In Still Struggling, Charles Cushman provides a brief yet comprehensive introduction to the complicated process of formulating national security policy in the United States. Beginning with an historical discussion of the origins of the notion of "shared powers," Cushman illustrates how this doctrine invites a struggle between an executive and legislative branch and how that struggle has resulted in a complicated institutional framework that evolved into the modern national security apparatus during the Cold War. He then traces the evolution of the network of agencies that perform the national security tasks including the Department of Defense, the State Department, the national intelligence agencies, and the Department of Homeland Security. Examining every major aspect of US security policy including defense policy, intelligence policy, foreign policy, and homeland security policy, Cushman shows how the current structures struggle not only with each other, but also with dealing with the challenges facing the nation today. He concludes with a scorecard on the system's performance, and offers suggestions for Congress and the White House that would help them to meet the challenges of today (and tomorrow) more effectively.
Offers an introduction to Congress and the role it plays in the US political system. Written by a former Congressional staff member, this book includes boxed features on Congressional action - highlighting such topics as file sharing and student loans - that show students how Congress's work affects their lives.
What does Congress do? How does it do it? Why is it such a complicated institution? This concise primer offers students and general readers a brief and systematic introduction to Congress and the role it plays in the US political system. Drawing on his experience as a former Congressional staff member, the author explores the different political natures of the House and Senate, examines Congress's interaction with other branches of the Federal government, and looks ahead to the domestic and foreign challenges that are likely to drive the Congressional agenda for decades to come. The book provides revealing insights into the sometimes-contradictory Congressional responsibilities of representation and lawmaking; oversight and appropriation; and managing and organizing the government. It includes a case study (on the formation of the Department of Homeland Security) that sheds light on Congress's often-complicated procedures. The book also includes boxed features on Congressional action - highlighting such topics as file sharing and student loans - that show students how Congress's work affects their lives. Chapter-ending lists of web resources add to the book's usefulness.
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