--- product_id: 24819449 title: "The House: The History of the House of Representatives" price: "€ 52.58" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/24819449-the-house-the-history-of-the-house-of-representatives store_origin: HR region: Croatia --- # The House: The History of the House of Representatives **Price:** € 52.58 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The House: The History of the House of Representatives - **How much does it cost?** € 52.58 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/24819449-the-house-the-history-of-the-house-of-representatives) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The House: The History of the House of Representatives [Remini, Robert V., Library of Congress] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The House: The History of the House of Representatives Review: Excellent look at the development of the House - A few months ago, I read The Most Exclusive Club, Lewis Gould's history of the modern U.S. Senate. When I saw that a book about the House of Representatives was coming out, I knew that it would be a good companion piece to Gould's book. Then I saw it was by Robert Remini, the fabulous biographer of Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster and knew that this book was a must-read. And though Remini has expanded beyond the Jacksonian era he has specialized in, he has still written a great book. Naturally enough, Remini starts at the beginning of the House in 1789. In the early going, the institution was trying to define itself and its role in the government. With travel to the capital so difficult (first in New York, then Philadelphia and finally Washington), it wasn't surprising that most Congressmen served only a couple terms. Although there were big names in the first Congresses (such as James Madison), few stood out for their actual work in the institution. That would come with the next generation in the early 1800s: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John Calhoun would thrust the House into greater prominence. Clay in particular is something of a star, transforming the Speakership into a position of power. In the tug of war between Congress and the Presidency, first one side would have the advantage, then the other, but in the antebellum era, the legislative branch probably had the edge overall. Unfortunately, as regional differences grew greater, the level of debate got lower and sometimes even descended into violence. Nonetheless, Remini has even less good to say about the post-Civil War House, which was ineffective and filled with corruption. In the 20th century, probably the greatest single development was the rise of the perpetual politician; Congressmen (and eventually Congresswomen) began serving for decades instead of just a few sessions. As a result, seniority came to be a big issue, and the South (where representatives were rarely ousted) came to dominate committees and clog up legislation, particularly on civil rights. Eventually, some of this would be cleaned up, but new issues would rise as Congress entered the present era, as the members became constant campaigners and more media-savvy. Essentially, within 500 pages, we get a history of the United States from the perspective of the House of Representatives. In addition, in appendices, we get lists of all the Speakers and Congressional leaders as well as sergeants-at-arms and other positions as well as other miscellaneous information. Overall, Remini retains objectivity, even with more recent politics. For example, while he is critical of Newt Gingrich for making reducing civility in the House, this is not a criticism of Gingrich's politics but rather his behavior. Remini has plenty of good and bad to say about both Republicans and Democrats. This is one reason that his book is better than Gould's decent but sometimes slanted book; another reason is that Remini is just a better writer. This is a great book by a great writer and highly recommended for those who enjoy reading American history. Review: I usually don't review books - This text was actually a required one for one of my political science classes, but it was a very enjoyable and detailed history of the Congress that we all have all come to know and hate. Great book. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,830,366 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #267 in U.S.Congresses, Senates & Legislative #9,167 in Political Science (Books) #28,557 in United States History (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 47 Reviews | ## Images ![The House: The History of the House of Representatives - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91mgf952HfL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent look at the development of the House *by M***L on June 16, 2006* A few months ago, I read The Most Exclusive Club, Lewis Gould's history of the modern U.S. Senate. When I saw that a book about the House of Representatives was coming out, I knew that it would be a good companion piece to Gould's book. Then I saw it was by Robert Remini, the fabulous biographer of Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and Daniel Webster and knew that this book was a must-read. And though Remini has expanded beyond the Jacksonian era he has specialized in, he has still written a great book. Naturally enough, Remini starts at the beginning of the House in 1789. In the early going, the institution was trying to define itself and its role in the government. With travel to the capital so difficult (first in New York, then Philadelphia and finally Washington), it wasn't surprising that most Congressmen served only a couple terms. Although there were big names in the first Congresses (such as James Madison), few stood out for their actual work in the institution. That would come with the next generation in the early 1800s: Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John Calhoun would thrust the House into greater prominence. Clay in particular is something of a star, transforming the Speakership into a position of power. In the tug of war between Congress and the Presidency, first one side would have the advantage, then the other, but in the antebellum era, the legislative branch probably had the edge overall. Unfortunately, as regional differences grew greater, the level of debate got lower and sometimes even descended into violence. Nonetheless, Remini has even less good to say about the post-Civil War House, which was ineffective and filled with corruption. In the 20th century, probably the greatest single development was the rise of the perpetual politician; Congressmen (and eventually Congresswomen) began serving for decades instead of just a few sessions. As a result, seniority came to be a big issue, and the South (where representatives were rarely ousted) came to dominate committees and clog up legislation, particularly on civil rights. Eventually, some of this would be cleaned up, but new issues would rise as Congress entered the present era, as the members became constant campaigners and more media-savvy. Essentially, within 500 pages, we get a history of the United States from the perspective of the House of Representatives. In addition, in appendices, we get lists of all the Speakers and Congressional leaders as well as sergeants-at-arms and other positions as well as other miscellaneous information. Overall, Remini retains objectivity, even with more recent politics. For example, while he is critical of Newt Gingrich for making reducing civility in the House, this is not a criticism of Gingrich's politics but rather his behavior. Remini has plenty of good and bad to say about both Republicans and Democrats. This is one reason that his book is better than Gould's decent but sometimes slanted book; another reason is that Remini is just a better writer. This is a great book by a great writer and highly recommended for those who enjoy reading American history. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I usually don't review books *by A***N on December 21, 2013* This text was actually a required one for one of my political science classes, but it was a very enjoyable and detailed history of the Congress that we all have all come to know and hate. Great book. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Context and Content Intertwine Quite Well *by D***. on February 13, 2017* This book is rather informative. I'm only a few chapters into it, but I would say that so far it is something that should be required reading in high schools across America. In reading this book, one not only learns about the House of Representatives in Congress, but about its interplay with the Senate and the Executive Branch. The hallmark of a good book is that it contextualizes issues for the reader. This book, so far, meets that standard. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/24819449-the-house-the-history-of-the-house-of-representatives](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/24819449-the-house-the-history-of-the-house-of-representatives) --- *Product available on Desertcart Croatia* *Store origin: HR* *Last updated: 2026-10-01*