Funding: National Science Foundation
Summary: This project examines the “lives” of laws. Some laws cease to exist rather quickly, many persist for decades. Some undergo major changes to their character, while others receive little to no amendment over time. The project seeks to understand the factors that lead to differences in how laws endure over time. Does Congress use particular tactics that increase the likelihood that a given law survives over time with little adjustment? Do the political or institutional conditions at enactment -- such as divided government -- affect durability?