More than 200 articles, conveniently arranged alphabetically, provide a concise and easy-to-use guide to the people, issues, vocabulary, and activities of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. With gavel-to-gavel coverage now available on any cable TV, students will welcome this informative and entertaining tour of our Congress and its procedures, historical origins, and 200-year evolution of modern legislative practices.Fully illustrated and using first-person observation excerpted from memoirs, oral histories, committee hearings, and debates in the Congressional Record, the entries capture the drama, humor, triumphs, and tragedies of congressional history. Cross-referencing, suggestions for further reading, photos, artifacts, and cartoons make this complete, up-to-date, and refreshing look at Congress an essential resource for young adults, librarians, teachers, and parents.