Congress Today examines the legislative process and legislative outputs from three interrelated perspectives: the social and political setting of Congress; the structure and rules of Congress as an organization; and the interests, motives, and strategies of policy advocates. Using a wide range of historical and contemporary examples of policy-making, the authors provide an in-depth examination of Congress and the politics of making national legislation. Rich in detail on the intrigues and manipulations that take place behind the scenes, the book examines legislative behavior in the larger context of how power is distributed in the United States.