Rules Changes in the Antebellum House

Douglas Dion

doi:10.3998/mpub.14912.8

Back

Book chapter

Rules Changes in the Antebellum House

Douglas Dion

Turning the Legislative Thumbscrew, p.79

University of Michigan Press

05/06/2010

DOI: 10.3998/mpub.14912.8

View Online

Abstract

It has now become a commonplace to require that theories respect the selfunderstandings of the agents involved. Reifying institutional change and then imputing the motive for political action as that same reification isn’t very enlightening. No one after all (pace Merton) ever died for a latent function. Instead, individuals have their own views of the world, which structure the choices they make. Of course, the cynical will see this as a veiled plea for rational choice masquerading as social theory. But even a process of unintended consequences could be consistent with a respect for agency.¹ No one “intended” theHindenburg

Political Parties

Political Philosophy

Political Science

Sociology

Legislators

Conservatism

Social groups

Political debate

Human societies

Voting

Minority voters

Political organizations

Political partisanship

United States House of Representatives

Political processes

Government

Legislative bodies

Committees

Political elections

Political ideologies

Behavioral sciences

Government officials

Legislatures

Congressional voting

Upper houses

United States Congress

Politics

Details

Title: Subtitle: Rules Changes in the Antebellum House
Creators: Douglas Dion
Resource Type: Book chapter
Publication Details: Turning the Legislative Thumbscrew, p.79
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
DOI: 10.3998/mpub.14912.8
Language: English
Date published: 05/06/2010
Academic Unit: Political Science
Record Identifier: 9983982927802771

Metrics

17 Record Views