The presidential veto is one of the U.S. president's chief domestic powers and effectively grants the president the power to be the third house of Congress. Although the veto is qualified rather than absolute, even when Congress overrides a veto, members of Congress might modify proposals to meet the president's wishes. Often the mere threat of a veto also influences such legislation. At other times, presidential veto threats encourage members of the party in opposition to the president to propose bills that will further highlight such differences for political reasons. In encyclopedic form, this book provides entries on: how each U.S. president has exercised this power; on each of the major areas policy in which U.S. presidents have exercised the veto; on leading theorists and designers of the veto power; on leading debates about the exercise of this power; on Supreme Court decisions that have discussed the process; on proposed changes to the process; and on political aspects of the process. Each entry includes cross-references and bibliographic references, and the book includes a glossary and an index. This book will be an indispensable aid to students of the U.S. Presidency at a time when the president and congress are often at loggerheads on both constitutional matters and policy issues.--Publisher.

From George Washington to Donald Trump, explore the lives of America's presidents. Discover America's rich history through the eyes of its commanders-in-chief, as well as notable first ladies, famous speeches, and major constitutional events, with this visual reference e-guide to the leaders of the United States. The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia presents a unique insight into life in the White House. More than 150 easy-to-read entries cover the presidents, first ladies, the Louisiana Purchase, the Gettysburg Address, and more. Discover which president gave the shortest inaugural address. Find out which president served the shortest term of only 31 days. Read about the inspiring first ladies who advocated for everything from women's rights to civil rights. Over 200 fascinating photographs add to a young readers' understanding of these leaders and the key moments that defined their time in office. Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia is the perfect one-stop reference guide, teaching kids all they need to know about the history of the United States and the remarkable impact our country has had on the rest of the world.

Praise for the print edition:" ... entries are well written ... an excellent addition."

Written by a leading scholar of the constitutional amending process, this two-volume encyclopedia, now in its fifth edition, is an indispensable resource for students, legal historians, and high school and college librarians. This authoritative reference resource provides a history and analysis of all 27 ratified amendments to the Constitution, as well as insights and information on thousands of other amendments that have been proposed but never ratified from America's birth until the present day. The set also includes a rich bibliography of informative books, articles, and other media related to constitutional amendments and the amending process.

The Encyclopedia of Humor: A Social History explores the concept of humor in history and modern society in the United States and internationally. This work’s scope encompasses the humor of children, adults, and even nonhuman primates throughout the ages, from crude jokes and simple slapstick to sophisticated word play and ironic parody and satire. As an academic social history, it includes the perspectives of a wide range of disciplines, including sociology, child development, social psychology, life style history, communication, and entertainment media. Readers will develop an understanding of the importance of humor as it has developed globally throughout history and appreciate its effects on child and adult development, especially in the areas of health, creativity, social development, and imagination. This two-volume set is available in both print and electronic formats. Features & Benefits: The General Editor also serves as Editor-in-Chief of HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research for The International Society for Humor Studies. The book’s 335 articles are organized in A-to-Z fashion in two volumes (approximately 1,000 pages). This work is enhanced by an introduction by the General Editor, a Foreword, a list of the articles and contributors, and a Reader’s Guide that groups related entries thematically. A Chronology of Humor, a Resource Guide, and a detailed Index are included. Each entry concludes with References/Further Readings and cross references to related entries. The Index, Reader’s Guide themes, and cross references between and among related entries combine to provide robust search-and-browse features in the electronic version. This two-volume, A-to-Z set provides a general, non-technical resource for students and researchers in such diverse fields as communication and media studies, sociology and anthropology, social and cognitive psychology, history, literature and linguistics, and popular culture and folklore.

Provides current information on more than 5,000 legal topics. Includes completely revised articles covering important issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms and more. Covers such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, and physician-assisted suicide.