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Congressional quarterly's desk reference on American government
484
Reviews
clearly intended for those whose experience with this kind of product is little to none. Thus, its textbook style is heavy with definition and example. Readers will notice its clear effort to avoid jargon. POPMAP is essentially an nonintimidating, generalist approach to spreadsheet mapping. It is easy to master and flexible enough for the modest needs of most potential users. When offered as a package, including the Tutorial and Guide, POPMAP is nearly self-teaching. It could be a useful tool in locations that serve clientele of varying levels of computer expertise. System Requirements: POPMAP requires an IBM PC/AT or compatible with a minimum of 6.4MB of RAM; 6MB of hard disk space is required to run the program, tutorial, and sample applications. It will operate on a 286 or 386 processor, but a 486 is recommended. DOS 2.0 or later is required (DOS 5.0 higher is recommended). EGA or VGA color monitor required. DENISE STEPHENS Information Systems Coordinator University of Virginia Library Alderman Library/Government Publications Charlottesville, VA 22903-2498 USA
Maps/Geographic
Congressional
Quarterly’s Desk Reference on American
ton, DC: Congressional $49.95.
Quarterly,
Government. By Bruce Wetterau. WashingInc., 1995, viii, 349~. ISBN: O-87187-956-5. LCCN: 94-44948.
At first glance CO’s Desk Reference on American Government might elicit a rather ho-hum response. Are there not already enough reference books on the U.S. government, as well as specialized sources on the presidency, the Congress, and the Supreme Court? Many other reference works on the federal government have been published, yet this one has a unique format and presentation. Bruce Wetterau’s book presents a great deal of information in a simple and straightforward manner by using specific questions and brief, direct answers. In short, this volume is an FAQ (frequently asked questions) file on the federal government. With the popularity of such files at reference desks and on Internet gopher sites, perhaps a book of this type is right on target. Wetterau has accumulated a wealth of experience in authoring and editing reference sources. In 1983, he compiled and edited the Macmillan Concise Dictionary of World History. In 1994, Wetterau revised and updated this source reissued under the new title: World History: A Dictionary of Important People, Places and Events from Ancient Times to the Present. Wetterau’s other major work, the New York Public Library Book of Chronologies was published in 1990. Wetterau’s purpose in writing this volume is to present basic factual information about the branches of government in a clear understandable manner. The style of writing and vocabulary are aimed at the general reader. He avoids the complex technical language and jargon so often used in explaining government structures and functions. Most answers are one paragraph in length, with a source given at the end of each answer. The scope of the work is quite broad. General information on the federal government is included, but state governments are not. There are separate sections on the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, plus a campaigns and elections section. In selecting the 602 questions to be included, the author began with those encountered most often at Congressional Quarterly’s library. Additional questions were gathered from other “various sources” (p. vii). The questions in each section range from basic definitions (What is the President’s Cabinet? What is a filibuster?) to procedural queries (How is the budget prepared? How does a bill become law?) to quantitative or tabular information (How many bills have Presidents vetoed? Which Presidents fought in which wars?) to records or firsts (Who was the first President to hold press conferences? Which Supreme Court justice was confirmed the quickest?). The questions cover the entire time span of the federal government from its early days in 1789 to late 1994. Wetterau’s work was prepared as a quick reference source for librarians. However, it will also be of interest to individuals connected with the federal government, to teachers, and to general readers or trivia buffs. CQ’s Desk Reference on American Government is organized into five sections. The initial section covers the government as a whole. The following sections cover the presidency, Congress, campaigns and elections, and the Supreme Court. Each section begins with a group of general questions, followed by subdivisions on more specific topics. Related questions are grouped together in each subsection.
