| Description |
1 online resource (viii, 156 pages) |
| Physical Medium |
polychrome |
| Description |
text file |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Contents |
Preface -- [Pt.] 1. The role of Congress. Why Congress exists ; Core principle: sovereignty of the people ; Core principle: balancing powers in government ; Congress and the President ; Why federalism works ; Key power: passing the basic laws of the land ; Key power: controlling the purse ; Key power: shaping foreign policy ; Congress and individual liberties ; The roots of our success -- [Pt.] 2. The impact of Congress. Congress and the fabric of our lives ; Government's greatest endeavors ; An ordinary day ; Congress does more work than meets the eye ; A balanced view of Congress ; Members of Congress who had an impact -- [Pt.] 3. How Congress works. A complex institution ; An evolving institution ; The many roles of a member of Congress ; Representing constituents ; How a bill really becomes law ; Why we need more politicians ; Power in Congress ; The House and the Senate ; The awesome responsibility of voting ; The frustrations and rewards of Congress -- [Pt.] 4. Public criticisms of Congress. "Legislators are a bunch of crooks" ; "There's too much wasteful, pork-barrel spending by Congress" ; "Legislators just bicker and never get anything done" ; "You can't trust what members of Congress say" ; "Congress almost seems designed to promote total gridlock" ; "Members of Congress compromise too much" ; "There's too much money in politics today" ; "Members are out of touch with their constituents" ; "Congress is run by lobbyists and special interests" ; Conclusion -- [Pt.] 5. Key ways Congress could work better. Declining civility ; The importance of good process ; Better White House/Congress consultation ; True congressional oversight ; Improving ethics enforcement ; Thinking about the future ; The money chase ; Improving public understanding of Congress ; Tackling the tough issues ; Congress and the common good ; Conclusion -- [Pt.] 6. Civic participation. A failure to communicate ; Being more involved in the work of Congress ; The cornerstones of active citizenship ; Making your views known to Congress ; Individuals who have made a difference ; Can the people govern? ; Strengthening representative democracy -- Appendix: communicating with Congress. |
| Summary |
How Congress Works is a concise introduction to the functions, role, and impact of the US Congress by eminent former Indiana Congressman Lee H. Hamilton. He has written in in the context of his Center on Congress whose nonpartisan purposes is to "explain Congress to ordinary people." The writing is straightforward and easy to read, sprinkled with personal stories about interactions with Congressional colleagues and constituents from Hamilton's long experience. |
| Access |
Use copy Restrictions unspecified MiAaHDL |
| Reproduction |
Electronic reproduction. [S.l.] : HathiTrust Digital Library, 2010. MiAaHDL |
| System Details |
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002. http://purl.oclc.org/DLF/benchrepro0212 MiAaHDL |
| Processing Action |
digitized 2010 HathiTrust Digital Library committed to preserve MiAaHDL |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
United States. Congress.
|
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United States. Congress. |
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États-Unis. Congress. |
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États-unis. Congress. |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
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Electronic books.
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| Other Form: |
Print version: Hamilton, Lee. How Congress works and why you should care. Bloomington : Indiana University Press, ©2004 0253344255 0253216958 (DLC) 2003017926 (OCoLC)52895370 |
| ISBN |
0253110955 (electronic book) |
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9780253110954 (electronic book) |
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9780253344250 (cloth ; alkaline paper) |
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0253344255 (cloth ; alkaline paper) |
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9780253216953 (paperback ; alkaline paper) |
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0253216958 (paperback ; alkaline paper) |
|
