Women and Power on Capitol Hill: Reconstructing the Congressional Women's Caucus

The Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues (CCWI) was the most effective bipartisan organization in the House—until changes wrought by the "Republican revolution" of 1994 threatened its very survival. Irwin Gertzog analyzes the origin, development, and influence of the CCWI and explores how the women associated with it have emerged from near oblivion to reassert their role in the legislative process. Assessing the caucus within the contexts of legislative decisionmaking, competing policy agendas, partisan politics, and legislative-presidential relations, Gertzog demonstrates that it has evolved and survived despite substantial challenges to its integrity and mission. Although the definition of "women's issues" has changed significantly since 1977, he concludes, the CCWI continues to coalesce around strategic policy goals, thus ensuring its enduring niche in the legislative power structure.