While governmental policies and institutions may remain more or less stable for years, they can also change suddenly and unpredictably in response to new political agendas and crises. What causes stability or change in the political system? What role do political institutions play in this process?To investigate these questions, "Policy Dynamics" draws on the most extensive data set yet compiled for public policy issues in the United States. Spanning the past half-century, this data set makes it possible to trace policies and legislation, public and media attention to the issues involved, and governmental decisions over time and across institutions. Some chapters analyze particular policy areas, such as health care, national security, and immigration, while others focus on institutional questions, such as congressional procedures and agendas, and the differing responses by Congress and the Supreme Court to new issues."Policy Dynamics" presents a radical vision of how the federal government evolves in response to new challenges-and provides the research tools that others may use to critique or extend that vision.