American Congressional Dictionary, 3d Edition

From Absence of a Quorum to Zone Whip, this handy desk reference volume aides librarians, students, and adults with more then 900 entries defining terms and expressions in use in today's U.S. Congress. No other single, compact volume provides quick answers to confusing terms that occur daily in Congress and political debate in Washington. For example: Hopper -- a box on the clerk's desk in the House into which members deposit proposed bills; Queen of the Hill Rule -- A House rule allowing votes on a series of amendments to a bill but directs that the amendment with the most votes wins, even if others also received a majority.

American Congressional Dictionary was written originally by Walter Kravitz, who was senior expert on Congress with the Congressional Research Service. Since his death, the volume has been updated by former CRS colleagues and now serves as the official definition guide for CRS experts.