Since its first edition, Congress Reconsidered was designed to make available the best contemporary work from leading congressional scholars in a form that is both challenging and accessible to undergraduates.

For almost four decades, Lawrence C. Dodd and Bruce I. Oppenheimer have delivered on this goal. With their Twelfth Edition, this tradition continues as contributing authors focus on how various aspects of Congress have changed over time: Lawrence Evans and Wendy Schiller discuss the U.S. Senate and the meaning of dysfunction; Molly E. Reynolds analyzes the politics of the budget and appropriations process in a polarized Congress; and Danielle M. Thomsen looks at the role of women and voter preferences in the 2018 elections. With a strong new focus on political polarization, this bestselling volume remains on the cutting edge with key insights into the workings of Congress.