The American Congress

by Steven S. Smith, Jason M. Roberts, Ryan J. Vander Wielen

The American Congress provides the most insightful, up-to-date treatment of congressional politics available in an undergraduate text. Informed by the authors’ Capitol Hill experience and nationally recognized scholarship, this book presents a crisp introduction to all major features of its party and committee systems, leadership, and voting and floor activity. The American Congress has the most in-depth discussion of the place of the president, the courts, and interest groups in congressional policy making available in a text. The authors blend an emphasis on recent developments in congressional politics with a clear discussion of the rules of the game, the history of key features of Congress, and stories from recent Congresses that bring politics to life. No other text weaves into the discussion the important ideas of recent political science research. The book includes the most comprehensive list of suggested readings and Internet resources on Congress to date.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Government, History, School

456 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 1990

About the author

Steven Stanley Smith is the Kate M. Gregg Distinguished Professor of Social Sciences, and Professor of Political Science, at Washington University in St. Louis, and Director of the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy.

Reviews

[R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best of the two textbooks required for the class 'POLS510 The U.S. Presidency, Congress, and the Bureaucracy.' This is one that I can see recommending to people who for some unknown reason would want to know more about this inner workings of the legislature and how it developed over the last couple hundred years into what it is today. This is a series of essays written by some of the major political scientists and so the work is hit and miss like most books of short stories. There may be one you love followed by the most god awful piece of drivel you'll ever have to force yourself to get through.

[Kyle Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Textbook style review of Congress with plenty of supporting quantitative data. Well written with concise summaries at the end of each chapter.

[Iliya Liampert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic textbook. Will be going back to it many times in the future.

[Mattieu Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed it for a class

It was pretty informative. I definitely enjoyed it more than other books on the subject. Just a textbook pretty much.