Inside Congressional Committees: Function and Dysfunction in the Legislative Process

Maya L. Kornberg's book "Inside Congressional Committees" examines the legislative process beyond voting patterns, emphasizing the crucial role of congressional committee hearings. She uses original mixed-methods datasets to evaluate how committees operate and the conditions affecting their performance, finding that committee work can be more deliberative and productive than the politics of the Congress floor. The book suggests timely reforms to strengthen Congress.

Format: Hardback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

It is widely believed that Congress has broken down. Media accounts present the storied legislature as thoroughly gridlocked, paralyzed by partisan rancor. Political scientists find that Congress is passing fewer laws and spending less time on legislative work. Which parts of a supposedly dysfunctional legislature continue to function?

Maya L. Kornberg examines the legislative process beyond voting patterns, emphasizing the crucial role of congressional committee hearings. In committees, lawmakers hear from expert witnesses, legislators revise and discuss bills before bringing them to a vote, and the public has an opportunity to engage with Congress. Kornberg scrutinizes the inner workings of committees—the different types of witnesses who testify, the varied hearings Congress holds, and the distinct effects that committee work has on congresspeople. She deploys original mixed-methods datasets that span from insider interviews to sentiment analysis examining the language used in hearings. Kornberg evaluates how committees operate and the conditions affecting their performance, finding that committee work can be more deliberative and productive than the politics of the Congress floor.

Through a comprehensive exploration of who committees hear from and how they listen, this book demonstrates that Congress is not as dysfunctional as is often claimed. Inside Congressional Committees also suggests timely reforms based on these findings that can strengthen Congress.

The storied legislature of Congress has been portrayed in the media as thoroughly gridlocked, paralyzed by partisan rancor. Political scientists have observed that Congress is passing fewer laws and dedicating less time to legislative work. Despite this perception of dysfunction, it is worth exploring which aspects of the supposedly broken legislature continue to function effectively.

Maya L. Kornberg delves into the legislative process beyond voting patterns, highlighting the critical role of congressional committee hearings. In committees, lawmakers engage with expert witnesses, revise and discuss bills, and allow the public to participate in the legislative process. Kornberg scrutins the inner workings of committees, examining the diverse range of witnesses who testify, the various hearings conducted by Congress, and the distinct impact that committee work has on congresspeople. She employs original mixed-methods datasets, encompassing insider interviews and sentiment analysis, to analyze the language used in hearings. Kornberg evaluates how committees operate and the factors influencing their performance, discovering that committee work can be more deliberative and productive than the dynamics on the Congress floor.

Through a comprehensive exploration of who committees hear from and how they listen, this book challenges the notion that Congress is inherently dysfunctional. Inside Congressional Committees also offers timely reforms based on these findings, aimed at strengthening Congress and ensuring its effective functioning.

Weight: 468g
Dimension: 160 x 533 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231201827