Critical Analysis for Sidlow's Freshman Orientation: House Style and Home Style - Book Report/Review Example

Critical review and analysis of “Freshman orientation: house style and home style” Sidlow, a political science professor, follows around a freshman congress member. He is struck by how strenuous the job is and how steep the learning curve can be. In this engaging study, Sidlow tells the story of what it takes to make a challenging transition from candidate to a new cast member of the congress. He gives readers an inside look at Schwartz, a freshman congressman, and a moderate Republican from Michigan 7th District. The inside looks at Schwartz follows his trial and tribulations that set up a shop on the Hill, and gets familiar with the political environment. Hence, the book is informative on the challenges that legislators go through during the transition period; balancing life sometimes becomes very difficult. Sidlows follows the life of Joe Schwartz as he progresses through the various phases of a first-year legislator. He becomes involved in numerous policy areas such as jockeying for choice committee assignments. He also develops a style that permits him to communicate efficiently with other members while staying in touch with constituents at home. Sidlow uses an interesting first hand reportorial and narrative style to define the events. At the same time, he effortlessly incorporates data and information on specific topics. Additionally, he uses photos and other illustrations to bring the experience of the Congress to life. The striking aspect to the reader is watching Congressman Schwartz adjust to the tremendous information overload that is forced into members of the freshman congress. From this description, it is evidenced that the author wanted to engage readers and provide them with valid facts relating to what new legislators goes through and he successfully managed. It is striking, the kind of hours that the new congressmen are put in. Additionally, it is striking the range of issues that the new congressional representatives deal with. In the case of Joe Schwartz, everything matters. From very localized matters of agriculture to serious issues of homeland security. However, Schwartz did not put as much time on fundraising as it was expected for the congressional representatives. Sidlow thinks Schwartz was resentful of the bite that took out his time. Therefore, readers are denied information regarding the interaction as well as conducts of legislators on fundraising. According to Sidlow, a member of Congress, particularly new members have to be extremely active in casework of their constituents. In fact, Schwartz said that everybody, among staffs, in one way or another was involved in casework of the constituent every single day. Occasionally, he became individually involved in some casework matter. This sentiment is also witnessed in other regions since legislators do casework to aim uplift the local life. Sidlow is of the opinion that the better the staff of the congressman is at dispatching casework, the more time there is for the member to look for other avenues. In addition, members can get satisfaction from their jobs in other ways. Most parts of the book are about legislative and not electoral politics. Sidlow writes about the method of setting up DC and district offices, finding office space and equipment and employing staff. He offers some details on the politics of office space in office buildings of the Congress. He also discusses or points out the problems of finding living for the congressman and his staff. He also discusses the logistics of going back and forth between DC and Illinois. Based on geographic or issue-oriented interests, he states that there are memberships of the congressional committee to lobby. Sidlow narrates to readers on the arrival of the elected congressmen in Washington, D.C. every new legislator of the freshman class received a tote bag. The bag spotted a picture of the capitol building that contained a document with more than three hundred pages. The document was known as the 2004 House Manual, new member orientation, 109th congress. However, the reader is not told more about the bag and its usefulness in the legislative house. According to critics, there was no point of Sidlow mentioning the names of the two staffers who did not stay in the employ of the congressman. They contend that there are numerous ways to talk about turnover of staff without going into specifics of an individual. They go on to argue that putting that information in print guarantees that it could follow the individuals for a long time. Hence, it britches their private life and exposes the privacy. Although Sidlow does not draw many conclusions in regard to Joe's voting clues, he does mention the role of leadership in the party. He mentions this in the decision-making processes of Schwartz. He states that Schwartz always listens to what the leadership wants, but is not completely afraid to oppose the leadership. Sidlow goes on to state that if Schwartz feels strongly about something, he will not budge, regardless of anyone else might want. In this way, Sidlow indicates his belief that Congress young members are not dependent on the leadership of their party. However, despite Sidlow’s findings on young members of the Congress, there is indeed a reliance on party members. It is possibly the result of an inherent tendency to defer to one's elders rather than a conscious decision to ignore one's opinions. In fact, some legislators are unlikely to admit that they pay attention to the influence of the party. They are more likely to claim that they are good legislators who follow their people's wishes back home. This may be the reason congressmen such as Schwartz may be hesitant to indicate the party as the main factor in the formulation of his votes. Sidlow offers an interesting account of the tenure of Joe Schwartz, the illuminating narratives, and the view of the reader of the mechanics of a contemporary political campaign. The book is a good account of the political experiences of a freshman and his rookie mistakes. It is also a tale of the bare knuckle impact of powerful advocates outside of the District of a representative. Sidlow makes more humane the process and takes the reader through the difficulties of those surrounding this Michigan congressman who only went for one term. He also takes the reader through sometimes surprisingly ordinary lives of the people around Schwartz. The book is a good exploration of an almost anonymous part of life as a congressman. It is an exploration of what occurs in the time between being elected into the congressional office and governing the people. The reader is let into Joe Schwartz life and character traits. According to Edward Sidlow, Schwartz is patriotic and personable. He is also deeply committed to the notion that service to someone’s country is the most pursuits seen as noble. Schwartz was referred to as "John McCain Republican" by newspapers in his home state of Michigan. The title fits him well. Considering it was a presidential election year, his election by the Seventh District went fairly smooth. He was in the American House of Representatives shortly. Additionally, he was on the Agriculture Committee. Schwartz had to assemble the stuff and the right staff back home in Michigan and in the house, at the same time learning how things worked in Washington. In this context, Edward Sidlow observes the first term of Joe Schwartz in office with an academic's eye, but a journalist's ear. Sidlow tells a good story with an actual twist at the end. Another aspect of the book that is intriguing is Allyson Schwartz's photo on the cover of the book along with Joe Schwartz. There are also fourteen other legislative members of the 2004 freshman congressional class. The book details the kind of expenditures members of the freshman class can or cannot be recompensed for and the kinds of mailings that can or cannot be paid for with taxpayers' money. The book goes into detail on the use of different types of office equipment, a section on the rules of the house and even some rules for ethics. According to Sidlow, finally, the job of the congressman is far less appealing. Edward Sidlow's book sort of goes a long way toward explaining how different the real world of Congress is from the sound-bite world of Congress that most citizens see. Sidlow’s book gives curious learners an opportunity to learn more about life as a member of the United States Congress. There is some politics involved, but overall it has an excellent look at how functions of the Congress progress on a daily basis and what citizens put candidates through, when they vote for them. The book was also a great book it brought out what Congress is all about in a case of the freshman congressman. Sidlow’s book stuffs much of everything faced by a congress member into it. The book goes beyond what a normal textbook with its definition and overall cases in point can do. In order for a person to understand how the Congress works, Sidlow’s book is highly recommended. Work Cited Sidlow, E. Freshman Orientation: House Style and Home Style. 2006. Print . Read More