Uncover the hidden drivers of America’s regulatory state. This insightful study redefines our understanding of democratic regulatory choice, arguing that presidential politics and party systems were central to policy development from 1884–1936. Scott C. James reveals how national party leaders and electoral outcomes shaped government regulation, challenging prevailing theories. Essential for political science students, historians, and scholars of comparative governance in India, this book offers a crucial perspective on the evolution of democratic states and the power of political competition.