The Council on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency have experienced volatile life histories. In this book, using political history, theoretical models, and empirical analysis.

Preface and Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Environmental Politics, Policy, and Administration in the United States Chapter 2: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Rise of Environmental Protection in the 1970s, and the Political Drama of the Next Three Decades Chapter 3: Lifecycle Models of Organizations Chapter 4: The Council on Environmental Quality: 1970-2010 Chapter 5: The Environmental Protection Agency: 1970-2010 Chapter 6: Comparing the Paths of the CEQ and the EPA and Assessing the Lifecycle Models Chapter 7: The Future of the CEQ and the EPA: 2015-2035 Postscript Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Notes Bibliography Index

"This book offers the best (and most readable) short account of the history of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The authors' explanations of the four life-cycle models for federal agencies will primarily interest administrative and political science scholars. However, the relevance with which key books and concepts are selected for discussion makes this slim volume of potential interest to other readers. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; general readers." --F. T. Manheim, George Mason University "[Conant and Balint] provide a smart and constructive analysis of the dynamic changes in these two vital environmental policy institutions." --H-Net "In this slim volume, Conant and Balint offer a comprehensive and rewarding history of the U.S. CEQ and the EPA. They ground their assessment in organizational lifecycle models and explore a variety of intriguing questions about the two agencies. Of particular importance is their rigorous analysis of EPA funding over time, which has major implications for the agency's effectiveness during periods of heightened political controversy over environmental policy." --Michael E. Kraft, co-author of Environmental Policy: New Directions for the Twenty-First Century "Conant and Balint have examined the 45 year history of the US' principal environmental entities and rated their standing through the changes of Administrations and the vicissitudes of public concern for the environment. I applaud their making institutional history an appropriate object for social scientists to put under the microscope. Their rigorous objectivity and focus on budget allocations leads them to surprising conclusions: the agencies fared better under Republicans than under Democrats. Their extensive research equips them to take the case further, and evaluate the quality of the agencies' performance for which budget numbers are indicative though not conclusive determinants." --William K. Reilly, Senior Staff Member at CEQ 1970-73, and US EPA Administrator 1989-93 "This book provides an invaluable perspective on the political economy of federal budgeting from the agency point of view. The insights generated by the authors on resource allocation and bureaucratic politics break new ground that hopefully may stimulate much needed new research on the politics of national budgeting. The authors do the great service to students and interested observers alike of demystifying the often obscure and specialized world of budgeting by clearly illustrating and demonstrating the broader policy and political consequences of budget choices and routines." --Paul L. Posner, Chairman, National Academy of Public Administration

Selling point: Provides an in-depth examination of the CEQ and EPA over a forty-year period of time Selling point: Employs four theoretical organizational life cycle models (biological, partisan political, incremental, and issue attention) to predict the possible trajectories of the CEQ and EPA Selling point: Develops a new framework for future research on executive branch organizations by providing a means for systemic comparison of the four life cycle models Selling point: The authors' findings are useful for environmental politics and policy, public administration, organization theory, and public budgeting

James K. Conant is Professor in the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs at George Mason University. Peter J. Balint is Associate Professor in the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs at George Mason University.

Selling point: Provides an in-depth examination of the CEQ and EPA over a forty-year period of time Selling point: Employs four theoretical organizational life cycle models (biological, partisan political, incremental, and issue attention) to predict the possible trajectories of the CEQ and EPA Selling point: Develops a new framework for future research on executive branch organizations by providing a means for systemic comparison of the four life cycle models Selling point: The authors' findings are useful for environmental politics and policy, public administration, organization theory, and public budgeting