Learning to Govern: An Institutional View of the 104th Congress

by Richard F. Fenno Jr.

Book Overview

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The elections of 1994 produced the first Republican-controlled Congress in 40 years. What effect did being the minority party for so long have on the activities of the new House of Representatives' majority? In this book, Richard Fenno makes the case that four decades out of power left Republicans without the experience they needed to properly interpret their electoral victory... or govern the country.

This inexperience produced serious...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0815727852
• ISBN13: 9780815727859
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
• Length: 108 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Don't blame the Republicans

Fenno takes an interesting perspective on the Republican's inability to lead the 104th Congress successfully. After being out of control of both branches of government for forty years, the Republicans were not adjusted to political leadership, that coupled with key (R) leaders unable to learn the art of compromise the (R) were doomed to fail. This book gives an interesting account of the structural and institutional factors that prevented the Republican congress from successful political leadership. A must read!

Quite an Interesting Read

I read this book in an American Government class and learned a lot from it. It is quick to read and gives a very interesting analysis of the current political scene in Washington. It is especially interesting to read now that Newt Gingrich is no longer there, as this book talks about him extensively. I highly recommend this.