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

~ Ellen Greenberg (Author)
Key Phrases: backdoor spending, unanimous consent request, legislative clerk, Committee of the Whole, Rules Committee, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA. The perfect book for teens agonizing through Civics or American Government classes and finding the workings of Congress completely incomprehensible. Greenberg simplifies, explains, and presents the legislative branch in ways that bring clarity to confusion. She begins with the basics?how both the House and Senate are physically organized. Two diagrams for each explain and show the positions of the "mace," the "hopper," and other accouterments of government. Seventeen "players," or named positions, in the House and 13 in the Senate are described as well. A chapter entitled "The Script" gives alphabetically listed terms used in legislation. A typical congressional day is outlined and a pithy explanation of the steps from a bill to law is offered. An excellent reference source, the book includes a full index and sections on written and Internet accesses to the government.?Carol DeAngelo, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Ellen Greenberg has written a guide to Congress just the way we would have--all facts and no partisan commentary. (Brian Lamb, C-SPAN )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co. (September 17, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393314960
• ISBN-13: 978-0393314960
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,015 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great guide to the vocabulary and proceedings of Congress!, November 27, 2000

By	"clikker" (Lake Hopatcong, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

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.