This volume, the second of a multi-volume reference work, presents county and district demographic data and the geographical location of American congressional districts between 1789 and 1942. Volume II is considerably different from its predecessor, United States Congressional Districts, 1788-1841 (Greenwood Press, 1978), largely due to the increasing amount of census information available during successive decades in the 19th century. United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843-1883 emphasizes the statistical description of districts, including occupational categories and agricultural output, as well as racial and other characteristics of the population. Thus, it reflects the increasing usefulness to social scientists of the United States census. References to individual congressmen have been eliminated in this volume, and the bulk of it is devoted to aggregating data by each district. Presenting these data at the county level should enable researchers to get a better feeling for the data and to visualize, through maps, the variations within each district.
In this book, the third of the five trade books for the Institutions of Democracy project, Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein argue that congress faces a crisis of self-identity and role in the American Constitutional System. Congress is supposed to be the driving force behind policy in the nation and a vital check and balance against the executive, but it is neither, particularly under the current administration. As with other books in this series Mann and Ornstein will examine the
first principles of the intended role of the legislative branch, look throughout history at how congress has fulfilled this role, and consider what can be done to improve it and bring it back to its original purpose.
“A great book - the real inside story. If you want to understand the Obama White House and how Washington works, you have to read it.” (Chris Matthews )
“Best account yet of how Obama strategizes.” (Jefferson Morley, Salon.com )
“A dramatic behind-the-scenes account of the decision making that occured within the Obama White House following the disastrous-for-Democrats 2010 midterm election... shows how Obama got his groove back in time for the 2012 campaign.” (Huffington Post )
“Through the lens of policy battles, you get a remarkably vivid pen portrait of Obama himself and how he thinks.” (Kevin Drum, Mother Jones )
“Fine book about how the Obama administration maneuvered to it’s advantage in the face of the catastrophic loses of the 2010 midterm elections.” (Charles P. Pierce, Esquire )
“Why did Obama and Democrats pivot so hard towards deficit reductions, and away from job creation after the 2010 elections? We now have a book that sheds some fresh light on what drove this pivot. ... Corn reports on a number of behind the scene discussions...illuminating.” (Greg Sargent, the Washington Post )
“ Showdown focuses on key moments of Obama’s presidency.” (Mackenzie Weinger, Politico.com )
“Insta-history of Obama... good.” (David Weigel, Slate.com )
“Showdown chronicles the administration over the past two years.” (USA Today )
“Veteran Washington journalist Corn highlights the Obama presidency’s most important and dramatic events ... the book brings a different perspective just as Obama fights for re-election.” (Publishers Weekly )
