Legislating the revolution : the contract with America in its first 100 days / James G. Gimpel.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 129-143) and index.

1. Republicans Ascendant: The 1994 Elections in the U.S. House -- 2. The Contract and the Campaign -- 3. Taking Control -- 4. The Balanced Budget and Line-Item Veto -- 5. Rewriting the 1994 Crime Bill -- 6. Revitalizing National Defense -- 7. Reforming Welfare -- 8. Limiting Congressional Terms -- 9. Cutting Taxes -- 10. Conclusion: The Contract Sets a New Agenda.

"The 1994 Mid-Term elections, the "Republican revolution" that returned control of both houses of Congress to the Republicans for the first time in over forty years, was set in motion by the remarkable "Contract with America." Crafted by Speaker Newt Gingrich and a core of Republican lawmakers and aspirants, the Contract became the blueprint for the most ambitious legislative agenda in modern history.".

"Based on interviews with over seventy members of Congress and their staff, Legislating the Revolution is a close, authoritative look at the background, policies, politics, and floor voting on the Contracts's ten points. With unprecedented access to both new and veteran Congresspersons on both sides of the ideological divide, James Gimpel has provided a full account of the vaunted first 100 days.

With a complete discussion of the constitutional imperatives, political background, and policy ramifications, Professor Gimpel subjects the events to lucid analysis to show how, why, and what next."--BOOK JACKET.