Congressional Quarterly Almanac

Description of publication

If you want to know what's happening on Capitol Hill, you'd best get familiar with Congressional Quarterly (CQ) because it reports it all. Anyone interested in politics and business needs to know about this almanac. It's a big book, well over a thousand pages, that draws on reporting and writing done throughout the year by the staffs of the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report and the Congressional Monitor. Congressional Quarterly, Inc., is a publishing and information services company and a recognized leader in political journalism. As of this publication date, CQ is in the 51st edition, chronicling the course of major legislation and national politics in the first session of the 104th Congress. (CQ back issues to 1983 are on the Web.)

The volume includes the following major elements, for example:

• "Inside Congress." The first chapter provides an overview of the year, recounting, for example, the Republicans' takeover of both chambers Congress. The chapter usually includes statistical information on the session and stories, such as the unique role played by Speaker Newt Gingrich (R, Ga.), about the House and Senate members. Legislation governing Congress as a whole, such as workplace compliance, term limits, and lobbying disclosure, are also included.
• "Legislative Chapters." The next section (nine chapters in this edition) covers the session's legislative action on economics and finance, government and commerce, social policy, defense, and foreign policy.
• "Appropriations." Usually one chapter contains separate stories detailing the substance and legislative history of each of the 13 regular appropriations bills, as well as an overview of the appropriations process, including the breakdown in negotiations, for example, that twice closed much of the federal government in 1996.
• "Political Report." One chapter covers redistricting, special elections, and governors' races.
• "Appendixes." The volume also includes appendixes on the following topics:
• "Glossary." A 10-page glossary of terms used in Congress
• "Congress and Its Members." A description of the legislative process, membership lists for all committees and subcommittees, and characteristics of Congress.
• "Vote Studies." Analyses of presidential support, party unity and conservative coalitions patterns, as well as key votes of that particular year.
• "Texts." Key presidential and other texts.
• "Public Laws." A complete listing of public laws enacted during the session.
• "Roll Call Votes." A complete set of roll call vote charts for the House and the Senate during the session.

Another source dealing with comprehensive congressional information is the Congressional Digest (ISSN 0010-5899), published by The Congressional Digest Corporation, (202) 333-7332. According to the editors, since 1921 and for three generations, the Congressional Digest has continued the tradition set by its founder, Alice Gram Robinson, and her dream of educating fellow citizens by providing an "impartial view of controversial issues in Congress." The masthead proclaims that the Congressional Digest is "an independent monthly featuring controversies in Congress, Pro & Con. Not an official organ, not controlled by any party, interest, class or sect." Basically, these folks would like you to know that their perspective on Congress is unbiased, which in Washington is saying a lot. Alice Robinson is a unique personality and provides interesting reading for any young woman (or man) looking for a hero. One of her intentions in founding the CD was to inform the woman voter by featuring "opposing views on controversial national questions in facing columns."

Another almanac that could help you navigate the global business and foreign policy community in Washington is The Washington Almanac of International Trade & Business (see Chapter 30).

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Congressional Quarterly Almanac

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