Congress Reconsidered

by Lawrence C. Dodd, Bruce I. Oppenheimer

For almost four decades, the editors of Congress Reconsidered, Lawrence C. Dodd and Bruce I. Oppenheimer have delivered the best contemporary work from leading congressional scholars in a form that is both analytical and accessible. The tradition continues in this Eleventh Edition as contributing authors focus on the many ways Congress has changed over time and examine the conditions that foster these developments. Some of the most noted names in congressional studies address topics from broad dynamics affecting the institution, elections and constituencies, parties and internal organization, inter-branch relations, and policymaking. This new edition also ends with a capstone chapter on the milestone 2016 elections. Simply put, this bestselling volume remains on the cutting edge of scholarship, identifying patterns of change in Congress and placing those patterns in context.

Genres: Politics, Textbooks, Political Science, College, Nonfiction, School

315 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book from a course that I actually Withdrew from in college. It was a very informative read without being too boring.

[Daniel DeButts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay don't hate me, but I actually really liked this. It is a collection of academic articles about Congressional trends and theories over the last one hundred years. Despite the occasionally dry chapter, some of the concepts are novel and fascinating. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in Congressional underpinnings.

[J. Tayler Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A required read for school. While insightful, this book was generally difficult to read. It is best for those who are looking to understand American Congress, not for those who are looking for an enjoyable read on American Congress.

[Indira Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

how did i forget to add a textbook to my reading list. Like excuse me, yes, it counts as a book, since it is a book, therefore it counts on reading challenge.

[Nikita Nikishin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good selection of good scholarship. A solid textbook.

[Brett · Rating 3 out of 5]

You pretty much get what you expect with this oft-assigned text for courses that study Congress. Essays in the 10-20 page range from many of the more well-respected political scientists on a variety of topics that relate the history, practices, and future of Congress as an institution.

As in any book of this kind, some of the essays are more engaging than others (and some academics are better writers than others). New editions are released every few years, and this may be one of the instances where it is worth a few extra dollars to get a newer version. I read the one from 2008, and some of the articles were already beginning to be dated.

Congress Reconsidered is a fine primer, but if you really want to dig into any of the topics it covers, you will need to find some of the book length treatments of some of the authors of these essays. As an entry point to the literature, it works just as intended.

[John Weibull · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in college and it is still filled with great information about how Congress operates. This is a timely read, especially now when Congress is reasserting its power against the Bush administration.