About Us
Congress: The Context
Resources
Capitol Hill Map
The Federalist Papers
Library of Congress: Architecture and Symbolism
State of the Union Address, 1790
U.S. Constitution
Congressional Research Service Reports
Congressional Research Service Reports—House Rules Committee List
Expert Views
Experts’ essays deal with the importance of representative government and why it is important to vote, among other topics.
The American
History and Civics Education Act
Senator Lamar Alexander uses his maiden speech in the Senate
to introduce the above titled bill: "It is time that we put the
teaching of American history and civics back in its rightful
place in our schools so our children can grow up learning what
it means to be an American."
The Case
for Representative Democracy: What American Ought to Know about
Their Legislatures
A must-read for concerned Americans to understand the true value
of America's legislative process uncolored by today's sense of
cynicism and mistrust. These excerpts from the publication of
the Conference of State Legislatures take a candid look at criticisms
of the legislative process and effectively counters them by offering
a more positive and accurate perspective on American democracy.
Reflections
of a British Intern
Joel Rivlin, from Leeds, England, served internships in both
the House of Commons and the U.S. House of Representatives. In
this essay, he compares the two experiences, reflecting on the
similarities and differences between the two bodies. See also "What
Every Student Should Know About Congress."
Reform
the Electoral College: Two Views from Congress
In the wake of the 2000 presidential election, reformers called
for changes to, if not the end of, the Electoral College. The
following presents the views of Congressman Ray LaHood, who favors
eliminating the College, and Senator Peter Fitzgerald, who endorses
the function of the Electoral College.
“Virtual
Congress” Would Weaken Deliberative Process
David Dreier (R-CA), chairman of the House Rules Committee, warns
against "calls for electronic democracy" as a reaction to shutting
down Congress in the wake of September 11. Although very aware
of the advantages technology brings, Dreier reminds us that "the
personal and intimate relationships and the physical and emotional
interactions that serve as the vital fuel driving consensus building
in Congress have been key ingredients to the more than 200-year
success of our great American experiment."
What
High School Government Teachers Should Know about Congressional
Elections
Political scientist Jeff Bernstein explains why incumbents win
re-election at such an astounding rate and offers suggestions
about how to teach the subject to high school and college students.
Why It is Important
to Vote
Steve Frantzich, Professor of Political Science at the U.S. Naval
Academy, answers this basic question in a selection directed
to students during the 2000 campaigns. He also summarizes the
policy positions of the four major political parties and suggests
useful Web sites.
Speaking
Up for Congress: How Does Congress Defend Freedom?In accepting the 2005 Freedom Award from the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, Lee Hamilton, President and Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and Director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University, explains how Congress defends freedom by representing the people, remaining accessible, retaining its status as a co-equal independent branch of government, and maintaining a fair and deliberative legislative process.
