Congress Books

New and Published Books

1. The Public Congress

   Congressional Deliberation in a New Media Age

   By Gary Lee Malecha, Daniel J. Reagan

   Contemporary members of Congress routinely use the media to advance their professional goals. Today, virtually every aspect of their professional legislative life unfolds in front of cameras and microphones and, increasingly, online. The Public Congress explores how the media moved from being a...

   Published December 13th 2011 by Routledge
2. Thinking About Congress

   Essays on Congressional Change

   By Lawrence C. Dodd

   Observing the polarized, debilitating politics of today’s Congress, one wonders whether change is possible on Capitol Hill. In Thinking about Congress, Lawrence Dodd reminds us that Congress seemed equally intransigent at times the past, yet change and rejuvenation came. Reading his classic essays,...

   Published December 11th 2011 by Routledge
3. Cases in Congressional Campaigns

   Riding the Wave, 2nd Edition

   Edited by Randall E. Adkins, David A. Dulio

   After Barack Obama’s historic 2008 victory, Democrats were riding high. But a number of tough fights on policy initiatives, coupled with an economy struggling to recover, put Democrats in a difficult position leading up to the 2010 congressional elections. With nearly all the electoral gains...

   Published August 14th 2011 by Routledge
4. New Directions in Congressional Politics

   Edited by Jamie L. Carson

   Series: New Directions in American Politics

   As the U.S. Congress has steadily evolved, so too has our understanding of the institution. New Directions in Congressional Politics offers an accessible overview of the current developments in our understanding of America’s legislative branch. Jamie L. Carson helps students bridge the gap between...

   Published July 11th 2011 by Routledge
5. Legislative Learning

   The 104th Republican Freshmen in the House

   By Timothy J. Barnett

   Series: Politics and Policy in American Institutions

   Legislative Learning breaks new theoretical and descriptive ground in examining the political perceptions, policy principles and power plays of the influential 104th Republican freshmen in the U.S. House. This even-handed book builds on the work of leading congressional scholars, and provides a...

   Published December 20th 2009 by Routledge
6. Cases in Congressional Campaigns

   Incumbents Playing Defense

   Edited by Randall E. Adkins, David A. Dulio

   During the 2008 elections, nowhere was change more anticipated than in the House and Senate. Going into Election Day, most analysts predicted a large majority of Democratic wins in both chambers. However, while many Republicans lost and Democrats came away with a clear majority, some of the most...

   Published December 15th 2009 by Routledge
7. Congressional Representation & Constituents

   The Case for Increasing the U.S. House of Representatives

   By Brian Frederick

   Series: Controversies in Electoral Democracy and Representation

   The U.S. House of Representatives has been frozen at 435 members for almost a century, and in that time the nation’s population has grown by more than 200 percent. With the number of citizens represented by each House member now dramatically larger, is a major consequence of this historical...

   Published November 24th 2009 by Routledge
8. The Laws That Shaped America

   Fifteen Acts of Congress and Their Lasting Impact

   By Dennis W. Johnson

   For better and sometimes for worse, Congress is a reflection of the aspirations, wants, and priorities of the American people. It reflects the kaleidoscope of special interests and unselfish service to others, of favors sought and sacrifices made. During each two-year session of Congress, thousands...

   Published April 13th 2009 by Routledge
9. Campaign Contributions and Legislative Voting

   A New Approach

   By Stacey B. Gordon

   This book studies the current paradox within the voting literature on campaign contributions and legislative voting behavior. Specifically, while journalists and observers believe that the contributions significantly influence congressional votes, empirical evidence compiled by political scientists...

   Published December 13th 2004 by Routledge