Donald A. Ritchie is Historian Emeritus of the U.S. Senate. He worked for forty years at the Senate Historical Office, where he conducted an oral history program and did historical editing, such as the previously closed hearings of Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. A former president of the Oral History Association, he has also been a member of the councils of the American Historical Association and the International Oral History Association. His other books include Our Constitution, The Oxford Guide to the United States Government, Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents, Reporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps, Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932, and The Columnist: Leaks, Lies, and Libel in Drew Pearson's Washington.

This book will take you on a historical and political tour of the Capitol, what goes on there, and along the way you will learn the meaning of representative democracy." - Ray Smock, Director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education

• Preface1 The great compromise2 Campaigns and constituents3 In committee4 On the floor5 Checks and balances6 The Capitol complexReferencesFurther readingIndex

Donald A. Ritchie is Historian Emeritus of the U.S. Senate. He worked for forty years at the Senate Historical Office, where he conducted an oral history program and did historical editing, such as the previously closed hearings of Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy. A former president of the Oral History Association, he has also been a member of the councils of the American Historical Association and the International Oral History Association. His other books include Our Constitution, The Oxford Guide to the United States Government, Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents, Reporting from Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps, Electing FDR: The New Deal Campaign of 1932, and The Columnist: Leaks, Lies, and Libel in Drew Pearson's Washington.

This book will take you on a historical and political tour of the Capitol, what goes on there, and along the way you will learn the meaning of representative democracy." - Ray Smock, Director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education

• Preface1 The great compromise2 Campaigns and constituents3 In committee4 On the floor5 Checks and balances6 The Capitol complexReferencesFurther readingIndex