Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process

If you are new to the Hill, this book is a must desk-side companion. It is a practical guide that steers a Hill staffer through the rules, norms and processes of the Capitol complex. The House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are institutions where knowledge of process is more highly regarded than understanding the issues under debate. Olezek underscores that fact. His book has been must reading for congressional staff for a generation, and it continues to be the first among equals today. Anyone thinking of working on the Hill or studying U.S. legislative processes would do well to begin here.

A great resource for everyone from new lobbyists to people interested in knowing more about how their government works.

I'm a chief of staff to a Member of the House of Representatives. I give a copy of this book to every new staffer who comes to work in our office, and tell them it's mandatory reading. Simply put: Mr. Oleszek's book is the single best reference out there for students and citizens wanting to learn about the ins and outs of how a bill becomes a law. What makes the book a must-read is not just the author's experise in understanding how Congress works, but also his ability to write extremely readable prose.