Making Congress Work, Again, Within the Constitutional System Congress for many years has ranked low in public esteem joining journalists, bankers, and union leaders at the bottom of polls. And in recent years there's been good reason for the public disregard, with the rise of hyper-partisanship and the increasing inability of Congress to carry out its required duties, such as passing spending bills on time and conducting responsible oversight of the executive branch. Congress seems so dysfunctional that many observers have all but thrown up their hands in despair, suggesting that an apparently broken U.S. political system might need to be replaced.

Most American cities are now administered by appointed city managers and governed by councils chosen in nonpartisan, at-large elections. In the early twentieth century, many urban reformers claimed these structures would make city government more responsive to the popular will. But on the whole, the effects of these reforms have been to make citizens less likely to vote in local elections and local governments less representative of their constituents. How and why did this happen?Ariane Liazos examines the urban reform movement that swept through the country in the early twentieth century and its unintended consequences.

An official, narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives takes a close-up look at the influence of this important political body throughout American history, profiling some of the high-profile figures--including Henry Clay, Tip O'Neill, John C. Calhoun, Shirley Chisholm, and others--who have played important roles in the political process.

The house of representatives -- The organization of the house -- How a bill becomes law -- How to kill a bill -- Public land for Texas schools -- The appropriations bill -- The Texas senate, part one -- The Texas senate, part two -- The governor, part one -- The governor, part two -- The governor, part three.

*Local governing power: General aspects, limitation, resolution of power conflicts and challenges.
*Formation of the local government, alteration, boundary changes, some problems of organization and operation- officers, employees, allocation and delegation of functions, elections.
*Regulation of conduct and the use of land.
*Acquisition, limitations on use, and disposition of goods, services and property.
*Revenues: Local revenue raining, local taxes, non-tax revenue raising devices, borrowing, municipal expenditures.
*Considerations pertinent to citizen litigation with local governments.

Senate Procedure and Practice explains why and how the Senate has worked for more than two centuries. It includes the updated modifications of procedures governing Senate debate, amendment rights, and the formation of conferences. This book is filled with fascinating stories and insights that highlight why certain rules are in place how they are practiced, and the ways in which those practices have changed throughout history as our federal government and the needs of our electorate have evolved.