As the U.S. Congress has steadily evolved, so too has our understanding of the institution. New Directions in Congressional Politicsoffers an accessible overview of the current developments in our understanding of America#xE2;#xAC;"s legislative branch. Jamie Carson helps students bridge the gap between roles, rules, and outcomes by focusing on four themes woven throughout: the importance of electoralconsiderations, legislators#xE2;#xAC;" strategicbehavior to accomplish objectives, the unique challenges of Congress as a bicameralinstitution, and the often-overlooked policy outputsof the institution. This book brings together leading scholars of Congress to provide a general overview of the entire field. Each chapter covers the cutting edge developments on its respective topic. As the political institution responsible for enacting laws, the American public regularly looks to the U.S. Congress to address the important issues of the day. The contributors in this volume help explain why staying atop the research trends help us better understand these issues.