"It is a tremendous force for good"

This was written of Congress - not a century ago - or in some "golden age" - but in Henry Waxman's recent "Waxman report".

The minutae of process - and the long time that legislation can take to develop - often obscures what is achieved. In Waxman's book - which I heartily recommend to citizens and propective legislators [both sides of the Atlantic] looks at a series of case studies in which the legislative process and effective scrutiny have brought benefits to citizens.

This is a year in which elections will bring many claims that Washington and Westminster aren't working. It will be claimed that "money talks" - yes it does - but as Waxman points out "run as it should be, it [Congress] ensures that no special interest can ever be powerful enough to eclipse the public interest"

Do you not believe that? Well read Waxman's arguments in his book.

Congress & Parliament

Henry Waxman's book, "The Waxman Report", jointly written with Joshua Green deserves to be more widely read. As well as a useful guide to practices within the House of Representatives, it sets out what individual legislators can achieve.

There are two main parts to the book. The first is entitled "The Art of Making Laws" in which he describes how some specific pieces of legislation, which have been of great value to citizens, were enacted into law. The second part is "The Art of Oversight".

Too many media reports (and lets be honest, politicians are complicit in this) concentrate on the theatre. Speeches, soundbites and tactical manoeuvres get all the attention. Too many academic studies over emphasis the importance of roll call votes and the so-called 'rational choice theory'.

Yet legislatures work through lots of negotiations - in which individual legislators; whips; other party and legislative leaders; officials; constituents and lobbyists work out solutions to problems.

Legislatures rarely make good, popular theatre. Citizens are (at best) bemused, often angered by the languages and practices - and this can lead to alienation. Henry Waxman reminds us that, quietly, much can be - and is - achieved. Citizens and legislators can take inspiration from this book.