Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process

As a governing body, Congress continually adapts to changes in process and practice. This procedural context governs every aspect of the House and Senate and affects lawmakers as they make voting decisions, expedite or delay legislation, or defeat a bill. Walter Oleszek′s definitive work, Congressional Pocedures and the Policy Process, examines how the majority and minority parties use procedural devices to achieve their political goals and offers an assessment of the role of conference committees in reconciling bicameral differences. Not shying away from the complexity of the topic, Oleszek ensures that the machinations of Congress are understandable through an array of interesting examples, cases, and anecdotes that he is particularly well-positioned to witness and experience first-hand. Updates include an analysis of budget "brinksmanship," the increased used of "filling the tree" in the senate, and a look at how the oversight approach of Congress triggers legislative-executive clashes.