That’s a good and really difficult question. There are two books that I’d recommend although neither is really contemporary.
One is a history of the House Rules Committee, published by the Rules Committee, which will bring you up to the early 1980s. It’s available for free online or you can buy a used copy. Here’s a link: https://archive.org/details/houserulescommit00robi
The second is “the House of Representatives” by George Galloway, published in the 1960s. Here’s a link: History of the House of Representatives https://a.co/d/a1j9FuU. It is by far the best history of the development of the House of Representatives that I’ve seen and plays out how its development and the rules are intertwined. Here’s a free version from the internet archive. https://archive.org/details/househistoryo00remi
I’m reading a more contemporary PhD thesis on the House’s rules that also is excellent so far. I’ll update when I finish with it.
I have not read Remini’s book on the House but I’ve got a copy.
If you want to understand particular rules and precedents, you can look to the explanatory documents. They aren’t so much for reading as for consulting. http://rules.house.gov/resources/additional-volumes
I found there’s not a good since source for post O’Neill Gingrich and Pelosi era centralization of power. You can get bits and pieces from CRS reports (which I’ve published at everycrsreport.com), from academics like Matt Glassman and Sarah Binder, and from contemporary reporting and advocacy. I’ve got stuff from the last decade here. https://github.com/DanielSchuman/Policy/wiki/House-Rules-Reform
There are good histories of the era but not what specifically changed in how the rules operate and how they are a lever for power.
Thank you. That’s also an excellent question. I think centralization in a place as big as the House is necessary, but I think we have over centralization in a person that’s to the detriment of the Congress as a co-equal branch of government.
I think centralization in the speaker is welcomed to the extent you are in their favor. Otherwise not so much.
What are the best books to read about the history of House rules?
That’s a good and really difficult question. There are two books that I’d recommend although neither is really contemporary.
One is a history of the House Rules Committee, published by the Rules Committee, which will bring you up to the early 1980s. It’s available for free online or you can buy a used copy. Here’s a link: https://archive.org/details/houserulescommit00robi
The second is “the House of Representatives” by George Galloway, published in the 1960s. Here’s a link: History of the House of Representatives https://a.co/d/a1j9FuU. It is by far the best history of the development of the House of Representatives that I’ve seen and plays out how its development and the rules are intertwined. Here’s a free version from the internet archive. https://archive.org/details/househistoryo00remi
I’m reading a more contemporary PhD thesis on the House’s rules that also is excellent so far. I’ll update when I finish with it.
I have not read Remini’s book on the House but I’ve got a copy.
If you want to understand particular rules and precedents, you can look to the explanatory documents. They aren’t so much for reading as for consulting. http://rules.house.gov/resources/additional-volumes
I found there’s not a good since source for post O’Neill Gingrich and Pelosi era centralization of power. You can get bits and pieces from CRS reports (which I’ve published at everycrsreport.com), from academics like Matt Glassman and Sarah Binder, and from contemporary reporting and advocacy. I’ve got stuff from the last decade here. https://github.com/DanielSchuman/Policy/wiki/House-Rules-Reform
There are good histories of the era but not what specifically changed in how the rules operate and how they are a lever for power.
Hope this is helpful.
This is wonderful and much appreciated. I'm also interested in your take on the centralization of power in the speaker.
Do you believe is this a net good for Congressional deliberation? Do current members like it?
Thank you. That’s also an excellent question. I think centralization in a place as big as the House is necessary, but I think we have over centralization in a person that’s to the detriment of the Congress as a co-equal branch of government.
I think centralization in the speaker is welcomed to the extent you are in their favor. Otherwise not so much.