The Congress dictionary: the ways and meanings of Capitol Hill.With a special foreword by the Honorable Thomas P. "Tip" ONeill, Jr. With research assistance by Charles D. Poe
by By Dickson, Paul and Clancy, Paul
Category: Political Science , American Government , Legislative Branch

In The Congress Dictionary, renowned word maven Paul Dickson and veteran congressional reporter Paul Clancy serve up a generous portion of the "rich stew of history" that is, according to former House speaker Tip O'Neill, the vocabulary of Congress.Encyclopedic reference, political junkie's handbook, browser's delight, The Congress Dictionary tackles the language of Capitol Hill on its own terms, by turns ribald and witty, subtle and clear. With definitions of more than 3,000 terms, phrases, names, and symbols, the Dictionary is an indispensable resource for reporters, researchers, students of government, and just about anyone interested in the ways and language of American government and the high-stakes game of national politics.Including terms such as wonk, tree-huggers, guardians of gridlock, death-squad Democrat, supply-side economics, College of Cardinals, and Beltway bandit, the entries encompass the provocative and the sublime, stodgy legalese and racy cloakroom banter. Ranging from the beginnings of the Republic to the Clinton administration, each entry imparts valuable information while telling its own unique and fascinating story.Exhaustive etymologies - three pages devoted to "caucus" alone - include narrative historical accounts and amusing anecdotes that reveal as much about the history and evolution of American politics as about the words themselves.Throughout, the text is lavishly supplemented with marginalia containing intriguing facts - for instance, congressional pay scales from 1789 to the present - colorful quips, and more than 100 illustrations, including vintage political cartoons, archive photos, and historical artifacts - everything from a facsimile ticket to the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson, to a news photo of President Clinton making his first pilgrimage to Capitol Hill.In addition to defining the words, names, and phrases used in the day-to-day workings of our government's liveliest branch, Dickson and Clancy explain the most arcane and complex legislative procedures in plain English.An A-to-Z treasure trove of information, a researcher's dream, and a pundit's delight, The Congress Dictionary is the definitive reference work for political insiders and outsiders, those who want to know and those who need to know what is going on at the center of American government and politics.