Is Congress Broken?

Is Congress Broken?
Author: Gary J. Schmitt
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2017-03-21
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0815730373

" 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. Now, some of the country's foremost experts on Congress are reminding us that tough hyper-partisan conflict always has been a hallmark of the constitutional system. Going back to the nation's early decades, Congress has experienced periods of division and turmoil. But even in those periods Congress has been able to engage in serious deliberation, prevent ill-considered proposals from becoming law—and, over time, help develop a deeper, more lasting national consensus. The ten chapters in this volume focus on how Congress in the twenty-first century can once again fulfill its proper functions of representation, deliberation, legislation, and oversight. The authors offer a series of practical reforms that would maintain, rather than replace, the constitutional separation of powers that has served the nation well for more than 200 years. "

The Broken Branch

The Broken Branch
Author: Thomas E. Mann
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2008
Genre: History
ISBN: 0195368711

Two nationally renowned congressional scholars review the evolution of Congress from the early days of the republic to 2006, arguing that extreme partisanship and a disregard for institutional procedures are responsible for the institution's current state of dysfunction.

History of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS)

History of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS)
Author: Mark R. Rosenzweig
Publisher: Psychology Press
Total Pages: 451
Release: 2005-08-18
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1135431701

This book describes the present status and the history of the International Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS) -- the most representative international psychological body. The IUPsyS includes national psychological associations from 66 countries, with more joining every year, and it has formal relations with the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, the International Council for Science, and the International Social Science Council. Many well known psychologists have played important roles in this international organization, and the text and many photographs bring the story to life. IUPsyS was organized formally at the 14th international Congress of Psychology at Stockholm in 1951, so the 27th International Congress of Psychology at Stockholm in 2000 marks a half-century of its existence. But the history of the IUPsyS goes back to the first International Congresses of Psychology, 1889, and to the International Congress Committee which foreshadowed the organization of the International Union. After describing the present status of the IUPsyS in Chapter 1, the book traces briefly the early development of scientific societies and organizations. Chapter 3 tells how the first International Congress of Psychology was organized in Paris in 1889 and what it accomplished. Successive international congresses and the growth of psychology during the next sixty years are treated in chapters 4-6. The founding and development of the International Union in the last half of the 20th Century are described in the remaining chapters. International Congresses organized by the IUPsyS have taken place regularly since 1951, and the IUPsyS has steadily gained in the scope and influence of its activities. The congresses, long restricted to western Europe and North America, became more representative geographically, moving to Moscow, Tokyo, Leipzig, Acapulco, and Sydney, with the 28th congress planned for Beijing in 2004. The history shows how the IUPsyS has become increasingly able to face the problems and opportunities of the 21st century.

Inside Congress

Inside Congress
Author: Trevor Corning
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2017-07-25
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0815727348

Required reading for anyone who wants to understand how to work within Congress. The House and Senate have unique rules and procedures to determine how legislation moves from a policy idea to law. Evolved over the last 200 years, the rules of both chambers are designed to act as the engine for that process. Each legislative body has its own leadership positions to oversee this legislative process. To the novice, whether a newly elected representative, a lawmaker's staff on her first day at work, or a constituent visiting Washington, the entire process can seem incomprehensible. What is an open rule for a House Appropriations bill and how does it affect consideration? Why are unanimous consent agreements needed in the Senate? The authors of Inside Congress, all congressional veterans, have written the definitive guide to how Congress really works. It is the accessible and necessary resource to understanding and interpreting procedural tools, arcane precedents, and the role of party politics in the making of legislation in Congress.