Congress: The First Branch

by Benjamin Ginsberg, Kathryn Wagner Hill

An introduction to the U.S. Congress, from seasoned political historians and teachers

In this accessible overview of the United States Congress’s past and present, Ginsberg and Hill introduce students to the country’s most democratic institution. This text surveys Congressional elections, the internal structure of Congress, the legislative process, Congress and the President, and Congress and the courts. The First Branch offers a fresh approach to the First Branch grounded in a historical, positive frame.

Genres: Americana

376 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2019

About the author

Benjamin Ginsberg is the David Bernstein Professor of Political Science, Director of the Washington Center for the Study of American Government, and Chair of the Center for Advanced Governmental Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author or coauthor of 20 books including Presidential Power: Unchecked and Unbalanced, Downsizing Democracy: How America Sidelined Its Citizens and Privatized Its Public, Politics by Other Means, The Consequences of Consent, and The Captive Public. Before joining the Hopkins faculty in 1992, Ginsberg was Professor of Government at Cornell University. His most recent book is The Fall of the Faculty: The Rise of the All-Administrative University and Why It Matters. Ginsberg’s published research focuses on political development, presidential politics, participation, and money in politics.

Reviews

[Jane Loomis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice supplemental. The articles had great historical context. I especially enjoyed learning about the framers' discussions on senate rotation, history of Super PACs. Interesting notion to look at lobbying with an office similar to public defender. However, PD in real life are severely underpaid, like Congressional staffers, so I expect that the solution offered would just add another layer of buraucracy.