{"product_id":"the-u-s-congress-a-very-short-introduction","title":"The U.S. Congress: A Very Short Introduction","description":"In the second edition of \u003cem\u003eThe U.S. Congress\u003c\/em\u003e, Donald A. Ritchie, a congressional historian for more than thirty years, takes readers on a fascinating, behind-the-scenes tour of Capitol Hill, pointing out the key players, explaining their behavior, and translating parliamentary language into\u003cbr\u003eplain English. No mere civics lesson, this eye-opening book provides an insider's perspective on Congress, matched with a professional historian's analytical insight. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAfter a swift survey of the creation of Congress by the constitutional convention, he begins to unscrew the nuts and pull out the bolts. What is it like to campaign for Congress? To attract large donors? To enter either house with no seniority? He answers these questions and more, explaining\u003cbr\u003ecommittee assignments and committee work, the role of staffers and lobbyists, floor proceedings, parliamentary rules, and coalition building. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRitchie explores the great effort put into constituent service-as representatives and senators respond to requests from groups and individuals-as well as media relations and news coverage. He also explores how the grand concepts we all know from civics class--checks and balances, advise and consent, \u003cbr\u003econgressional oversight--work in practice in an age of strong presidents and a muscular Senate minority.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-3702754\"\u003eDonald A. Ritchie\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/03\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 168\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 6.80h x 4.20w x 0.50d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780190280147\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 019028014X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-POL\"\u003ePolitical Science\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-POL006000\"\u003eAmerican Government | Legislative Branch\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-POL\"\u003ePolitical Science\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-POL016000\"\u003ePolitical Process | General\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDonald A. Ritchie\u003c\/strong\u003e is Historian Emeritus of the U.S. Senate. He worked for the Senate Historical Office for thirty years, where he conducted an oral history program and did historical editing, such as the previously closed hearings of Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. A former president of the Oral History\u003cbr\u003eAssociation, he has also been a member of the councils of the American Historical Association and the International Oral History Association. His other books include \u003cem\u003eOur Constitution\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Oxford Guide to the United States Government\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003ePress Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents, \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eReporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps, \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eElecting FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press, USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42665905750253,"sku":"9780190280147","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8097\/6621\/products\/img_9c636180-b7fa-43e4-955f-44ddaf835520.jpg?v=1649427331","url":"https:\/\/sureshotbooks.com\/products\/the-u-s-congress-a-very-short-introduction","provider":"SureShot Books Publishing LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}