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Echo Chambers

How Partisan Communication Took Over Congress
Brief Description
An incisive analysis of how congressional communication with constituents has changed and what this means for representation and polarization. Members of Congress have a duty to talk to their constituents back home about what's going on in Washington. But today, the average politician lacks the time,... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$6199
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An incisive analysis of how congressional communication with constituents has changed and what this means for representation and polarization.

Members of Congress have a duty to talk to their constituents back home about what's going on in Washington. But today, the average politician lacks the time, resources, and knowledge necessary to coherently explain the bills and legislative actions up for debate. Therefore, they turn to those who hold the keys to the chamber: party leaders.

Consequently, Congress is now more reliant than ever on its leaders' partisan talking points, and constituents hear more about nationalized political battles rather than the local issues affecting their districts. Drawing on large-scale text analysis, campaign expenditures, and congressional district data, as well as in-depth interviews, Echo Chambers examines how partisan communication took over Congress, the key differences in that messaging across parties and chambers, and what these combined forces mean for US citizens today.

Series: Chicago Studies in American Politics

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226855493

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 January 2027

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Illustration: 26 halftones, 3 line drawings, 11 tables

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 454g

Pages: 216

About the Author

SoRelle W. Gaynor is assistant professor of public policy and politics at the University of Virginia. Before joining academia, she worked in Congress as a press secretary and speechwriter for House and Senate leadership. She is a coauthor of Congress Explained.

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