Reviews
485
The beginning section on the government in general includes subdivisions on historic documents (primarily the Constitution), finances, war, and major scandals from the Whiskey Ring to the House Banking debacle. The section on the presidency includes the most questions, 166. The emphasis is on presidential powers and programs, along with several questions on the vice-presidency and the cabinet. The third section on the Congress has separate subsections on the House and Senate, as well as a coverage of the process of making laws, floor debates, and the committee structure. The section on campaigns and elections is the briefest, just 67 questions, focusing most heavily on presidential elections. The final section on the Supreme Court includes a lengthy section on major cases decided by the Court from Marbury u. Madison in 1803 to Planned Parenthood u. Casey in 1992. An important feature of the CQ Desk Reference are the many cross references included in the text. Some crossreferences are given at the beginning of subsections and refer readers to other sections or questions. Most references follow specific questions, directing readers to other questions with related details or explanations. Over half of the individual questions contain cross-references. The book concludes with a bibliography, an appendix, and an extensive index. The bibliography lists 44 items ranging from the very general (Encyclopedia Britannica and World Almanac) to more specialized works such as How To Research the Supreme Court and Vital Statistics on Congress. Virtually all the sources are secondary, and nearly half are other CQ reference publications. The volume includes an appendix with the text of the Constitution. The index to CQ’s Desk Reference is excellent, covering over 60 pages of detailed entries. Bruce Wetterau has ably fulfilled his purpose in writing this work. He has produced an easy-tounderstand, clearly written reference source, with information that general readers can readily comprehend. Wetterau’s questions are well chosen to meet the overall aim of his work. The brief answers usually cover the questions sufficiently. In some instances, more detail would have been helpful. One notable omission is a list of the women who have served in Congress. The question on women in Congress refers only to the number of women who have served and lists just the first woman representative and senator. Wetterau does include complete lists of the African-Americans and Hispanics who have served in the Senate and House. The sources listed after each question and answer are somewhat puzzling. For example, in checking the sources listed for the major Supreme Court cases. The Supreme Court A to Z: A Ready Reference Encyclopedia is listed nearly every time. Most of the questions list only this title as a source. In reviewing The Supreme Court A to Z, additional information on each case is given, but no legal citation is included. Other items listed in Wetterau’s bibliography include legal citations, such as The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court and CQ’s Guide to the Supreme Court, but in only a few instances does he list these as sources for specific cases. Since Wetterau’s book is primarily for librarians, his bibliography could be better used to provide more complete source information. Comparing this work to other reference sources on the federal government is difficult due to the broad coverage offered in Wetterau’s book. The CQ Desk Reference is part dictionary, part almanac, part encyclopedia, part famous firsts, and part trivia book. Most reference sources fulfill only one or two of these functions, or cover only one aspect of government. Much of the information in the CQ Desk Reference on American Government can be found in other general sources. Still, Wetterau has compiled a substantial amount of detail in an easy-to-use and very readable format. Given these factors, the book may appeal to a variety of libraries, especially those unable to collect more detailed sources. VANETTE SCHWARTZ Social Sciences and Maps Librarian 8900 Milner Library Illinois State University Normal, IL 61790-8900 USA
America at the Polls: A Handbook
of American Presidential Election Statistics. Edited by Alice V. McGillivray and Richard M. Scammon. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1994. 2 ~01s. Vol. 1 Harding to Eisenhower, 1920-1956, vol. 2 Kennedy to Clinton, 1960-1992. ISBN I-56802-058-9(v.l), ISBN l-56802-059-7 (v.2). JK 524.A73 1994. $295.00.
Reviews
clearly intended for those whose experience with this kind of product is little to none. Thus, its textbook style is heavy with definition and example. Readers will notice its clear effort to avoid jargon. POPMAP is essentially an nonintimidating, generalist approach to spreadsheet mapping. It is easy to master and flexible enough for the modest needs of most potential users. When offered as a package, including the Tutorial and Guide, POPMAP is nearly self-teaching. It could be a useful tool in locations that serve clientele of varying levels of computer expertise. System Requirements: POPMAP requires an IBM PC/AT or compatible with a minimum of 6.4MB of RAM; 6MB of hard disk space is required to run the program, tutorial, and sample applications. It will operate on a 286 or 386 processor, but a 486 is recommended. DOS 2.0 or later is required (DOS 5.0 higher is recommended). EGA or VGA color monitor required. DENISE STEPHENS Information Systems Coordinator University of Virginia Library Alderman Library/Government Publications Charlottesville, VA 22903-2498 USA
Maps/Geographic
Congressional
Quarterly’s Desk Reference on American
ton, DC: Congressional $49.95.
Quarterly,
Government. By Bruce Wetterau. WashingInc., 1995, viii, 349~. ISBN: O-87187-956-5. LCCN: 94-44948.
