Term Limits and the Dismantling of State Legislative Professionalism

This study of the effects that term limit laws (restrictions on the number of years for which legislators can serve) have had on politics and policy in American states, combines interviews of capitol insiders with archival records and statistical analysis. The final conclusion--that term limits have had an adverse effect on the professional behavior of legislative members--bears relevance to the current debate over the wisdom of establishing term limits.

Author: Thad Kousser
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 11/22/2004
Pages: 286
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.98h x 6.06w x 0.61d
ISBN: 9780521548731

About the Author
Kousser, Thad: - Thad Kousser joined the University of Califonia, San Diego faculty in 2003 after receiving his Ph.D. in 2002 from the University of California, Berkeley. He has previously worked as a legislative aide and committee consultant in the California State Senate and more recently as an aide to US Senator Ron Wyden through the APSA Congressional Fellowship. His publications include work on term limits, reapportionment, campaign finance laws, the blanket primary, health care policy, and European Parliament elections. This book is based on a dissertation that won the APSA's William Anderson Prize in 2003.