Items related to The U.S. Congress: A Very Short Introduction

The U.S. Congress: A Very Short Introduction - Softcover

Book 177 of 406: Very Short Introductions

Ritchie, Donald A.

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9780190280147: The U.S. Congress: A Very Short Introduction
Softcover
ISBN 10: 019028014X ISBN 13: 9780190280147
Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2016

Synopsis

In the second edition of 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.

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About the Author

Donald A. Ritchie is Historian Emeritus of the U.S. Senate. He worked for the Senate Historical Office for thirty years, where he conducted an oral history program and did historical editing, such as the previously closed hearings of Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. A former president of the Oral History Association, he has also been a member of the councils of the American Historical Association and the International Oral History Association. His other books include Our Constitution, The Oxford Guide to the United States Government, Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents, Reporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps, and Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932.

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Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publication date
2016
Language
English
ISBN 10 
019028014X
ISBN 13 
9780190280147
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
2
Number of pages
168
Rating
  • 3.82 out of 5 stars
    184 ratings by Goodreads