Historical and contemporary information about Congress as an institution, the lawmaking process, the nature of leadership in Congress, and the characteristics and duties of Congress members. This section includes several related essays by scholars.

Congress: The Context

Online resources range from a map of Capitol Hill to the U.S. Constitution. Experts’ essays deal with the importance of representative government and why it is important to vote, among other topics.

Resources

• Capitol Hill Map
• The Federalist Papers
• State of the Union Address, 1790
• U.S. Constitution
• Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress
• Congressional Research Service Reports
• Editorial Cartoon Project

Expert Views

• The American History and Civics Education Act
• The Case for Representative Democracy: What American Ought to Know about Their Legislatures
• Reflections of a British Intern
• Reform the Electoral College: Two Views from Congress
• “Virtual Congress” Would Weaken Deliberative Process
• What High School Government Teachers Should Know about Congressional Elections
• Why It is Important to Vote
• Speaking Up for Congress: How Does Congress Defend Freedom?

Congress: The Institution

Online resources include a congressional timeline; several explanations of how laws are made; and information about congressional pay, workload, rules, and staff positions. Experts’ essays deal with the importance of civility in deliberations and how Congress members make decisions.

Resources

• Awards, Honors, and Medals Awarded by Congress
• Basic Information
• Bicameralism: Congress as Two Chambers
• Bill Becomes A Law
• Budgeting to Set Up a Congressional Office
• Congressional Pay
• Congressional Session Timeline
  
• Congressional Travel
• Congressional Workload
• History of the Senate and House
• House Rules of Operation
• Investigations
• Legislative Process Overview
• Making Laws Simply Explained
• Making Laws: The House
• Making Laws: The Senate
• Officers and Staff of the Senate
• Partisan Composition of the House
• Partisan Composition of the Senate
• Rules of Procedure
• Senate Bibliography
• Senate Censure/Condemnation Cases
• Senate Rules
• Senate Timeline
• Senate Traditions
• Senate Treaty Ratifications
• Staff Pay
• Staff Positions
• Strategic Planning for a Congressional Office
• Supreme Court Nominations, 1789-2005
• Vetoes
• Voting Procedures, History
• Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress

Expert Views

• Building on Common Ground: Balancing Debate with Dialog in Congress
• Understanding Congressional Decisions through Vectors
• "Can We Talk? Free Speech and Civil Discourse in Turbulent Times"
• Being a Partner and Critic to the Congress
• Reporting on Congress: The Role of the Media

Congress: Lawmaking

Online resources emphasize historical materials about the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the U.S. Constitution.

Resources

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Essay
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Documents
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Everett Dirksen's Finest Hour
• Civil Rights Documentation Project
• U.S. Constitution
• Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Essay
• Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress
• See also information posted at: Congress: The Institution

Expert Views

• Understanding Congressional Decisions through Vectors

Congress: Leaders

This section describes leadership positions in the House and Senate and lists current and former congressional leaders. Several samples of their comments about the job of leading Congress are also posted.

Resources

• Leaders for Today’s Congress
• Leadership Overview
• Leadership Offices in the House
• Leadership Positions
• Speakers of the House
• House Majority and Minority Leaders
• Senate Majority and Minority Leaders
• Senate Presidents Pro Tempore
• Vice Presidents of the U.S.
• Congressional Leadership Statements
• Joint Senate-House Republican Leadership Press Statements, 1961-68
• The Speaker of the House on the Nature of His Office, 2003
• Robert H. Michel Leadership Statements, 1980-92
• Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress

Expert Views

• Overview of Senate Leadership
• In the Shadow of Watergate: Bob Michel Becomes a Congressional Leader

Congress: Members

In addition to historical information about Everett Dirksen, this section includes a demographic profile of Congress and a description of what Congress members do. An expert also shows how to communicate effectively with your representatives.

Resources

• Biographies of Congress Members
• Congressional Profile
• Congressman: A Case Study
• Election of Members: Historical and Current Information
• Everett McKinley Dirksen
• Everett M. Dirksen: Obituary and Eulogy
• What Members of Congress Do
• Partisan Composition of the House
• Partisan Composition of the Senate
• Robert H. Michel
• Women Who Have Served in Congress
• Women Serving in the 110th Congress
  
• Minorities in the Senate
• Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress

Expert Views

• An Effective Congress and Effective Members: What Does It Take?
• How to Communicate Effectively with Congress Members

Congressional Research Service Reports on Congress and Its Procedures

Links to hundreds of reports on all types of congressional procedures and history.