A Better Congress: Change the Rules, Change the Results: A Modest Proposal - Citizen's Guide to Legislative Reform

A Better Congress: Change the Rules, Change the Results, by Joseph Gibson, is a comprehensive look at the reasons that Congress does not work well and real solutions that can make Congress work better.

Joseph Gibson has worked in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government, including serving as chief antitrust counsel and chief minority counsel to the House Judiciary Committee.

Includes the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

"Joseph Gibson has produced a book that offers real insight into the pressures and problems that underpin modern congressional processes and has offered a series of innovative ideas to deal with those pressures and problems. One need not agree with all of his proposed solutions to get real value from Gibson's book because what he has produced is a template for thinking about new ways to address the dysfunction that pervades Capitol Hill."

-- Robert Walker, Wexler & Walker, Washington, DC

"In A Better Congress, Joseph Gibson has produced a telling critique of Congress and its inability to perform the job required of it by the Constitution and its constituents. He offers a series of bold proposals to change the way Congress does its work - certain to kick off a complicated, contentious and difficult argument in Washington. Whether you agree or disagree with his solutions, get involved in this vital discussion!"

-- Chuck Cushman, Acting Executive Director, Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), The George Washington University

Table of Contents

Introduction - Those Who Come to Congress Become Congress

Part I: Why Congress Does Not Work Well

Ch. 1 The Fortress of Incumbency

Ch. 2 The Ordeal of a Campaign

Ch. 3 The Skills Mismatch

Ch. 4 The Congressional Bubble

Ch. 5 Procedures Designed to Divide

Ch. 6 The Drive for Reelection

Ch. 7 "Accomplishments"

Ch. 8 Crisis: An Opportunity to Waste

Ch. 9 Third Rails

II. How to Fix Congress

A. Solutions for Both Chambers

Ch. 10 Temporary Duty

Ch. 11 All Cards on the Table

Ch. 12 Back to Reality

Ch. 13 Focus, Focus, Focus

Ch. 14 Reading is Fundamental

Ch. 15 A Purpose-Driven Minority

Ch. 16 The Committee on Repeal

B. Solutions Specific to the Senate

Ch. 17 Just Do It

Ch. 18 Hurry Up and Wait

C. Solutions Specific to the House

Ch. 19 Be It Ever So Humble

Ch. 20 Other People's Money

Ch. 21 Conclusion - Solutions, Solutions Everywhere, But...

Appendix

A. How the Figures for Numbers of Laws and Bills Used in this Book Were Derived

B. Declaration of Independence

C. U.S. Constitution and Amendments

Index

Complete Table of Contents online at www.ABetterCongress.com