameralism, the committee systems, and the centrifugal forces emanating from diverse congressional districts, increasingly complex policy issues, and the fear of electoral retribution - also remain strong, and effectively constrain the influence of leaders.'Qualified exceptionalism' thus most aptly describes the contemporary American Congress, which remains 'exceptional,' but less than unique, as it responds to many of the same forces, in some of the same ways (e.g., strong parties), as do many other representative assemblies around the world.
Journal	Journal of Legislative Studies
Journal citation	12 (3-4), pp. 258-290
ISSN	1357-2334
Year	2007
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1080/13572330600875464
Published	24 Jan 2007
File	Owens_&_Loomis_2006_final.pdf

Related outputs

Introduction: the impact of the 'War on Terror' on executive–legislative relations: a global perspective
Owens, J. and Pelizzo, R. 2009. Introduction: the impact of the 'War on Terror' on executive–legislative relations: a global perspective. The Journal of Legislative Studies. 15 (2-3), pp. 119-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/13572330902933284

Congressional responses to the incoming Obama administration: continuity and change
Owens, J.E. 2009. Congressional responses to the incoming Obama administration: continuity and change. Annual Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association. New Orleans, LA 06 - 11 Jan 2009

Bush and the Congress in the US "war on terror": rivals only sometimes
Owens, J.E. 2009. Bush and the Congress in the US "war on terror": rivals only sometimes. Conference on Assessing George W. Bush’s Legacy. Eccles Centre for American Studies (British Library) and Institute for the Study of the Americas (University of London), British Library, London 01 Mar 2009

Partisan polarization, procedural control, and partisan emulation in the U.S. House: an explanation of rules restrictiveness over time
Owens, J. and Wrighton, J.M. 2008. Partisan polarization, procedural control, and partisan emulation in the U.S. House: an explanation of rules restrictiveness over time. History of Congress Conference. George Washington University, Washington DC 29 May - 01 Jun 2008

Explaining congressional acquiescence in the US "war on terror"
Owens, J.E. 2008. Explaining congressional acquiescence in the US "war on terror". The Impact of the Post 9/11 WOT on Executive-Legislative Relations: A Global Perspective. Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland 17 - 18 Mar 2008

Bicameralism, strategic interaction and lawmaking within the contemporary congress: the US House and Senate in an era of polarised partisanship
Owens, J.E. 2008. Bicameralism, strategic interaction and lawmaking within the contemporary congress: the US House and Senate in an era of polarised partisanship. Bicameralism: Australia in Comparative Context. Parliament House, Canberra 09 - 10 Oct 2008

Presidential power and congressional acquiescence in the "war" on terrorism: a new constitutional equilibrium?
Owens, J. 2006. Presidential power and congressional acquiescence in the "war" on terrorism: a new constitutional equilibrium? Politics & Policy. 34 (2), pp. 258-303. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2006.00015.x

Institutional competition and conflict in a separated system: the Congress, the Presidency and the Courts at the beginning of the 21st century
Owens, J. 2005. Institutional competition and conflict in a separated system: the Congress, the Presidency and the Courts at the beginning of the 21st century. Revue Francaise d'Etudes Americaines. 106, pp. 99-127.

Explaining party cohesion and discipline in democratic legislatures: purposiveness and contexts
Owens, J. 2003. Explaining party cohesion and discipline in democratic legislatures: purposiveness and contexts. Journal of Legislative Studies. 9 (4), pp. 12-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/1357233042000306236

Late twentieth century congressional leaders as shapers of and hostages to political context: Gingrich, Hastert, and Lott
Owens, J. 2002. Late twentieth century congressional leaders as shapers of and hostages to political context: Gingrich, Hastert, and Lott. Politics & Policy. 30 (2), pp. 236-281. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2002.tb00123.x

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/921xz/qualified-exceptionalism-the-us-congress-in-comparative-perspective

Qualified exceptionalism: the US Congress in comparative perspective

Related outputs

Share this

Usage statistics

Export as