The definitive work on how congressional rules, procedures, and traditions affect the course and content of legislation, the fundamentals of lawmaking are made clear in Oleszeks straight talking, informative book. Updates to this new edition spotlight the use of innovative procedural devices by both parties to achieve their goals, a reassessment of the role of conference committees in reconciling bicameral differences, and heightened use of old and new oversight mechanisms to check and balance executive actions and activities.