POS4424 Legislative Politics
Fall 2013
David Hedge
218 Anderson Hall
Ph: 273-2367
Email: dhedge@ufl.edu
Course Webpage:
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/dhedge/congress.htm
Office Hours:
M,W 10:30 -11:30, T 9-11:00 and by apt
COURSE OVERVIEW
This is an important time to be studying the U. S,
Congress. The 2010 mid-term and the 2012 elections
illustrate how volatile Congressional and American politics
have become in recent years. Divided government aside,
the problems facing America require at least some action from
the Congress and the president. That will not be easy.
Congress is a complex institution that is pulled in several
different directions by a myriad of influences within and
outside its walls. Throughout the semester, we will look
at how those influences shape the Congress’ ability to
represent the American people while working with the President
and others to govern wisely. Among the topics we will consider
are: (a) recruitment and election
of members; (b) congressional
organization; (c) executive-legislative
relations; (d) legislative policy-making;
and (e) congressional reform. In doing
that, a number of issues will be addressed, including:
* What kinds of changes have occurred in the basic operations
of the Congress in recent decades? What are the
implications of those changes for the quality of congressional
life?
* What forces operate in congressional elections?
How have congressional elections changed in recent
years? What changes, if any, need to be made
in how congressional elections are financed and contested?
* What should be the respective roles of Congress and the
President?
* To what extent is the Congress able to produce effective
public policies that are responsive to the needs and demands
of the American people? What institutional
characteristics contribute to and detract from Congress’
ability to govern and govern wisely?
* What changes are needed to make Congress a viable democratic
institution? To what extent, and in what ways, are those
changes likely to occur in the first decades of the new
century?
THE
COURSE WEB PAGE—I have created a
web page for this course at the address listed
above. It includes links to the course syllabus
and a number of relevant web sites. I have also
created a course listserv.
TEXTS—Students are expected to
purchase the following texts:
Davidson, Roger, Walter
Oleszek, Frances Lee and Eric Schickler. 2014. Congress and
its Members. 14th ed. (CQ Press)
Maraniss,
David and Michael Weisskopf. 1998. “Tell Newt to Shut
Up!” (Touchstone)
Mayhew, David. 1994. Congress: The Electoral
Connection, 2nd ed. (Yale University Press)
I have (or will) also created
links (labeled @) to a series of articles on the on-line
version of the course syllabus.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS\EXPECTATIONS
1.
Students with disabilities requesting classroom accommodation
must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean
of Students Office will provide documentation to the student
who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor
when requesting accommodation. Anyone with a disability should
feel free to see the professor during office hours to make the
necessary arrangements.
2.
Students are expected to attend class regularly and
participate in class discussion.
3.
The level of readings for this course is moderately
heavy. I expect you to read all of the assignments (on
schedule) and be prepared to discuss those materials in class.
4. Current events in Washington provide an exciting
backdrop for the course. The New York Times, The
Washington Post, the Washington Times, The Wall Street
Journal, The PBS Newshour, and the Sunday talk shows are
excellent sources of information on current political
developments.
5.
Throughout the term each of you will be asked to write a
series (7-9) of short (1-2 pages) written assignments.
There will be two exams. Each exam will consist of
a combination of multiple choice and essay questions. The
first exam is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 14 and
the second exam will be held on the last day of class.
The final grade will be apportioned as follows:
Short Written Assignments 20%
Exam # 1
40%
Exam # 2
40%
Incompletes are only
given in rare and deserving cases and at the discretion of the
instructor. Student who believe that they will not be able to
complete all the requirements for the course in due time have
to discuss an “I” (Incomplete) grade with the
instructor. Students will have to sign an “Incomplete
Contract” (available at http://www.clas.ufl.edu/forms/) and complete all
their requirements by a set date. Students should be aware
that “I” grades become punitive after one term.
