Preface -- [Pt.] 1. The role of Congress. Why Congress exists ; Core principle: sovereignty of the people ; Core principle: balancing powers in government ; Congress and the President ; Why federalism works ; Key power: passing the basic laws of the land ; Key power: controlling the purse ; Key power: shaping foreign policy ; Congress and individual liberties ; The roots of our success -- [Pt.] 2. The impact of Congress. Congress and the fabric of our lives ; Government's greatest endeavors ; An ordinary day ; Congress does more work than meets the eye ; A balanced view of Congress ; Members of Congress who had an impact -- [Pt.] 3. How Congress works. A complex institution ; An evolving institution ; The many roles of a member of Congress ; Representing constituents ; How a bill really becomes law ; Why we need more politicians ; Power in Congress ; The House and the Senate ; The awesome responsibility of voting ; The frustrations and rewards of Congress -- [Pt.] 4. Public criticisms of Congress. "Legislators are a bunch of crooks" ; "There's too much wasteful, pork-barrel spending by Congress" ; "Legislators just bicker and never get anything done" ; "You can't trust what members of Congress say" ; "Congress almost seems designed to promote total gridlock" ; "Members of Congress compromise too much" ; "There's too much money in politics today" ; "Members are out of touch with their constituents" ; "Congress is run by lobbyists and special interests" ; Conclusion -- [Pt.] 5. Key ways Congress could work better. Declining civility ; The importance of good process ; Better White House/Congress consultation ; True congressional oversight ; Improving ethics enforcement ; Thinking about the future ; The money chase ; Improving public understanding of Congress ; Tackling the tough issues ; Congress and the common good ; Conclusion -- [Pt.] 6. Civic participation. A failure to communicate ; Being more involved in the work of Congress ; The cornerstones of active citizenship ; Making your views known to Congress ; Individuals who have made a difference ; Can the people govern? ; Strengthening representative democracy -- Appendix: communicating with Congress.