Senate Procedure and Practice

by Martin B. Gold

The Senate is a place where political minorities and individual members hold great power, resting on authority drawn from Senate rules and over two hundred years of related precedents and traditions. The minority has and will always have a clear and important voice on issues brought to the Senate floor, and it is this distinction from the majority rule of the House that has enabled the Senate to work as well as it has since our democracy's inception.

Now in its fourth edition, Senate Procedure and Practice explains why and how the Senate has worked for more than 200 years. It includes the updated modifications of procedures governing Senate debate, amendment rights, and the formation of conferences. The 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. Anyone with an interest in the pillars of Senate procedure and practice will find a useful companion in this book.

Genres: Politics

326 pages, Paperback

First published August 19, 2004

Reviews

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rather esoteric read for anyone who's not in politics... and I suspect has been read by few US Senators. That's disappointing to me Because the esoteric 44 (or how ever many now) Standard Rules of the Senate were all created by very Political People, all of whom wanted to cement their power and future power for their party. I found it very interesting to learn that much of what happens in the US Senate happens based on Timing. Also, it's interesting that All (except Nixon) viewed the precedence of past ruled Rules to be almost inviolate. We're living in amazing times as MAGA continues to shake the foundations of our Establishment Deep State. For anyone interested in how the Senate makes sausages, this is your book.

[Wesley Janicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book made good on what it promised. Great examples that flesh out abstract and somewhat arcane ideas and systems.