Welcome to our book review site go-pdf.online!
You may have to Search all our reviewed books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
Congress Overwhelmed
Congress today is falling short. Fewer bills, worse oversight, and more dysfunction. But why? In a new volume of essays, the contributors investigate an underappreciated reason Congress is struggling: it doesn’t have the internal capacity to do what our constitutional system requires of it. Leading scholars chronicle the institutional decline of Congress and the decades-long neglect of its own internal investments in the knowledge and expertise necessary to perform as a first-rate legislature. Today’s legislators and congressional committees have fewer—and less expert and experienced—staff than the executive branch or K Street. This leaves them at the mercy of lobbyists and the administrative bureaucracy. The essays in Congress Overwhelmed assess Congress’s declining capacity and explore ways to upgrade it. Some provide broad historical scope. Others evaluate the current decay and investigate how Congress manages despite the obstacles. Collectively, they undertake the most comprehensive, sophisticated appraisal of congressional capacity to date, and they offer a new analytical frame for thinking about—and improving—our underperforming first branch of government.
Congress Overwhelmed
Congress today is falling short. Fewer bills, worse oversight, and more dysfunction. But why? In a new volume of essays, the contributors investigate an underappreciated reason Congress is struggling: it doesn’t have the internal capacity to do what our constitutional system requires of it. Leading scholars chronicle the institutional decline of Congress and the decades-long neglect of its own internal investments in the knowledge and expertise necessary to perform as a first-rate legislature. Today’s legislators and congressional committees have fewer—and less expert and experienced—staff than the executive branch or K Street. This leaves them at the mercy of lobbyists and the administrative bureaucracy. The essays in Congress Overwhelmed assess Congress’s declining capacity and explore ways to upgrade it. Some provide broad historical scope. Others evaluate the current decay and investigate how Congress manages despite the obstacles. Collectively, they undertake the most comprehensive, sophisticated appraisal of congressional capacity to date, and they offer a new analytical frame for thinking about—and improving—our underperforming first branch of government.
Congressional Charter of the American National Red Cross
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. This review has been prompted by questions regarding the performance of the Amer. Nat. Red Cross (ANRC) in response to Hurricane Katrina. It examines the congressional charter of the ANRC. The report provides an overview, history, and analysis of the present charter. This focus on the ANRC¿s charter is justified on two counts. First, the charter sets forth a corp. organ¿l. structure, goals, and the means for governmental oversight of its activities. Second, the charter is the aspect of the ANRC that is most under control of Congress. Contents of this report: Intro.; Charter of the ANRC: Overview and History; Analysis: Mission of the ANRC; Nature and Powers of the ANRC; Oversight of the ANRC; ANRC Governance and Coord. with the Fed. Gov¿t.
Ronald Reagan and Education Policy
Ronald Reagan entered the presidency promising to return K-12 education policy back to states and localities. Ironically, Reagan ended up both expanding and legitimizing the federal role in America's schools. How did this happen? Kevin R. Kosar answers this riddle and provides a concise introduction to Ronald Reagan's surprising education record. This short book has 42 pages with 7,600 words, 6 figures, 57 end notes, and a list of suggested resources for further study. Kevin R. Kosar received his Ph.D. in politics from New York University. He is the author of the book Failing Grades: The Federal Politics of Education (2005) and the creator of the Federal Education Policy History website.
Failing Grades
In the past fifteen years, presidents from two parties, supported by parents, teachers, and civic leaders have tried - and generally failed - to increase student achievement through federal policymaking. Supposedly pathbreaking legislation to leave no child behind has hardly made a dent in the problem. What is going on? Kevin R. Kosar delves into the political maneuvering behind the crafting of federal education standards. Drawing on a wealth of evidence, Kosar makes a strong case for vigorous federal action to raise standards. Then, turning to the real world of Washington, he shows how politics has thwarted smart policy - and how we are left with the present milquetoast reforms, which talk tough but deliver little. He concludes with sober proposals for education policies that, while not aiming at perfection, have a chance of surviving political attacks from both the right and the left.
Moonshine
You might think moonshine only comes from ramshackle stills hidden away in the Appalachian Mountains, but the fact of the matter is we’ve been improvising spirits all around the world for centuries. No matter where you go, there is a local bootleg liquor, whether it’s bathtub gin, peatreek, or hjemmebrent. In this book, Kevin R. Kosar tells the colorful and, at times, blinding history of moonshine, a history that’s always been about the people: from crusading lawmen and clever tinkerers to sly smugglers and ruthless gangsters, from pontificating poets and mountain men to beleaguered day-laborers and foolhardy frat boys. Kosar first surveys all the things we’ve made moonshine from, in...
U. S. Postal Service's Financial Condition
Provides an overview of the U.S. Postal Service¿s (USPS) financial condition, recent legislation to alleviate the USPS¿s financial challenges, and issues for the 111th Congress. Since 1971, the USPS has been a self-supporting gov¿t. agency that covers its operating costs with revenues generated through the sales of postage and related products and services. Recently, the USPS has experienced significant financial challenges. Contents: (1) Background; (2) Financial Difficulties, FY 2006-09: (3) FY 2010 Financial Condition; (4) Issues for Congress: Increasing Revenues: Altering Postage Rates; Reducing Costs; Reducing Pension Costs; Reducing the USPS¿s Retail and Nonretail Facilities; Reducing Mail Delivery from 6 to 5 Days/Week. Illus.
Postal Reform
None
Whiskey
A Manhattan or a Sazerac; neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of soda—no matter how it’s served up, whiskey is synonymous with the poet’s inspiration and the devil’s spirit. Be it bourbon, rye, corn, Irish, or Scotch, whiskey has an infamous and celebrated history from a sometimes lethal, herb-infused concoction to a high-quality, meticulously crafted liquor. In Whiskey, Kevin R. Kosardelivers an informative, concise narrative of the drink’s history, from its obscure medieval origins to the globally traded product that it is today. Focusing on three nations—Scotland, Ireland, and America—Kosarcharts how the technique of distillation moved from ancient Egypt to the British Isle...
