The Committee on Ways and Means: A bicentennial history 1789-1989

In this review of The Committee on Ways and Means: A bicentennial history 1789-1989 the reviewer finds a focused, archival study aimed at readers who want a thoughtful institutional history of the United States House committee that shaped fiscal policy for two centuries. This book is best for historians, policy students, and legislative researchers seeking documented narrative rather than a popular summary; the single biggest reason to read it is its concentrated chronology of the committee's role in federal revenue and tax legislation across 200 years.

Key Features

• Bicentennial scope: Covers the committee's activities from 1789 to 1989, providing a continuous historical perspective useful for tracing long-term institutional change.
• Committee focus: Concentrates on the Ways and Means committee itself, offering readers a targeted look at how one legislative body influenced fiscal policy.
• Archival narrative: Presents a researched account suitable for citation by students and scholars working on U.S. legislative history.
• Chronological structure: The book's timeline approach helps readers follow developments in tax and revenue policy across different political eras.
• Reference value: Serves as a reliable background source for those preparing coursework or legislative research on the United States House's legislative branch.

Who It's For

This book is ideal for academic readers: historians, political scientists, graduate students, and legislative staff who need a compact institutional history of a key House committee. It works well as a classroom supplement or as a reference when examining the evolution of fiscal legislation.

Readers looking for a general-interest political narrative, a biography of individual lawmakers, or a broad survey of 20th century politics might look elsewhere, since the book remains tightly focused on the committee's institutional role rather than offering broad social or cultural context.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a concentrated, two-century account that clarifies the committee's institutional evolution.
• Useful as a reference for academic work and legislative research due to its focused subject matter.
• Chronological presentation makes it straightforward to trace policy shifts across eras.

Cons

• The narrowly institutional focus means readers seeking broader political or biographical narrative may find it limited.

Specifications

Title	The Committee on Ways and Means: A bicentennial history 1789-1989
Author	Donald R. Kennon
Subject	United States legislative branch and committee history
Scope	Bicentennial history covering 1789 to 1989
Category	Books - Politics & Social Sciences
Focus	Committee institutional role and fiscal policy

Our Verdict

For scholars and students who need a concise institutional history of the House Ways and Means committee, this book is a sound, well-focused resource that distills two centuries of committee activity into a usable narrative; it represents good value as a specialized reference even if it is not aimed at casual readers seeking a broader political story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book cover individual tax laws?
The book traces the committee's role in shaping revenue and tax legislation but is framed as an institutional history rather than a legislative code compendium.

Is this suitable for undergraduate courses?
Yes, it can serve as a supplemental text for courses on U.S. legislative history or public policy, especially where committee development is a focus.

Who authored the book?
The work is by Donald R. Kennon and concentrates on the committee's bicentennial period.