The House and Senate Explained: The People's Guide to Congress

By Ellen Greenberg

Book Overview

Ellen Greenberg sets the stage for both the House of Representatives and the Senate, explaining what the mace and hopper are, how the chambers are laid out, who the onstage actors are and what they do. Her section on the jargon--the most common phrases used--goes far beyond mere description to show how our government operates. She also explains how business is done: what happens on a daily basis and during the weekly schedule and how a bill becomes a law--or doesn't. The House and Senate Explained includes a chapter on using the Internet to access information about the House, the Senate, and the White House, from getting around Washington to accessing proposed bills to sending E-mail to your congressional representatives. In addition, you'll learn how to be heard by your representatives and how to take a more active role in committee hearings. A listing of all the congressional committees and subcommittees lets you know where your special concerns are being addressed. Whether a C-SPAN addict, a concerned citizen, or a general reader watching the nightly news, this hands-on manual will help you understand Congress and how to make it work for you.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393314960
• ISBN13: 9780393314960
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A great guide to the vocabulary and proceedings of Congress!

Whether you're a C-SPAN addict or simply a citizen who wants tolearn about how our Constitutional Republic works, this book is agreat introduction into the workings of the Legislative branch, and ahandy reference that's a lifesaver when watching C-SPAN or during aCivics test. This book is conveniently divided into threeparts. The first part deals with the makeup of each chamber, and whereeveryone goes. Answers to questions like "Where does the Speakerof the House sit?" and "How are the seats in the Senatearranged?" can be found here. The second part, the heart ofthe book, is a large dictionary of Congressional terms. This is themost useful section of the book. Find out what a "SecretSession" is, as well as a "filibuster", a"line-item veto", and what a "Pro-Forma session"is. Clear, consise definitions, in laymans terms. The thirdsection deals with Congressional procedure. This section detailscommon phrases, how to testify for Congress, how a Bill becomes Law,and a common day in the life of Congress. Last of all, is anappendix with Congressional websites, ... and other Internetresources. At the end is a lengthy listing of all the CongressionalCommittees (just so you know, a Congress is subdivided into committeesthat focus on certain aspects of the government), such as theCommittee on Indian Affairs and the Agriculture Committee. Overall, this is a great book, and I highly recommend it for anyonethat wants to have a better knowledge of the enigma that isCongress. For political junkies, this is a very handy referncetool, as is a dictionary to a grammarian.