Deregulating Federalism? The Politics of Mandate Reform in the 104th Congress

Abstract

This article examines the politics and substance of mandate reform in the 104th Congress. It briefly describes the evolution of the mandate issue, examines the process by which the issue was placed on the national agenda, and traces the formulation of a legislative response. It analyzes in detail the politics of enacting mandate-reform legislation, paying particular attention to patterns of support and opposition and to changes in these patterns over time. It concludes by examining the prospects for successful implementation of the legislation and its likely consequences for the intergovernmental system.