At first glance CO’s Desk Reference on American Government might elicit a rather ho-hum response. Are there not already enough reference books on the U.S. government, as well as specialized sources on the presidency, the Congress, and the Supreme Court? Many other reference works on the federal government have been published, yet this one has a unique format and presentation. Bruce Wetterau’s book presents a great deal of information in a simple and straightforward manner by using specific questions and brief, direct answers. In short, this volume is an FAQ (frequently asked questions) file on the federal government. With the popularity of such files at reference desks and on Internet gopher sites, perhaps a book of this type is right on target. Wetterau has accumulated a wealth of experience in authoring and editing reference sources. In 1983, he compiled and edited the Macmillan Concise Dictionary of World History. In 1994, Wetterau revised and updated this source reissued under the new title: World History: A Dictionary of Important People, Places and Events from Ancient Times to the Present. Wetterau’s other major work, the New York Public Library Book of Chronologies was published in 1990. Wetterau’s purpose in writing this volume is to present basic factual information about the branches of government in a clear understandable manner. The style of writing and vocabulary are aimed at the general reader. He avoids the complex technical language and jargon so often used in explaining government structures and functions. Most answers are one paragraph in length, with a source given at the end of each answer. The scope of the work is quite broad. General information on the federal government is included, but state governments are not. There are separate sections on the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, plus a campaigns and elections section. In selecting the 602 questions to be included, the author began with those encountered most often at Congressional Quarterly’s library. Additional questions were gathered from other “various sources” (p. vii). The questions in each section range from basic definitions (What is the President’s Cabinet? What is a filibuster?) to procedural queries (How is the budget prepared? How does a bill become law?) to quantitative or tabular information (How many bills have Presidents vetoed? Which Presidents fought in which wars?) to records or firsts (Who was the first President to hold press conferences? Which Supreme Court justice was confirmed the quickest?). The questions cover the entire time span of the federal government from its early days in 1789 to late 1994. Wetterau’s work was prepared as a quick reference source for librarians. However, it will also be of interest to individuals connected with the federal government, to teachers, and to general readers or trivia buffs. CQ’s Desk Reference on American Government is organized into five sections. The initial section covers the government as a whole. The following sections cover the presidency, Congress, campaigns and elections, and the Supreme Court. Each section begins with a group of general questions, followed by subdivisions on more specific topics. Related questions are grouped together in each subsection.
Reviews
485
The beginning section on the government in general includes subdivisions on historic documents (primarily the Constitution), finances, war, and major scandals from the Whiskey Ring to the House Banking debacle. The section on the presidency includes the most questions, 166. The emphasis is on presidential powers and programs, along with several questions on the vice-presidency and the cabinet. The third section on the Congress has separate subsections on the House and Senate, as well as a coverage of the process of making laws, floor debates, and the committee structure. The section on campaigns and elections is the briefest, just 67 questions, focusing most heavily on presidential elections. The final section on the Supreme Court includes a lengthy section on major cases decided by the Court from Marbury u. Madison in 1803 to Planned Parenthood u. Casey in 1992. An important feature of the CQ Desk Reference are the many cross references included in the text. Some crossreferences are given at the beginning of subsections and refer readers to other sections or questions. Most references follow specific questions, directing readers to other questions with related details or explanations. Over half of the individual questions contain cross-references. The book concludes with a bibliography, an appendix, and an extensive index. The bibliography lists 44 items ranging from the very general (Encyclopedia Britannica and World Almanac) to more specialized works such as How To Research the Supreme Court and Vital Statistics on Congress. Virtually all the sources are secondary, and nearly half are other CQ reference publications. The volume includes an appendix with the text of the Constitution. The index to CQ’s Desk Reference is excellent, covering over 60 pages of detailed entries. Bruce Wetterau has ably fulfilled his purpose in writing this work. He has produced an easy-tounderstand, clearly written reference source, with information that general readers can readily comprehend. Wetterau’s questions are well chosen to meet the overall aim of his work. The brief answers usually cover the questions sufficiently. In some instances, more detail would have been helpful. One notable omission is a list of the women who have served in Congress. The question on women in Congress refers only to the number of women who have served and lists just the first woman representative and senator. Wetterau does include complete lists of the African-Americans and Hispanics who have served in the Senate and House. The sources listed after each question and answer are somewhat puzzling. For example, in checking the sources listed for the major Supreme Court cases. The Supreme Court A to Z: A Ready Reference Encyclopedia is listed nearly every time. Most of the questions list only this title as a source. In reviewing The Supreme Court A to Z, additional information on each case is given, but no legal citation is included. Other items listed in Wetterau’s bibliography include legal citations, such as The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court and CQ’s Guide to the Supreme Court, but in only a few instances does he list these as sources for specific cases. Since Wetterau’s book is primarily for librarians, his bibliography could be better used to provide more complete source information. Comparing this work to other reference sources on the federal government is difficult due to the broad coverage offered in Wetterau’s book. The CQ Desk Reference is part dictionary, part almanac, part encyclopedia, part famous firsts, and part trivia book. Most reference sources fulfill only one or two of these functions, or cover only one aspect of government. Much of the information in the CQ Desk Reference on American Government can be found in other general sources. Still, Wetterau has compiled a substantial amount of detail in an easy-to-use and very readable format. Given these factors, the book may appeal to a variety of libraries, especially those unable to collect more detailed sources. VANETTE SCHWARTZ Social Sciences and Maps Librarian 8900 Milner Library Illinois State University Normal, IL 61790-8900 USA
America at the Polls: A Handbook
of American Presidential Election Statistics. Edited by Alice V. McGillivray and Richard M. Scammon. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1994. 2 ~01s. Vol. 1 Harding to Eisenhower, 1920-1956, vol. 2 Kennedy to Clinton, 1960-1992. ISBN I-56802-058-9(v.l), ISBN l-56802-059-7 (v.2). JK 524.A73 1994. $295.00.