What do you think?
Rate this book
Congress For Dummies
A clear, direct guide into the nitty-gritty workings of Congress and the way the institution really functions
Congress For Dummies helps you sort out what Congress does on a daily basis and what it all means to you, the citizen. It shows you how to get organized, make your voice heard, and influence legislation that might affect you. Full of helpful resources such as contact information for House and Senate offices, and smart, straightforward explanations of the legislative process, this book is everything you need to understand Congress and get involved in your government. Whether you just want to know how government works, or you want to get involved to change your country, this simple guide covers all the ins and outs of Congress. It’s a nonpartisan look at Congress that includes forewords by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. Inside you’ll find easy explanations and helpful tips on how Expert author David Silverberg ― Managing Editor and a columnist at the Washington weekly The Hill ― takes the mystery out of getting something done in Congress, introducing you to the players and explaining everything from legislation and lobbying to caucuses and coalitions. Written with the citizen advocate in mind, this helpful guide gives regular people the tools and knowledge they need to achieve their aims. Inside, you’ll Getting something done in the messy confusion of democracy and bureaucracy is no easy task. Full of the kind of information and knowledge that Washington insiders take for granted, Congress For Dummies levels the playing field so that regular people ― just like you ― can make a difference, too.
Congress For Dummies helps you sort out what Congress does on a daily basis and what it all means to you, the citizen. It shows you how to get organized, make your voice heard, and influence legislation that might affect you. Full of helpful resources such as contact information for House and Senate offices, and smart, straightforward explanations of the legislative process, this book is everything you need to understand Congress and get involved in your government. Whether you just want to know how government works, or you want to get involved to change your country, this simple guide covers all the ins and outs of Congress. It’s a nonpartisan look at Congress that includes forewords by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. Inside you’ll find easy explanations and helpful tips on how Expert author David Silverberg ― Managing Editor and a columnist at the Washington weekly The Hill ― takes the mystery out of getting something done in Congress, introducing you to the players and explaining everything from legislation and lobbying to caucuses and coalitions. Written with the citizen advocate in mind, this helpful guide gives regular people the tools and knowledge they need to achieve their aims. Inside, you’ll Getting something done in the messy confusion of democracy and bureaucracy is no easy task. Full of the kind of information and knowledge that Washington insiders take for granted, Congress For Dummies levels the playing field so that regular people ― just like you ― can make a difference, too.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2002
34 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 14, 2018
The book gave a clear description of Congress and how what happens in government can affect you as an individual. Originally, I had thought that it was going to be more focused on the actual government offices and tasks (and less about the average person trying to work with or do things in Congress), but now that I read the description of the book, I see that it's described as that.
I would say that the book would be really helpful for anyone wanting to get more into politics or trying to influence legislation. There were lots of links to websites for further exploration or to get to the places you need. It went through all the steps that someone might need to get their own voice heard in front of Congress and showed plenty of helpful hints and tricks that the author had learned after living in the political world of Washington.
The writing was conversational and informative. For a topic like government and politics, it was presented in the best way it could have been. I enjoyed some of the funny and/or informative stories and examples that went along with the text.
I would say that the book would be really helpful for anyone wanting to get more into politics or trying to influence legislation. There were lots of links to websites for further exploration or to get to the places you need. It went through all the steps that someone might need to get their own voice heard in front of Congress and showed plenty of helpful hints and tricks that the author had learned after living in the political world of Washington.
The writing was conversational and informative. For a topic like government and politics, it was presented in the best way it could have been. I enjoyed some of the funny and/or informative stories and examples that went along with the text.
January 14, 2020
I really appreciated that he includes links and ways to contact your congressman. It felt like it was totally possible and that my congressman is reachable. I usually feel like politics and everything to do with the government is so far removed from my life and that there's no way to make a difference or to start something at all. Silverberg makes it seem very attainable and realistic, and I appreciate that so much!
February 27, 2026
This book tells you how to use all the words in the right way. If you ever need to contact a Congressperson for any reason, this guide tells you how. In the beginning it gives you a cheat sheet with tons of quick links for more information.
So this is a titular good read.
So this is a titular good read.
December 18, 2024
Easy to follow description of the US Congress. I liked how in detail it was about how we can have an impact on our government. I am much more interested in staying up to date on Congress and reaching out to my senator and representatives because of this book! Definitely recommend at least skimming this book if you're at all interested in learning about what Congress does and how you can impact the decisions made in Washington!
January 5, 2017
The book was ok but more focused on people trying to actually interact with congress and pass legislation. Which I am not. And I didn't actually finish it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews