Overview Chapter

This chapter examines Congress, beginning with congressional elections and organization, and concludes with congressional policymaking. The following points are emphasized:

• Congressional elections tend to have a strong local orientation and to favor incumbents (particularly House members) who have traditionally had a substantial advantage in election campaigns.
• Although party leaders in Congress provide collective leadership, the work of Congress is done mainly through its committees and subcommittees, each of which has its separate leadership and policy jurisdiction.
• Congress lacks the direction and organization required for the development of comprehensive national policies, but is well organized to handle policies of relatively narrow scope. At times, Congress takes the lead on broad national issues but ordinarily does not do so.