Congress and Its Members

NEW TO THIS EDITION

• New developments and fresh research on nearly every aspect of Congress provide clarity to areas such as the 2022 midterm election results, regional shifts in party strength, voting behavior, the use of social media in congressional elections, state-level efforts to expand and restrict voting access, and much more.
• Up-to-date information on the diversity of the new Congress in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, and professional background is provided.
• Examines the challenges party leaders face in balancing their conflicting responsibilities to the institution and to their party amidst a polarized context. Changes in internal procedure are examined, including increased use of the Senate’s cloture process and continued decline of conference committees.
• Includes up-to-date information on party voting in Congress and support for the president’s position. Major recent enactments are discussed, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the American Rescue Plan. The chapter on domestic policymaking and the budget process has been significantly revised for improved accessibility of presentation.
• Covers important recent developments in interbranch relations. The congressional fall-out from the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs decision is detailed. The Biden administration’s initiatives in foreign and domestic policy are discussed, along with the president’s approach to congressional relations. Biden’s historic appointment of Katanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court receives attention, as well as his record of making appointments to the federal courts more generally. The chapter on Congress and foreign policy covers the politics of aid to Ukraine, Chinese surveillance, and the Biden administration’s approach to trade policy. The concluding chapter reflects on the attack on the Capitol of January 6, 2021, and what it reveals about Americans’ attitudes toward the institution.       

KEY FEATURES

• Comprehensive coverage of Congress and the legislative process provides students with an insightful look at the tension between Congress as a lawmaking institution and as a collection of re-election-minded politicians.         
• A judicious balance of great scholarship and currency provides readers with a contemporary look at the realities of the legislative institution and process.         
• Lively case material, along with relevant data, charts, maps, and photos, brings concepts to life.