ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, I adduced evidence that Congress has been extremely active in China policy. The next logical question is: What is the impact of congressional activism on U.S.–China policy? In answering this question, one should consider the institutional structure under which Congress makes China policy. After all, Congress and its members do not make China policy (or any policy for that matter) in an institutional vacuum. If the institutional structure makes it extremely difficult for Congress to transform its collective preferences into policy outcomes, then Congress cannot have much impact on China policy, regardless of how active it is or how strong its policy preferences are. As will be shown in this chapter, bicameralism, the committee structure, and presidential veto have combined to severely constrain Congress’s ability to assert itself in China policy.
