The U.S. Congress : a very short introduction

Bibliographic Information

The U.S. Congress : a very short introduction

Donald A. Ritchie

(Very short introductions, 244)

Oxford University Press, c2010

  • : pbk

Other Title

The United States Congress

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-138) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Many scholars believe that the framers of the Constitution intended Congress to be the preeminent branch of government. Indeed, no other legislature in the world approaches its power. Yet most Americans have only a murky idea of how it works. In The U.S. Congress, Donald A. Ritchie, a congressional historian for more than thirty years, takes readers on a fascinating, behind-the-scenes tour of Capitol Hill-pointing out the key players, explaining their behavior, and translating parliamentary language into plain English. No mere civics lesson, this eye-opening book provides an insider's perspective on Congress, matched with a professional historian's analytical insight. After a swift survey of the creation of Congress by the constitutional convention, he begins to unscrew the nuts and pull out the bolts. What is it like to campaign for congress? To attract large donors? To enter either house with no seniority? He answers these questions and more, explaining committee assignments (and committee work), the role of staffers and lobbyists, floor proceedings, parliamentary rules, and coalition building. Ritchie explores the great effort put into constituent service-as representatives and senators respond to requests from groups and individuals-as well as media relations and news coverage. He also explores how the grand concepts we all know from civics class-checks and balances, advise and consent, congressional oversight-work in practice, in an age of strong presidents and a muscular Senate minority (no matter which party is in that position). In this sparkling addition to Oxford's Very Short Introduction series, Donald Ritchie moves beyond the cynicism and the platitudes to provide a gem of a portrait of how Congress really works. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Table of Contents

Preface Chapter 1: The Great Compromise -Why Not a Parliament? -All Laws Necessary and Proper -The People's House -The Cooling Senate -To Get Along, Go Along Chapter 2: Campaigns and Constituents -Campaigning for Congress -The Freshman Class -Serving Constituents -Media Relations and News Coverage Chapter 3: Congress at Work -The Committees -Turning Bills into Laws -House Committees -Senate Committees -Appropriations: Where Things Happen Chapter 4: Floor Proceedings and Coalition Building -Debate, Rules, and Procedure -Majority Rule in the House -Minority Muscle in the Senate -Making Laws and Making Sausage Chapter 5: Checks and Balances -The Chief Legislator -Advice and Consent -War and Peace -Congress Investigates -Punishment and Protection -Congress and the Courts Chapter 6: The Contours of Capitol Hill -The Capitol -The Members -The Staff -Lobbyists and Other Visitors Bibliography Notes Index

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Details

  • NCID
    BB02461060
  • ISBN
    • 9780195338317
  • LCCN
    2010013558
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Oxford
  • Pages/Volumes
    xvii, 146 p.
  • Size
    18 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
  • Parent Bibliography ID
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