The misunderstood role of constituent instructions in American political history -- Placing constituent instructions in historical context -- The public debate over constituent instructions -- Instructing state legislatures, 1778 to 1900 -- State legislators and instructions to members of congress -- Members of congress and instructions, 1789 to 1899 -- Constituent instructions and American political development.
Summary:
"The Right of Instruction and Representation in American Legislatures, 1778-1900 provides a comprehensive analysis of the role that constituent instructions played in American politics from 1778 to the end of the nineteenth century. Constituent instructions were more widely issued than previously thought, and members of state legislatures and Congress were more likely to obey them than political scientists and historians have assumed. Peverill Squire expands our understanding of constituent instructions beyond a handful of high-profile cases, through analyses of two unique data sets: one examining more than 5,000 actionable communications (instructions and requests) sent to state legislators by constituents through town meetings, mass meeting, and local representative bodies; the other examines more than 6,600 actionable communications directed by state legislatures to their state's congressional delegations. The data, examples, and quotes are drawn almost entirely from original sources, including government documents such as legislative journals, session laws, town and county records, and newspaper stories, as well as diaries, memoirs, and other contemporary sources. Squire also includes instructions to and from Confederate state legislatures in both data sets. In every respect, the Confederate state legislatures mirrored the legislatures that preceded and followed them"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.