A Better Congress: Change the Rules, Change the Results

Joseph Henry Gibson

The Capitol Net Inc, 2010 - 152 pages

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.

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 https://www.thecapitol.net/Publications/ABetterCongress.html

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• Part I Why Congress Does Not Work Well: 11
• Ch 1 The Fortress of Incumbency: 13
• Ch 2 The Ordeals of a Campaign: 21
• Ch 3 The Skills Mismatch: 25
• Ch 4 The Congressional Bubble: 31
• Ch 5 Procedures Designed to Divide: 35
• Ch 6 The Drive for Reelection: 39
• Ch 7 Accomplishments: 43
• An Opportunity to Waste: 47
• Ch 9 Third Rails: 51
• Part II How to Fix Congress: 55
• Ch 10 Temporary Duty: 57
• Ch 11 All Cards on the Table: 63
• Ch 12 Back to Reality: 67
• Ch 13 Focus Focus Focus: 71
• Ch 14 Reading Is Fundamental: 77
• Ch 15 A PurposeDriven Minority: 81
• Ch 16 The Committee on Repeals: 85
• Ch 17 Just Do It: 89
• Ch 18 Hurry Up and Wait: 93
• Ch 19 Be It Ever So Humble: 99
• Ch 20 Other Peoples Money: 103
• Ch 21 ConclusionSolutions Solutions Everywhere But: 109
• Appendices: 111
• Appendix A: 113
• Appendix B Declaration of Independence: 115
• Appendix C US Constitution: 121
• Index: 147
• Back Cover: 153

About the author

JOSEPH GIBSON has worked in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government. He has lobbied members of Congress and their staffs, advocated on behalf of the executive branch, and argued cases in federal and state courts.

He grew up in Waycross, Georgia, and then attended Yale University, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science. After graduation, he spent a year working as a staff member on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He then went to Yale Law School, where he earned his JD degree.

After law school, he clerked for the Hon. R. Lanier Anderson, III, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Macon, Georgia. He then returned to Washington where he spent the next six and a half years as a litigator with private law firms.

In 1995 Mr. Gibson was appointed as an antitrust counsel for the House Judiciary Committee under Chairman Henry Hyde of Illinois. From there, he rose to chief antitrust counsel for the committee. In 2002 he became a deputy assistant attorney general representing the legislative interests of the Department of Justice.

In 2003, he returned to the House Judiciary Committee as its chief legislative counsel and parliamentarian under Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin. After two years there, he became chief of staff to Representative Lamar Smith of Texas. After the 2006 election, he became chief minority counsel of the House Judiciary Committee. He is now in the private sector where he lobbies on antitrust, intellectual property, and other business issues. Prior to establishing his own firm, The Gibson Group, he practiced with the law firm of Constantine Cannon LLC.

He is the author of Persuading Congress.

He and his wife, Heath, live in Washington and New York with their daughter. The views expressed in A Better Congress are entirely his own and do not necessarily represent those of any other person or group. 

Bibliographic information

• Title: A Better Congress: Change the Rules, Change the Results
• Author: Joseph Henry Gibson
• Publisher: The Capitol Net Inc, 2010
• ISBN: 1587332361, 9781587332364
• Length: 152 pages