Publisher's Synopsis
Will some form of direct democracy supplant representative, deliberative government in the 21st-century United States? This is the question at the heart of Donald R. Wolfensberger's history of Congress and congressional reform, which runs back to the Constitution's creation of a popularly elected House of Representatives and forward to the surreal ending of the 105th Congress, featuring barrels of pork, resignation of the speaker, and impeachment of the president.;The author's expertise comes from 28 years as a staff member in the House, culminating in service as chief of staff of the powerful House Rules Committee. He was a top parliamentary expert and a principal Republican procedural strategist. Sensitive to the power of process, Wolfensberger is an authoritative guide to reform efforts of earlier eras. As a participant in reforms since the 1960s, he offers a perspective on forging the "1970s sunshine coalition", televising House proceedings, debating term limits, and coping with democracy in an electronic age.
