US Congress
General
Woodrow Wilson wrote: "Like a vast picture thronged with
figures of equal prominence and crowded with elaborate and obtrusive details,
Congress is hard to see satisfactorily and appreciatively at a single view and
from a single stand-point. Its complicated forms and diversified
structure confuse the vision, and conceal the system which underlies its
composition. It is too complex to be understood without effort,
without a careful and systematic process of analysis." In this
course, we shall undertake such analysis. We shall ask how lawmakers
behave at home and on Capitol Hill. We shall study Congress's
procedures and structures, with an eye to explaining why some bills pass while
others languish.
Classes
Class sessions will
include lecture and discussion. Finish each week's readings before
class because our discussions will involve those readings. We shall
also talk about breaking news stories about Congress, so you must read
a good daily news source such as Politico or Real Clear Politics.
Blog
Our class blog is
at http://gov101.blogspot.com. I shall post videos, graphs, news stories, and other
material there. We shall use some of this material in class, and you may
review the rest at your convenience. You will all receive
invitations to post to the blog. (Please let me know if you do not get
such an invitation.) I encourage you to use the blog in these ways:
- To post questions or comments about the readings before we
discuss them in class;
- To follow up on class discussions with
additional comments or questions.
- To post relevant news items or videos.
Grades
The following will make
up your course grade:
- One three-page paper: 15%
- One four-page paper: 20%
- One five-page paper: 25%
- Simulation and writeup: 25%
- Participation, reading emails, blog: 15%
Details
- The papers will develop your research
and writing skills. In grading, I will take account of the
quality of your writing, applying the principles of Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. If you object, do not take this course, or
anything else that I teach.
- The simulation will require you to study your part and spend several
sessions in character. Do not take this class if you cannot
take part in the simulation.
- Class participation will
hone your ability to think on your feet, as I shall call on students at
random. If you often miss class or fail to prepare, your grade
will suffer. I shall use the cold calls to judge how well you are
keeping up with the material. If you object to this approach,
do not take this course. I expect every student to post at least
twice to the blog.
- Before each week's Wednesday class, email me your
reactions to that week's readings. In these emails, you may describe
the overall theme of the readings, identify important information or
concepts that you have learned, or raise questions or criticisms.
These emails should be short -- two or three sentences will be fine -- but
they will provide me with a good sense of what you are getting out of the
course readings.
- In addition to the required readings (below), I may
also give you handouts, emails, and web links covering current events and
basic factual information.
- As a courtesy to your fellow students, please arrive on
time, and refrain from eating in class.
- Please do not use electronic devices (tablets, laptops,
smartphones) in class. Take
notes the old-fashioned way, by hand, on paper. Why? Research suggests that it works better.
- Check due dates for coursework. Do not plan on
extensions.
- Plagiarism and other forms of academic
dishonesty are not
victimless offenses, because they hurt fellow students. Please study our Statement of Academic Integrity, which
reads in part: "The
faculty of Claremont McKenna College is firmly committed to upholding the
highest standards of academic integrity. Each faculty member has the
responsibility to report cases of academic dishonesty to the Academic
Standards Committee."
- This class welcomes viewpoint diversity. See: https://heterodoxacademy.org/teaching-heterodoxy-syllabus-language/
- If you have any questions related to Disability Support Services at Claremont McKenna College, please get in touch
with disabilityservices@cmc.edu.
Required Books [Make
sure that you get the correct editions of the Davidson and Straus books.]
- Roger Davidson, Walter J. Oleszek, Frances E. Lee,
and Eric Schickler Congress and Its Members, 17th
ed. (Washington: CQ Press, 2020).
- John F. Kennedy, Profiles in Courage (New
York: HarperCollins, 2006 [1955]).
- Jill Lawrence, The Art of the Political
Deal (independently published, 2017)
- Jacob R. Straus and Matthew E. Glassman, eds., Party
and Procedure in the United States Congress, 2d ed. (Lanham,
Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield, 2017).
Schedule The schedule is subject to change, with advance
notice.
Jan 22:
Introduction
"The art of the compromise,
Hold your nose and close your eyes.
We want our leaders to save the day,
But we don't get a say in what they trade away."
-- Lin-Manuel Miranda, "The Room Where It Happens," -- our
class anthem.
What are the major functions of Congress?
Jan 27, 29: Two
Political Branches, Two Chambers, Two Congresses, Two
Parties
“Speaker Pelosi wanted leverage -- leverage -- to reach in to the Senate and
dictate our trial proceedings to us. Now I’ve made clear from the beginning
that no such leverage exists.”
– Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Congress is both a
lawmaking body and a representative assembly. It has two distinct
chambers with majority and minority parties. And it must work with the
executive branch while checking it. How do these dualities affect its work?
Feb 3, 5:
Impeachment, Hill Style, Home Style, and Congressional Capacity
“I solemnly swear (or
affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of ____, now pending, I
will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me
God.” -- Oath for Senate Impeachment Trial
What is the purpose of impeachment? What does the current episode reveal about
institutional capacity? What do “Hill
Style” and “Home Style” mean?
Feb 10, 12:
Congressional Elections
"A congressional
campaign is a lot like unmedicated childbirth: it's painful, it's messy, you
don't think you can do what's required even as you're doing it, you likely
consented to it months ago and now you're questioning your decisions, your
likelihood to request drugs increases proportionally as you get closer to the
big event, you gained weight, you don't realize you're screaming but everyone
around you looks distressed, and your mother doesn't remember what it's like.
