The U.S. Congress is really two things in one. On the one hand, it is America's national legislature, a collective body making laws. On the other hand, it is a representative institution, with individuals from many districts and states bringing diverse viewpoints and interests to Washington. The story of Congress is how these distinct and often opposed aspects are (if possible) reconciled.
The course also includes (a) a review of federal policy making in various areas, and (b) analysis of how Congress makes policy. Each student completes a paper of 10-15 pages' length, analyzing the pattern of presidential and congressional influence on a particular issue from the last session of Congress.
The American Congress is offered every two years. It fulfills the "advanced American politics" requirement for the Political Science major. It also may be used for a major in American Studies, and for secondary school teaching endorsement in American government. It is a Writing Emphasis course.
The Library of Congress's Thomas
page, good for searching for information on bills
Metavid: searchable C-SPAN
archive at University of California-Santa Cruz
Data on congressional district characteristics from U of Colorado
Congressional
Quarterly
Weekly Report: Coe's Stewart Memorial Library subscribes to this
service,
which can be accessed from any computer on campus. It has the
text
of the current issue, as well as an excellent search engine for issues
back to 1983. If you're not at Coe right now, too bad! Get
your library to subscribe to CQ.
Newspapers with searchable archives: Washington Post and New York Times. You need to
register but it's free. Times
is slightly easier to use. In both cases you have to pay for archived
articles, unless you would happen to have microfilm editions of the
newspapers on campus. Coe has the Times but not the Post.
Searching for current magazine articles: Article First
from OCLC
Another good site: Congressional Universe, including information on past and current bills, "Hot Topics" links to current news articles, supposed links to National Journal articles but I can't find them
Comprehensive budgetary information from the Congressional Budget Office
American Conservative Union ratings of members
Americans for Democratic Action, a liberal group, also rates members
Historical/biographical information on members past and present
MLAcitation guide from the Coe Writing Center
REQUIRED TEXTS (FALL 2009)
Roger H. Davidson, Walter J. Oleszek and Frances Lee, Congress and Its Members
(Congressional Quarterly, 12th ed, 2009)
Ralph Ketcham (ed), The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates (New American Library, 1986)
Amy E. Black, From Inspiration to Legislation: How an Idea Becomes a Bill (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007)
CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING LIST
Course introduction
I. CREATION AND EVOLUTION OF CONGRESS
Two Congresses: DOL 1
Congress in the Constitution: Ketcham pp. 1-20
Framing the Constitution--Selection and Representation I:Ketcham, pp. 49-58, 89-92
Framing the Constitution--Selection and Representation II: Ketcham, pp. 92-109
Framing the Constitution--Congress in Government I:Ketcham, pp. 58-62, 86-89
Framing the Constitution--Congress in Government II: Ketcham, pp. 114-120, 125-127
Opposing the Constitution--Brutus: Ketcham, pp. 324-335
Opposing the Constitution--Melancton Smith: Ketcham, pp. 336-356
Defending the Constitution: Federalist 52, 54-56
Defending the Constitution II: Federalist 62-63
Evolution of Congress: DOL 2
EXAM I
II. CONGRESS AND POLICY MAKING
Overview: DOL 8
Introduction: Black 1
Background Research: Black 2
Interest Group Alliances: Black 3
Public Opinion: Black 4
Policy Formulation: Black 5
Cosponsors: Black 6
Media Strategy: Black 7
The Legislative Process: Black 8
Conclusions: Black 9
EXAM II
III. CONGRESS TODAY
Home Style: DOL 5
Leaders and Parties: DOL 6
Committees: DOL 7
Decision Making in Congress: DOL 9
Congress and the President: DOL 10
Congress and the Bureaucracy: DOL 11
Congress and the Courts: DOL 12
Interest Group Relations: DOL 13
Conclusion: DOL 16
EXAM III
Next Course: The American Presidency
Last Course: Political Parties and Elections
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updated 6/18/09