Book Reviews : Pressures on Congress. By FRED W. RIGGS. (New York: King's Crown Press. 1950. Pp. xv, 260. $3.75.)

• Published date: 01 September 1951
• Date: 01 September 1951
• Author: Clinton Rossiter
• DOI: 10.1177/106591295100400334
• Subject Matter: Articles

524
cal reorganization,&dquo; is needed, and means of enforcing ethical standards
&dquo;not only at the governing level, but at the grass roots as well.&dquo; The major
change recommended is reform of the party system with its consequent
change in the organization of Congress. The author’s recommendations for
responsible party government would seem to follow the theme of Schatt-
schneider and of the Committee on Political Parties of the American
Political Science Association.
Professors of politics may find it useful to assign to students portions
of this book, as they do with the immortal Plunkitt. It must be remem-
bered however, that the book approaches Congressional inadequacy from
only one angle, and does not purport to cover the related broader questions
of the legislative process. Readers may find this a weakness and feel a cer-
tain lack of completeness and of coherence in the volume. Some will un-
doubtedly believe the seriousness of the problem is exaggerated, and will
disagree as to the extent of ethics and integrity involved. A considerable
number of political scientists will probably remain skeptical that a strong-
er party system will cure any of our political ills.
HUGH A. BONE.
University of Washington.
Pressures on Congress. By FRED W. RIGGS. (New York: King’s Crown
Press. 1950. Pp. xv, 260. $3.75.)
This small volume must inevitably be compared with Stephen K.
Bailey’s admirable Congress Makes a Law. It is pleasant to record that,
although more simply and pedagogically conceived and executed, it does
not suffer too much in this exacting comparison. Pressures on Congress is
a first-rate case study in the making of a national policy, and teachers and
students who are especially interested in the dynamics of Congress will
read it with profit.
The congressional policy under scrutiny in this instance was the new
attitude toward China and the Chinese people as expressed in the act of
December 17, 1943, which repealed the notorious Chinese exclusion...