Also, once you get what you want, you'll never sleep again. I'm sure there are
things I'm missing, but I hear hormones make you forget so you'll do it every
two years." -- Candace Valenzuela (CMC `06), 2020 candidate for US
House, Texas 24.
How do congressional candidates emerge onto the scene? What accounts
for the party balance in the House and Senate?
- Davidson, ch. 3, 4.
- Ceaser, Busch, Pitney, Defying the Odds (ch.
5 and 2018 epilogue). On
Sakai.
Feb 17, 19: Parties and
Leadership
"So why
is compromise so hard in the House? ... [The answer could be this instead:
individual members of Congress are responding fairly rationally to their
incentives. Most members of the House now come from hyperpartisan districts
where they face essentially no threat of losing their seat to the other party.
Instead, primary challenges, especially for Republicans, may be the more
serious risk." -- Nate Silver
How do leaders and
followers influence each other on Capitol Hill?
- Davidson, ch. 6.
- Straus, ch. 3, 13, 14
- Robert Draper, "Nancy Pelosi's Last
Battle," New York Times Magazine, November 25, 2018,
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/magazine/nancy-pelosi-house-democrats.html
- Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, "The Johnson
System," in The Legislative Process in the US Senate, eds.
Lawrence K. Pettit and Edward Keynes (Chicago: Rand-McNally, 1969).
On Sakai.
Feb 24, 26: Process
I
"The Affordable Care Act contains more than a few examples of inartful
drafting." -- Chief Justice John Roberts
Who writes the bills,
and how? What is the role of congressional committees?
- Davidson ch. 7-8
- Straus, ch. 2, 6, 8.
FIVE-PAGE PAPER ASSIGNED FEB 18, DUE IN SAKAI DROPBOX BY MAR 7.
Mar 2, 5: Process
II
"If
procuring votes with offers of employment is what you intend, I’ll fetch a
friend from Albany who can supply the skulking men gifted at this kind of shady
work. Spare me the indignity of actually speaking to Democrats. Spare you the exposure
and liability." -- William Seward (David
Strathairn) in Lincoln
How do members decide
how to vote? What is the relative influence of leadership, constituency,
and ideology? How the "outside
game" of media politics complement the "inside game" of
legislative maneuvering?
- Straus, ch. 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15.
Mar 9, 12: The Art
of the Political Deal
"When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game
But you don’t get a win unless you play in the game."
-- Lin-Manuel Miranda, "The Room Where It Happens"
How do lawmakers engage in deliberation and bargaining?
- Lawrence, all.
- Davidson, ch. 9, 13.
Mar 16, 18: Spring
Break
Mar 23, 25: Congress and
the Executive
"It's a temper tantrum by the president. I'm a mother of five, grandmother
of nine. I know a temper tantrum when I see one."-- Speaker Nancy Pelosi
How do the executive and legislative branches check each other? Do they
intrude on each other's legitimate authority?
Apr 6, 8:
Oversight and the Courts
"Upon written request from the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means
of the House of Representatives, the chairman of the Committee on Finance of
the Senate, or the chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Secretary
shall furnish such committee with any return or return information specified in
such request..." 26 U.S. Code § 6103
How do the branches battle over control of information? How does
Congress try to influence the composition of the judiciary?
SIMULATION WRITEUP DUE IN SAKAI DROPBOX BY FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Apr 13, 15: Budgets and
Domestic Policy
"This Act may be cited as the `Stop the Shutdowns Transferring Unnecessary
Pain and Inflicting Damage In The coming Years Act.'" [aka, The "Stop
STUPDITY Act"] -- Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
What is domestic
policy? How does Congress handle issues such as employment and health
care?
- Davidson, ch. 14.
- Louis Fisher, Constitutional Conflicts Between Congress and the President, 6th ed. (University Press of Kansas, 2014) , ch. 7. On Sakai.
- Straus, ch. 5, 12, 15
Apr 20, 22: National
Security, the Two Congresses, and Political Courage
"Politics are
changing and you don't want to be the last one holding the dog collar when the
oversight committee comes." -- "Dan" (Jason Clarke) to
"Maya" (Jessica Chastain) in Zero Dark Thirty
Can Congress effectively
check the executive branch in wartime? Do lawmakers have the expertise
and information to make decisions about national and homeland security? What is
political courage?
- Davidson, ch. 15-16
- Kennedy, ch. 1.
FOUR-PAGE PAPER ASSIGNED APR 22, DUE IN SAKAI DROPBOX BY MAY 5
Apr 27, 29: Reviewing
Congressional History I
"[B]etween 1830 and
1860, there were more than seventy violent incidents between
congressmen in the House and Senate chambers or nearby streets and dueling
grounds, most of them long forgotten...I found canings, duel negotiations, and
duels; shoving and fistfights; brandished pistols and bowie knives; wild melees
in the House; and street fights with fists and the occasional brick."
-- Joanne Freeman, The Field of Blood.
How does today's
Congress compare with that of the past? Have lawmakers gotten better or
worse?
May 4, 6: Reviewing
Congressional History II
"It may take
courage to battle one's president, one's party, or the overwhelming sentiment
of one's nation; but these do not compare, it seems to me, to the courage
required of the Senate defying the angry power of the very constituents who
control his future." -- John F. Kennedy
How had divided
government worked since the Second World War? Why has polarization waxed
and waned?