The unprecedented politics of the past four years culminating in the mob attack on the U.S.
Capitol on January 6 2021 underscore the need for a new edition of The U.S. Congress: A Very
Short Introduction. The previous editions explored the essential necessity of compromise to
accomplish anything significant in the legislative arena but recent events show that political
polarization has hardened and produced gridlock. This new edition explains how theparties have
changed and how that has affected both the House and Senate.
