Synopses & Reviews
The politics of impeachment have been explained in either partisan or ethical terms. Morris argues that most legislators-and nearly all Democrats-simply voted their constituents' preferences on the Clinton impeachment and conviction. Those who voted against their constituencies did so for a variety of reasons, but all expected to be able to raise sufficient campaign funds to overcome their constituents displeasure. The ability of incumbent Republicans to raise the huge campaign war chests offset their constituents frustration with the Clinton impeachment and allowed them to maintain their majority party status in the House. Republican Senators were not as successful. Morris emphasizes the ways in which our current system of campaign finance both enabled the Republican leadership to impeach Clinton and allowed the Republicans to retain the House majority, and then he concludes with a discussion of the role of money in modern American politics.
Synopsis
In the first in-depth examination of politics of the Clinton impeachment, Morris looks at the impact of local constituencies on impeachment rather than the popular press focus on partisan animosity and ethical standards. Though most legislators sided with their constituents on the issue of impeachment, a significant number--nearly all Republican--did not. Using the most recent work on the impact of money on elections, Morris investigates the financial dynamics of the Clinton impeachment and argues that our current system of campaign finance enabled House Republicans to impeach the President and provided them with the means to retain their majority in the House. Morris also argues that money (and the ability to raise it) play a far more important role in the American political system than previously realized, often determining the winners and losers in the most important controversies and conflicts facing the nation.
Synopsis
This is the first in-depth examination of politics of the Clinton impeachment. While popular press treatments of the impeachment focus on partisan animosity and ethical standards, Morris looks at the impact of local constituencies on impeachment. Though most legislators sided with their constituents on the issue of impeachment, a significant number (nearly all Republican) did not. Using the most recent work on the impact of money on elections, Morris investigates the financial dynamics of the Clinton impeachment and argues that the our current system of campaign finance enabled House Republicans to impeach the President and provided them with the means to retain their majority in the House. Morris also argues that money (and the ability to raise it) play a far more important role in the American political system than previously realized, often determining the winners and losers in the most important controversies and conflicts facing the nation.
About the Author
Irwin Morris is associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. from University of North Carolina in 1994. He writes on monetary policy, executive-legislative relations, Southern politics and public opinion. He is also the author of Congress, the President, and the Federal Reserve: The Politics of American Monetary Policymaking.