The Minnesota House of Representatives and the Professionalization of Politics

This book argues that the Minnesota House of Representatives has become increasingly professionalized, and that state politics has become more like national politics. Rueter bases this rich personal account on participant observation, case studies, interviews, and survey research. Contents: List of Tables; Preface; LEGISLATIVE INSTITUTIONALIZATION; The Literature on Legislative Institutionalization; State Legislative Institutionalization; ORGANIZATIONAL BOUNDARIES; Barriers to Entry; Internal Recruitment of Leaders; Stabilized Membership; Other Indicators of Well-Boundedness; Organizational Boundaries: Contrary Evidence; INTERNAL COMPLEXITY; Committee Structure; Legislative Staff; Physical Facilities; Political Parties; Caucuses; Lobbyists; Media; Internal Complexity: Contrary Evidence; UNIVERSALISTIC DECISION-MAKING; Legislative Norms; Committee Chairs; Organizing the Minnesota House, 1978-1979; Redistricting; LEGISLATIVE CENTRALIZATION; The Literature on Legislative Centralization; Centralization in the Minnesota House; Conclusions; CONCLUSIONS; Legislative Institutionalization and Power Centralization; Interest Group Liberalism; Divided Government; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.