Chapter 7. Congress
Explore
The official web site of the U.S. House of Representatives provides links to individual members' offices as well as committee and party leadership offices, and other links to dealing with business before the House.
The official web site of the U.S. Senate provides links to individual members' offices and committee offices as well as other links (including an interesting Art & History link).
Housed at Indiana University and headed by well-respected former representative Lee Hamilton, the mission of the Center on Congress has been to educate citizens about Congress. Fearing a lack of familiarity with the institution was the reason for many Americans' negative feelings toward Congress, the Center attempts to provide information on public perceptions of Congress and the role of the legislature in American society and politics.
From the official U.S. Senate web site, this link provides a history of major Senate and congressional select committee investigations. Interestingly, most of these select committees have been formed to study major political problems but also numerous Washington scandals throughout our history.
This section of the Senate's official web site answers recurring questions the public has about Congress. In particular, it responds to many of the urban legends that swirl around the country regarding congressional history and politics.
One of the key jobs of Congress is to produce the nation's budget every year. The United States currently runs an enormous budget deficit, and Americans often blame Congress for spending too much. Here's your chance to show them how it should be done through The National Budget Simulation game. Choose either the Short Version or the Long Version and decide what programs to cut, increase, or hold steady. Good luck! It's not as easy as it seems!
The watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste often produces reports about congressional public works programs they refer to as pork barrel spending.
TheCapital.Net provides a brief but informative run-down of historical and current congressional pay and perquisites.
The Library of Congress has for fifty years provided a guide to How Our Laws Are Made. This update is authored by the U.S. House Parliamentarian, who is the resident expert on congressional procedures.
The House leadership offices web pages provide very different views of the business of the U.S. House. Compare the Speaker of the House's statement on political issues with the Democratic leader's statement on the same political issues.