Download The U.S. Congress: A Very Short Introduction AudioBook Free
Many scholars assume that the framers of the Constitution intended Congress to be the preeminent branch of government. Indeed, no other legislature on earth approaches its vitality. Yet most Us citizens have only a murky notion of how it operates. In The U.S. Congress, Donald A. Ritchie, a congressional historian for more than 30 years, takes readers on a fascinating, behind-the-scenes tour of Capitol Hill - directing out the main element players, describing their patterns, and translating parliamentary language into plain English. No mere civics lesson, this eye-opening e book provides an insider's point of view on Congress, matched with a specialist historian's analytical understanding. After a swift study of the creation of Congress by the constitutional convention, he commences to unscrew the nuts and grab the bolts. What is it like to campaign for congress? To draw in large donors? To enter into either house with no seniority? He right answers these questions and more, explaining committee tasks (and committee work), the role of staffers and lobbyists, floor proceedings, parliamentary rules, and coalition building. Ritchie explores the fantastic effort placed into constituent service - as staff and senators respond to requests from categories and people - as well as mass media relations and news coverage. He also explores the way the grand concepts everybody knows from civics course - investigations and balances, recommend and consent, congressional oversight - work used, in a day and age of strong presidents and a muscular Senate minority (no matter which party is in that position). Within this sparkling addition to Oxford's Very Brief Intro series, Donald Ritchie moves beyond the cynicism and the platitudes to give a gem of any portrait of how Congress really works.
