Congressional Deskbook
2003-2004 Edition
108th Congress by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider
Published by TheCapitol.Net
The Congressional Deskbook is the most comprehensive,
one- volume guide ever produced about the U.S. Congress, providing government
professionals, journalists and citizens both a complete resource for
understanding the inner-workings of our legislative branch and an up-to-date
almanac of the current Congress.
The Congressional Deskbook is full of information that no
one else has ever compiled in one volume. This book is a must-buy for political
reporters, congressional offices, federal employees, government professionals
and any citizen who wants to know how their government works.
The Congressional Deskbook covers all the bases, including
legislative and budget processes; special procedures and procedural strategies;
the forms and impact of political competition on Capitol Hill; overviews
of the election, lobbying, and ethics laws and rules that regulate congressional
behavior; congressional relations with the president, executive branch,
federal courts, and states; the work of membership, leadership and administrative
offices; the variety of congressional documents; and how to conduct research
on Congress. New in the 2003-2004 edition: Budget Process Flowchart, a
significantly revised Budget chapter, and a revised Legislative Research
chapter!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1: Being a Member of Congress
2: Pressures on Congress: Campaigns and Elections
3: Pressures on Congress: Constituents, Media, President, and Courts
4: Pressures on Congress: Lobbying and Congressional Ethics
5: Supporting Congress: Allowances and Staff
6: Supporting Congress: The Capitol Complex
7: Organizing Congress: Members, Leaders, and Committees
8: Legislating in Congress: Legislative Process
9: Legislating in Congress: Federal Budget Process
10: Legislating in Congress: Special Procedures and Considerations
11: Congressional Documents: Overview, Legislation, and Laws
12: Congressional Documents: Committee, Chamber, Party, and Administrative
Publications
13: Legislative Research: Private and Government Information Providers
14: Legislative Research: How to Monitor and Research Congress
15: Putting It All Together: A Working Example
Glossary
Appendices (Congressional Room and Telephone Directories)
Table of Web Sites
Index
"Chock full of information that
no one else has ever pulled together. It will prove valuable to anyone
who has an interest in the legislative branch."
"No personal, professional, academic,
or community library political science collection can be considered
complete without the inclusion of the Congressional Deskbook." -- Wisconsin Bookwatch
Congressional Deskbook
2003-2004 Edition / 108th Congress
by Michael J. Koempel and Judy Schneider
INTRODUCTION
Can you say Kleczka? How about Faleomavaega? The excerpt
that follows is from the massive new book, Congressional Deskbook
2003-2004. It is a guide to the pronunciation of difficult Congressional
names, including representatives, senators, delegates, and others who
wield influence on Capitol Hill.
The authors of the Congressional Deskbook work for the nonpartisan
Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress.
They begin the Guide to Pronunciation of Congressional Names with an eloquent
statement about the incredibly open legislative process in the United States.
Yes, YOU can influence Congress at almost any stage of the legislative
process -- BUT you're only going to get a few minutes to state your case.
You might want to start by getting the name right.
The Congressional Deskbook is an amazing resource treasured by
Congressional insiders and, therefore, coveted by people who want to influence
them. It provides a stunning array of detailed information to make your
five minutes matter. More information about the Congressional Deskbook
2003-2004 follows the excerpt.
Guide to Frequently Mispronounced Congressional Names
by Michael J. Koempel and Judy Schneider
Preface: Congress as an Open Institution
The founding fathers created an open institution, and the men and women
who have served in Congress have fostered that openness. The Capitol
and congressional office buildings are physically open to visitors every
day. Even with the increased security concerns following the tragic events
in the fall of 2001, Congress has tried to accommodate its own and the
citizenry's desire to meet and visit and observe in the Capitol and the
congressional office buildings.
All but a few committee meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend,
and the rules of the House and Senate essentially require meetings to be
open. One can sit in the House and Senate visitors' galleries and watch
floor proceedings, or stay at home or at the office and watch the proceedings
live on television.
Journalists have ready access to members, committee meetings, and floor
proceedings, and report news in every medium. Votes cast by individual
members in committee and on the House floor are readily available to the
public in both congressional documents and private publications.
Congress is open through its individual members and their Washington and
district or state staffs. Anyone can request a meeting with his or her
representative or senator, and will be accommodated if at all possible.
A constituent, a lobbyist, or an administration representative will be
received; virtually no caller is turned away. With its openness, Congress
mediates between the federal government and the American people.
Frequently Mispronounced Congressional Names (Alphabetical by last name)
Michael L. Koempel is a Senior
Specialist in American National Government and Judy Schneider is
a Specialist on Congress, both with the Congressional Research Service
(CRS) in the Library of Congress.
TheCapitol.Net is a non-partisan
firm based in the Washington, D.C., area offering legislative, budget,
media, writing and research training and information for government
and business leaders, and the exclusive provider of Congressional Quarterly
Executive Conferences.
Author Profiles 
