Course Description
The United States Congress, with emphasis on recruitment and composition of leadership, procedures, and the role of parties and interest groups. Recent changes in the Congress will be examined in light of theories of representation.
Athena Title
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This research seminar is intended as a broad survey of the literature on legislative politics. The central focus of the course will be the U.S. Congress, but much of what we discuss will have direct relevance for the study of legislatures more generally. As such, we will focus on the origins and development of the U.S. Congress, congressional elections, the committee system, the legislative process, the role of political parties, and inter-branch relations. Throughout the course, we will pay attention to current political and scholarly controversies (as well as some “classics”) in terms of identifying important research questions as well as examining and improving upon existing research designs. By the end of the course, you should have a better understanding of the nature of congressional research, even though it would be impossible to cover all facets of legislative politics in a single graduate seminar.
Topical Outline
The Electoral Connection in Congress Congressional Elections The Institutional Development of Congress Theories of Legislative Organization Parties and Leaders in Congress The Congressional Committee System Congressional Roll Call Voting Historical Perspectives on Congress Perspectives on the U.S. Senate Congress and the President Congress and the Courts
Syllabus