Buy new:
$62.94
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$62.94
FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11. Order within 3 hrs 22 mins
In Stock
$$62.94 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$62.94
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$10.01
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Some wear but overall good condition. Ships directly from amazon, Eligible for free shipping and amazon prime. Thank you! Some wear but overall good condition. Ships directly from amazon, Eligible for free shipping and amazon prime. Thank you! See less
FREE delivery Monday, May 13 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$62.94 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$62.94
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

John Haskell
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Congress in Context 2nd Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$62.94","priceAmount":62.94,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"62","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"94","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2B5eF14IfwGuBhLitfIhJMQ3%2FzdOdAZY%2BLyI72EFUocwHCZr4UQhu8aTgu8OCv8CfGDRJdjjR5Z5c5R2UYtFLb%2F%2FRB7ifH9xu1nH%2FBXRSLZn6CqBYUx2ATxajBbFwv0LdkdMC0BmlB5jd34Z93S4R4A%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$10.01","priceAmount":10.01,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"10","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"01","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2B5eF14IfwGuBhLitfIhJMQ3%2FzdOdAZY%2BHAsxRQY7EkuxgFK4DlC7VquL7hFvMnCquUNR69Oc7YcGNQD29QNyOuBXPo%2BsD1fdWRIwfB7xk9f4WDVmUP%2BJlFm%2FQRghR5ikXwQ9LFBWGBPKmW3Fi0qw%2BbIMEeycKDXnD5K%2BF9MagL4Lm8snLz%2F8QQzWNyco%2BJLW","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

The U.S. Congress is by the far the least popular (and most misunderstood) branch of the federal government. Congress in Context de-mystifies the institution, giving students a comprehensive and practical understanding of Congress and the legislative process. This book takes a different approach to the study of Congress than other texts. Usually Congress is treated in isolation from the rest of the government. But the Framers of the Constitution explicitly intended for the branches of government to be interdependent. Congress in Context introduces readers to Congress's critical role in the context of this interdependent system. Using the metaphor of a board of directors, the authors explain the three key roles of Congress within the federal government (authorizing what government does, funding its activities, and supervising how it carries out the laws Congress passes) and shows students how Congress interacts with the rest of the government to exercise these powers.

The thoroughly expanded and revised second edition features brand-new chapters on Congress and the courts and Congress and interest groups. It also includes expanded coverage of Congress's relationship with the executive branch, campaign finance, and today's major budget issues. Grounded in the latest political science literature coupled with contemporary examples, Congress in Context offers students an informed yet accessible introduction to how the legislative branch carries out its duties.

Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0813347564
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0813347561
  3. Edition
    2nd
  4. Publication date
    January 7, 2014
  5. Language
    English
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 1.14 x 9 inches
  7. Print length
    504 pages
  8. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Frequently bought together

Congress in Context
$62.94
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective
$22.20
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Goodvibes Books.
+
Bureaucracy and Democracy: Accountability and Performance
$66.49
Get it May 13 - 14
Only 4 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by textbooks_source.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Congress in Context

"Congress in Context is thorough, well-written, and provides a unique insider's account of Congress's relationship with the broader political system. The authors combine classic congressional scholarship with contemporary policy issues to explain the nuts and bolts of how Congress functions as a policymaker within a complex system of shared powers. The structure of the text and the examples provide the groundwork for lively debates about why Congress struggles to be a productive and effective legislative body, and whether or not Congress is up to the monumental challenges it faces in the 21st century."
—Alison Howard, Dominican University of California

"The book's framework of 'Congress as a board of directors' gets at what the institution does in an interesting and accessible way. The authors do a very nice job of spelling out the shared nature of power in our system, and of laying out the authorizing and appropriating functions of Congress—something that is often lost in how the institution works in other books."
—David Dulio, Oakland University

Praise for Previous Editions

From the Back Cover

"Thorough, well-written, and provides a unique insider’s account of Congress’s relationship with the broader political system. The authors combine classic congressional scholarship with contemporary policy issues to explain the nuts and bolts of how Congress functions as a policymaker within a complex system of shared powers."
?Alison Howard, Dominican University of California

"The framework of 'Congress as a board of directors' is unique?it gets at what the institution does in an interesting and accessible way.”
?David Dulio, Oakland University

?Realistic without being cynical, serious without being grave. Readers of this book will come away with a richer understanding of the powers and limitations of Congress."
?John J. Pitney Jr., Claremont McKenna College

Grounded in the latest political science literature coupled with contemporary examples, Congress in Context de-mystifies the institution and offers students an informed yet accessible introduction to how the legislative branch carries out its duties. Using the metaphor of a board of directors, the authors explain the three key roles of Congress within the federal government?authorizing what government does, funding its activities, and supervising how It carries out the laws Congress passes. The thoroughly expanded and revised second edition features brand-new chapters on Congress and the courts and Congress and interest groups. It also included expanded coverage of Congress’s relationship with the executive branch, campaign finance, and today’s major budget issues.

JOHN HASKELL is Assistant Director and Senior Specialist, Government and Finance Division, with the Congressional Research Service. Haskell was Senior Fellow with the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University from 2000 to 2013.

MARIAN CURRINDER is Senior Fellow with the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University.

SARA A. GROVE is professor in the Department of Political Science at Shippensburg University.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Westview Press; 2nd edition (January 7, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 504 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0813347564
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0813347561
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.14 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
John Haskell

John Haskell

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Donna L. Brunstad
5.0 out of 5 stars Getting the Real Scoop on how Congress works!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
If you have ever wondered why our United States Congress does not accomplish more of what seems necessary and relevant to “we the people,” this book will go a long way in helping you to understand the vagaries of the rules and regulations of this branch of our government. The 2014 edition of what is really a textbook, has up-to-the-minute analyses and descriptions of all that Congress does or doesn’t and can or cannot do. The author tells us right up front that “this book focuses on Congress in the context of its relationship with the executive branch.”

It is filled with clear explanations and good graphs that explain to the reader the two roles of the members of Congress (legislative and representative) and why it is important to understand the distinction between the two. It describes the legislative process from start to finish, and how Committee staff is where the policy expertise lies. The Power of the Purse that Congress holds, how the Congress and the Courts relate, what Interest Groups are and why they most likely will always be a part of the governing process, and more are all clearly spelled out.

Yes, it is a Textbook, but it is full of everything you've always wanted to know about Congress and didn't know who to ask. It is great to have around as a reference material to fact-check what you may hear on various faux news programs about what powers Congress does and doesn't have. I highly recommend it.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Elle
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
Nothing out of the ordinary
Helpful
 Report