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E-book
Author Squire, Peverill, author

Title The evolution of American legislatures : colonies, territories, and states, 1619-2009 / Peverill Squire
Published Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, 2012

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Description 1 online resource (1 volume)
Series Legislative politics & policy making
Legislative politics & policy making.
Contents Tracing how American legislatures changed over time -- The colonial assemblies and the beginnings of American legislatures -- The original state legislatures -- The missing link: territorial legislatures -- The odd evolutionary cases -- The institutionalizing of state legislatures in the nineteenth century -- The professionalizing of state legislatures since 1900 -- Where does legislative evolution go from here?
Summary The institutional development of American legislatures, beginning with the first colonial assembly of 1619, has been marked by continuity as well as change. Peverill Squire draws upon a wealth of primary sources to document this institutional history. Beginning with the ways in which colonial assemblies followed the precedents of British institutions, Squire traces the fundamental ways they evolved to become distinct. He next charts the formation of the first state legislatures and the Constitutional Congress, describes the creation of territorial and new state legislatures, and examines the institutionalization of state legislatures in the nineteenth century and their professionalization since 1900. With his conclusion, Squire discusses the historical trajectory of American legislatures and suggests how they might further develop over the coming decades. While Squire's approach will appeal to historians, his focus on the evolution of rules, procedures, and standing committee systems, as well as member salaries, legislative sessions, staff, and facilities, will be valuable to political scientists and legislative scholars
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Subject United States. Congress -- History.
SUBJECT United States. Congress. fast (OCoLC)fst00529490
Subject Legislative bodies -- United States -- History
Legislative bodies -- United States -- States -- History
POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Government -- Legislative Branch.
POLITICAL SCIENCE -- American Government -- Legislative Branch.
Legislative bodies.
Legislative bodies -- U.S. states.
United States.
Genre/Form History.
Form Electronic book
ISBN 0472028405
9780472028405