Tribes on the Hill: The U.S. Congress Rituals and Realities

by Jack Weatherford

A revealing, witty, and altogether fascinating story of the tribal customs and rituals that help shape our nation's laws. "The Washingtonian"

Sharp, funny and ultimately disquieting. "The Washington Book RevieW"

Genres: History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Jack McIver Weatherford is the DeWitt Wallace Professor of anthropology at Macalester College in Minnesota. He is best known for his 2004 book, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. In 2006, he was awarded the Order of the Polar Star, and the Order of Genghis Khan in 2022, Mongolia’s two highest national honors. Moreover, he was honoured with the Order of the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho by the Government of Bolivia in 2014.
His books in the late 20th century on the influence of Native American cultures have been translated into numerous languages. In addition to publishing chapters and reviews in academic books and journals, Weatherford has published numerous articles in national newspapers to popularize his historic and anthropological coverage of Native American cultures, as well as the American political culture in Congress in the 20th century. In recent years, he has concentrated on the Mongols by looking at their impact since the time that Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes in 1206.

Reviews

[Julie H. Ernstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weatherford wrote this book, essentially an ethnography of Congress, after serving as a Congressional Fellow. I remember having read it as an undergraduate in an anthropology class in which Weatherford graciously came and served as a guest speaker. It would be fun to re-read it now to see how it holds up after the passage of a few decades and supposed social advances we've made as a nation.

[Bimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very amusing and cynical observation of the rituals and antics of the gentry on tribal hill and within the beltway. The book is more than 30 years old (revised in 1985), but as entertaining today as it was when fresh. With a prospect of Bush III moving into the White House by January 2017 there probably wasn't much new introduced into the tribal life in D.C. recently.

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read for my internship, turned out to be one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read

[Jim Clearman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for all US Citizens. Weatherford utilizes his skill as an anthropologist to analyze the social structure of Congress. The conclusion that modern political structure, in both the house and the senate, have direct analogs with tribal customs observed around the world is very compelling, if a bit chilling.

I read this book as part of class, and I remember well the professors comment; "Given the interaction constraints, it's obvious why so little can be accomplished in Congress. Perhaps that is a very good thing."

[L · Rating 3 out of 5]

very entertaining and informative, if dated.

[Polly Callahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

need to finish
combines anthropology and government

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about the circus that goes on on capital hill. Very good read.