History of the House of Representatives

Description

Looks at the history, organization, operation, and functions of the House from the 1787 Constitutional Convention through the post-Watergate era Cover Title Copyright Dedication Acknowledgments Introduction to the Second Edition Preface Contents 1. Planning the House in the Constitutional Convention 2. Precedents Established in First Congress Organization of the House Early House Procedure Committees in the First Congress Relations with the Senate Legislative Output Relations with the President Relations with the Departments Relations with the States Evolution of Party Organization 3. The Composition of Congress History of Apportionment Legislative Apportionment Procedure Major Fractions Versus Equal Proportions Reapportionments After 1960 and 1970 Disparities Within States Qualifications for Election Qualifications for Voters Election Contests Exclusion, Expulsion, and Censure Term of Office The House as a Career Membership Characteristics Political Comple Various Evaluations 4. Organization of the House Election Contests Contest of 1839 Contest of 1849 Contest of 1855 Contest of 1859 Contest of 1923 Seating Arrangements 5. Evolution of the House Rules Reed Rules of 1890 Revolution of 1910 Developments Since 1912 Reforms of 1946 Reforms of 1970 Reforms of 1974 Struggle Over the Twenty-one-day Rule 6. Development of the Committee System Chronological Development Appointment of Committees Role of Committee Chairman Regional Distribution of Chairmanships Jurisdiction and Duties Evolution of Committee Powers Types of Committees Composition of Committees Committee Procedures Secrecy versus Publicity Recent Developments Proxy Voting in Committees Committee Hearings Quorums at Committee Hearings Committee Reports Discharge Procedure Evaluation of Committee System 7. Leadership in the House The Office of the Speaker Selection and Qualifications Powers and Duties A Triple Personality Contrast with English Speaker Rayburn and Martin, McCormack and Albert Compensation and Allowances Floor Leader Changes after 1910 Qualifications and Previous Experience Functions and Duties of Floor Leader Whip Organization Party Caucuses Relations with Committees Relations with the President Compensation and Allowances 8. The Business of Congress Business of First Congress (1789-1791) Work Load of the Eighty-fourth Congress ( 1955-1956) The Ninety-third Congress ( 1973-1974) Expansion Since 1911 Work Load 9. Party Governmentin the House Practice in Early Congresses : 1790-1816 Developments During the Nineteenth Century Dominance of the Speaker King Caucus Supersedes Czar Cannon Democratic Caucus Rules Operation of the Caucus System Developments During the 1920's Development During the 1930's Coalition Control: 1937-1946 Later Developments Revival of the Democratic Caucus Role of the Opposition Party Congressional Campaign Committees 10. Performance of the Legislative Function Research and Fact-Finding Drafting the Bill Getting Sponsors Timing the Introduction Planning the Campaign Organizing Group Support Propaganda and Pressure Staging Committee Hearings Getting the Bill to the Floor Floor Debate and Passage Conclusion 11. Performance of the Oversight Function Control of Appointments Control of Public Expenditure Oversight of Administration 12. The Role of the House in Foreign Affairs 1789-1800 Nineteenth-Century Developments Twentieth-Century Trends World War II: The Aftermath Vietnam and Beyond Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Appropriations Summary and Conclusions 13. The Role of the Representative English Ideas in Colonial Times Continental Ideas Representation in Colonial Assemblies Revolutionary-Constitutional Period Debate in First Congress Development of Direct Representation: 1800-1860 Post-Civil War Trends Congressional Views of Representative Function Conflicting Responsibilities 14. Relations with the Senate Intercameral Comity Contrasts in Political Control Joint Machinery Joint Committees Conference Committees Joint Hearings Joint Staffs Procedural Links 15. Relations Between Congress and the President in American History Executive Leadership: 1789-1809 Congressional Supremacy: 1809-1829 Presidential Leadership: 1829-1837 Fluctuations in Power: 1837-1860 Lincoln and Congress: 1861-1865 Congressional Government: 1865-1898 Executive Leadership : 1898-1918 Normalcy and Reaction: 1921-1932 Roosevelt and Congress: 1933-1945 Conflict and Collaboration: 1945-1952 Relations During Divided Government : 1953- 1960 Congress and the President: Since 1961 Conclusions Notes CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 Appendix A: Speakers of the House of Representatives Appendix B: Floor Leaders of the House of Representatives: 1901-1975 Appendix C: Political Divisions of the House of Representatives Appendix D: Committee Structure of the House of Representativesin in 1975 Appendix E: Stages in Enactment of Law Appendix F: Number of Laws Enacted by Congress Since 1789 Appendix G: Organization of the House of Representatives Appendix H: Compensation, Allowances, Facilities, and Benefits of Representatives in the Ninety-Fourth Congress (1975-1976) Appendix I: Glossary of Legislative Terms Bibliography Index Back Cover