Guide to Congress

v. 1. pt. 1. Origins and development of Congress: ch. 1. Constitutional beginnings

ch. 2. History of the House

ch. 3. History of the Senate

pt. 2. Powers of Congress: ch. 4. Power of the purse

ch. 5. Foreign policy powers

ch. 6. Congressional investigations

ch. 7. Senate's confirmation power

ch. 8. Regulation of commerce

ch. 9. Impeachment power

ch. 10. Constitutional amendments

ch. 11. Power to select the President

ch. 12. Seat of government

ch. 13. Miscellaneous powers

pt. 3. Congressional procedures:

ch. 14. Party leadership in Congress

ch. 15. Legislative process

ch. 16. Committee system

ch. 17. Congressional staff

pt. 4. Pressures on Congress: ch. 18. Constituency pressures

ch. 19. Media

ch. 20. Internal pressures

ch. 21. President

ch. 22. Supreme Court

ch. 23. Lobbying

v. 2. pt. 5. Housing and support: ch. 24. Capitol and office buildings

ch. 25. Library of Congress

ch. 26. Supporting organizations

pt. 6. Pay and perquisites: ch. 27. Pay and honoraria

ch. 28. Allowances and other benefits

pt. 7. Congress and the Electorate: ch. 29. Who elects Congress

ch. 30. Political parties and elections

ch. 31. Who gets elected

ch. 32. Campaign financing

ch. 33. Reapportionment and redistricting

pt. 8. Qualifications and conduct: ch. 34. Seating and disciplining members

ch. 35. Ethics and criminal prosecutions

Appendix A: Constitution of the United States

Acts of Congress held unconstitutional

Rules of the House of Representatives, 110th Congress

Standing rules of the Senate, 110th Congress

Glossary of Congressional terms

How a bill becomes a law

Political party affiliations in Congress and the Presidency, 1789-2007

Election results, Congress and the Presidency, 1860-2007

Speakers of the House of Representatives, 1789-2007

House Floor leaders, 1899-2007

Senate Floor leaders, 1911-2007

Congressional Committee Chairs since 1947

Members of Congress who became President

Women members of Congress, 1917-2007

Black members of Congress, 1870-2007

Hispanic members of Congress, 1877-2007

Recorded votes in the House and Senate, 1947-2006

Attempted and successful cloture votes, 1919-2007

House Discharge Petitions since 1931

Sessions of the U.S. Congress, 1789-2007

Lame Duck sessions since 1945

Longest sessions of Congress

Joint sessions, joint meetings, and inaugurations, 1789-2006

Special sessions of the Senate, 1789-1933

Extraordinary sessions of Congress since 1797

Congressional information on the Internet

Capitol floor plan

Map of Capitol Hill

Appendix B: Members of Congress, 1789-2007.