title: The American Senate: An Insider's History
author:  Neil MacNeil 
description: <br />"This first-rate comprehensive study is likely to set the standard for historical scholarship on the US Senate. Chock-full of fascinating stores from insiders' perspectives, <em>The American Senate</em> is entertaining and engaging. <em>The American Senate</em> is a must read for any serious historian or political scientist, yet still accessible to the general public. Highly recommended." --<em>CHOICE</em>
zlib_text: #  Reforming Senates
  
  This new study of senates in small powers across the North Atlantic shows that
  the establishment and the reform of these upper legislative houses have
  followed remarkably parallel trajectories. Senate reforms emerged in the wake
  of deep political crises within the North Atlantic world and were influenced
  by the comparatively weak positions of small powers. Reformers responded to
  crises and constantly looked beyond borders and oceans for inspiration to keep
  their senates relevant.
  
  **Nikolaj Bijleveld** , historian, is a staff member at the University of
  Groningen.
  
  **Colin Grittner** teaches Canadian history in Vancouver, British Columbia,
  Canada, and has held postdoctoral fellowships at the University of British
  Columbia and the University of New Brunswick.
  
  **David E. Smith** is a former president of the Canadian Political Science
  Association and the author of a number of books on the Canadian Parliament and
  Canadian federalism.
  
  **Wybren Verstegen** is Associat