Grading Scale:
90-100
A
87-89 A-
84-86
B+
80-83 B
77-79
B-
74-76 C+
70-73
C
67-69 C-
64-66
D+
60-63 D
57-59
D- Below 57 E
Please note: a C- is
not a qualifying grade for major, minor, Gen Ed, Gordon Rule,
or College Basic distribution credit. For more information, go
to: http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html
6. Students are expected
to comply with UF’s Academic Honesty Guidelines
Students who commit an act of academic dishonesty will
recieve the appropriate sanctions. For more information, go
to: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/studentguide/studentrights.php
.
COURSE OUTLINE AND READING
ASSIGNMENTS
Congress:
An Overview
Topic: Judging the Congress
Readings: Rieselbach, 1994, “Congressional Reform” (class
handout)
Davidson et al.,
Chapter 1.
Topic: A Changing Congress
Readings:
Davidson et al. , Chapters 1
and 2.
Shepsle, “The Changing
Textbook Congress.” @
Mayhew, Congress:
The Electoral Connection. ALL.
Klein, "14
Reasons why this is the worst Congress ever." Washington
Post Online. July 13, 2012. @
Summers,
"When
gridlock is good." Washington Post Online.
April 14, 2013. @
Cillizza, "Are
'grand bargains' still possible?" Washington
Post Online. January 6, 2013. @
Selection of
Legislators
Topics: Districting and Apportionment, Nomination Politics,
Campaign Finance,
The Voter,
Election Outcomes
,Campaign Reform
Readings: Davidson et al. Chapters 3
and 4.
Murray, “Candidacy Fosters
a Debate on Race,” July 6, 2006,
Washington Post online. @
The Legislator
Topics: Membership Profiles , Members and Their
Districts
Readings: Davidson et, Ch. 5.
Gambrell, "The113th
Congress, by the Numbers." Bloomberg Bunessweek
Online. January 10, 2013. @
Chaddock, "Retiring
senators: Why are so many calling it quits." Christian
Science Monitor Online, February 22, 2010. @
Goldmacher, "Why
Would Anyone Want to run for Congress?" National
Journal,
April 23, 2013. @
Term
Limits: The Cato Institute, A case for limits.@
Rep Henry
Hyde (R) A case against
term limits @
Organizing
Congress
Topics: Informal Norms, Informal Groups
Readings: Davidson et al.pp. 110-111,
157-58.
Kane, "Reid-McConnell
clash latest evidence that genteel Senate has turned into a
fight club." @
Topic: The Committee System
Readings: Davidson ,et al. Chapter 7.
Special Report: House
Armed Services Committee National Journal Online @
June 2013.
Topic: The Party System
Readings: Davidson et al. Chapter 6.
Kane “The Rise, fall, and rise
of John Boehner,” Washington Post Online.
October 27, 2010, @
Cilliza.
"5
Reasons why being Speaker of the House ain't what it used
to be." Washington Post Online .January 3, 2013. @
“Tell Newt To Shut
Up!” ALL
Executive-Legislative
Relations
Topic:
Congress and the President
Readings: Davidson et al. Chapters 10
and 15
Topic:
Congress and the Bureaucracy
Readings: Davidson et al. Chapter 11.
Hedge and Johnson. July, 2002.
“The Plot that
Failed: The Republican Revolution and Congressional
Control of the Bureaucracy.” Journal of Public
Administration Research and Theory. UF e-journals.
Congress and the
Courts
Readings: Davidson et al., Ch. 12.
Sargent, "Obama
says GOP obstruction of nominations in 'unprecendented'
What if he's right? Washington Post online. June
4, 2013. @
Halloran, "Skim Milk, States Rights and Political Clout: The High Court and Doma." NPR online. March 27, 2013. @
Congress and Organized Interests
Congressional
Decision-Making
Topics:
Individual Decision Making
, Collective Decision Making
Readings:
Davidson et al.
Chapters 8, 9
Packer,
"The Empty Chamber Just How Broken is the Senate?" The
New Yorker online. August 9, 2010. @