Parties and policies : how the American government works / David R. Mayhew.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. The Electoral Incentive -- 2. Congressional Elections: The Case of the Vanishing Marginals -- 3. Why Did V.O. Key Draw Back from His "Have-Nots" Claim? -- 4. Divided Party Control: Does It Make a Difference? -- 5. Clinton, the 103d Congress, and Unified Party Control: What Are the Lessons? -- 6. U.S. Policy Waves in Comparative Context -- 7. Presidential Elections and Policy Change: How Much of a Connection Is There? -- 8. Innovative Midterm Elections -- 9. Electoral Realignments -- 10. Actions in the Public Sphere -- 11. Supermajority Rule in the U.S. Senate -- 12. Wars and American Politics -- 13. Events as Causes: The Case of American Politics -- 14. Incumbency Advantage in U.S. Presidential Elections: The Historical Record.

"In this volume, one of our most important and perceptive scholars of the workings of the American government investigates political parties, politicians, elections, and policy making to discover why public policy emerges in the shape that it does. David R. Mayhew looks at two centuries of policy making - from the Civil War and Reconstruction era through the Progressive era, the New Deal, the Great Society, the Reagan years, and the aspirations of the Clinton and Bush administrations - and offers his original insights on the ever-evolving American policy experience." "These fourteen essays were written over the past three decades and collectively showcase Mayhew's skepticism of the usefulness of political parties as an analytic window into American politics. These writings, which include a new introductory essay, probe beneath the parties to the essentials of the U.S. constitutional system and the impulses and idiosyncrasies of history." ""David Mayhew's original, lucid, and bracing essays have powerfully shaped thought about Congress, elections, parties, institutional rules, and the conduct of analytical history. What a treat, therefore, to have these pathbreaking analyses and reflections between covers!" - Ira Katznelson, Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History, Columbia University."--BOOK JACKET.