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Genre/Form: | History |
---|---|
Additional Physical Format: | Online version: Hamilton, Lee. How Congress works and why you should care. Bloomington : Indiana University Press, ©2004 (OCoLC)607137723 |
Material Type: | Internet resource |
Document Type: | Book, Internet Resource |
All Authors / Contributors: |
Lee Hamilton |
ISBN: | 0253344255 9780253344250 0253216958 9780253216953 0253110955 9780253110954 |
OCLC Number: | 52895370 |
Awards: | Winner of 2005 AAUP Public and Secondary School Library Selection. |
Description: | viii, 156 pages ; 25 cm |
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. |
Responsibility: | Lee H. Hamilton. |
More information: |
Abstract:
Reviews
Publisher Synopsis
Americans cannot be faulted for having a deeply jaundiced view of their Congress, says Hamilton (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars); he ought to know, because he served as a Representative for Indiana from 1965 to 1999. But he argues that people can and should fix it rather than give up on it completely.February 2010 * SciTech Book News * Lee Hamilton's new book . . . should be required reading for any American contemplating writing a `Letter to the Editor' or calling into (or hosting) a radio talk show, or for that matter, stepping into a voting booth. It is an owner's manual for citizens interested in their Congress. -- Charlie Cook * Editor and Publisher * Read more...


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Related Subjects:(10)
- United States. -- Congress.
- United States. -- Congress -- History.
- États-Unis. -- Congress.
- États-unis. -- Congress.
- United States -- Politics and government.
- Politics and government
- United States.
- Government.
- Legislators.
- United States. Congress.
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