* From the Senior Officer of the House of Commons, the first ever miscellany of the Great British Parliament * From the workings of Parliament to personalities, and from dramatic events to statistics on such frippery as how much beer costs, this is as entertaining as it is informative

The revelations over MPs' expenses that began in May 2009 ranged from petty thieving to outright fraud and sparked a crisis in confidence unprecedented in modern times. The author explains how the expenses crisis arose and, lays out his prescription for healing the deep wounds inflicted by the scandal.

Examines the life and work of women who have reached positions of political power after the end of communism in Europe. This book explores the roles they have adopted, the relationships they have cultivated, and the agendas they have pursued.

Paul Smith examines how the Senate has attempted, since 1958, to locate itself within the French (semi-) presidential system, how it asserts its place in relation to the President, Government and National Assembly and how it has sought, in recent years, to develop an autonomous and particular sense of identity.

Barack Obama's 'improbable quest' has become a fact of American life and a benchmark in American history. This title tracks the sweep of this progress from the beginning of Obama's political career through his move into the White House.

The American people are frustrated with their government. Yet our nation has a proud history of great achievements: victory in World War II, our national highway system, welfare reform, and the moon landing. We need more successes like these to reclaim government's legacy of competence. This title explains how to do it.

A major scholarly reference work describing the members, constituencies and activities of the Parliament of England and the United Kingdom.

Examines the life and work of women who have reached positions of political power after the end of communism in Europe. This book explores the roles they have adopted, the relationships they have cultivated, and the agendas they have pursued.

Examines how effectively in Britain, central government is equipped to secure efficiency and responsiveness and argues, that the British system of government is neither as efficient nor as responsive to popular will as a strong democracy requires.

Examines how Europeanisation affected Irish policy-making and implementation and how Ireland maximised policy opportunities arising from membership of the EU while preserving embedded patterns of political behaviour. This book focuses on complex interplay of European and global factors as explanation for the changing character of 'Celtic Tiger'.

Explores the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as the primary investigative agency of the federal government, which has the authority and responsibility to investigate all violations of federal law that are not exclusively assigned to another federal agency.

Although electronic government is one of the leading approaches to government reform, a lack of co-ordination between various initiatives increases the risk of creating more so-called 'islands of automation' within and between levels of government. This book deals with research conducted as a Policy Research Project in e-government strategies.

Explores the history, law and practice of US presidential claims of confidentiality, detailing such cases as the Watergate and post-Watergate cases. Through the lens of the executive branch, this title features claims of this executive privilege from President Ronald Reagan to President George W Bush.

Develops a framework for a theory-based evaluation of reforms, and uses this framework to assess the impact of arrangements for public service delivery in the UK. This book deals with the problems of finding criteria for evaluating reforms; the shifts in public management; the impact of reforms; and the implications for public sector management.

Vernon Coleman's revolutionary approach to resolving today's economic and political problems

Examines peace-building efforts in the fragile West African states of Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d'Ivoire, with a focus on the role of the private sector in leading the reconstruction initiatives. This book is of interest to scholars in international relations and peace-building, policy-makers, and business leaders.

This classic text provides a unique insight into the workings and daily life within parliament. It explores its tradition and character for a glimpse into a world that is constantly in the news. The authors dispel the mystery and present its purpose and function plainly and intelligibly.

A topical and accessible introductory guide to the workings of the UK's Westminster Parliament, in both theory and practice.