How Washington Actually Works For Dummies

Get the inside scoop on the most powerful city on Earth

How Washington Actually Works For Dummies isn′t a dry explanation of the American system of government but a playbook for how the policymaking process really works: who has a seat at the table, who is on the outside wielding influence, and who implements policy after it′s approved. It takes you inside the political process in Washington, discusses how the government′s power has grown through the years, and explains how the parts fit together.

Washington′s past and present get a brief history of the city from its humble beginnings to its emergence as a seat of true power, and find out what life in D.C. is really like today The men and women behind the curtain acquaint yourself with federal bureaucrats, from the Executive Office of the President to the Cabinet to the federal agency workers who keep the government running Professional persuaders discover the ins and outs of what lobbyists do, what rights they have, and how they influence Washington The Oval Office glimpse the day–to–day inner workings of the White House and how the president works with Congress, lobbyists, media, and constituents

Open the book and find:

Who really wields power in Washington Why the president′s influence is limited How a good policy idea can become a law How to spot a federal worker Tips for getting your foot in the door in D.C. What think tanks, activists, and other D.C. players do Ten ways to influence policymaking

Learn to:

Grasp what it′s like behind the scenes in the most powerful city on Earth Experience a day in the life of Congress Discover the workings of the White House Make sense of how policy ideas are born

Introduction 1

Chapter 1: A Brief History of Washington 5

Chapter 2: The People behind the Curtain: Federal Bureaucrats 23

Chapter 3: Professional Persuaders: Lobbyists 35

Chapter 4: Other Voices in the Debate: Outsiders, Gatecrashers, and Wallflowers 51

Chapter 5: Congress 67

Chapter 6: The Presidency 81

Chapter 7: Policymaking 95

Chapter 8: Ten Ways to Participate in Washington Policymaking 113

Greg Rushford has been observing Washington′s political scene since 1967 first as a student, then as a congressional aide during the 1970s, and, in recent decades, as a journalist who specializes in the politics of international trade and diplomacy.