PSC 213W: The U.S. Congress



Course Material

Syllabus
Course Readings
Web Resources
First Short Paper Assignment
Interpreting Regression Results
Final Paper Assignment
Final Paper Proposal
Second Short Paper Assignment


Course Schedule (updated throughout semester)

Class 1 (Sept. 2)
– Course Overview
Class 2 (Sept. 9)
– Topic 1: Public Opinion and Congress, Readings [1]-[4]
Class 3 (Sept. 16)
– Topic 2: Ideology in Congress, Readings [1]-[5], Discussion of First Short Paper
Class 4 (Sept. 23)
– Topic 3: Representation, Readings [1]-[7]
Class 5 (Sept. 30)
– Topic 4: Redistricting and Gerrymandering, Readings [1]-[5], First Short Paper Due, Discussion of Suggested Paper Topics
Class 6 (Oct. 7)
– No Reading Assigned, More Discussion of Suggested Paper Topics
Class 7 (Oct. 14)
– Topic 5: Budget Politics, Readings [1]-[7]
Class 8 (Oct. 21)
– Topic 6: Legislative Procedure, C-Span Senate Proceedings, Readings [1]-[2]
Class 9 (Oct. 28)
– No Reading Assigned, C-Span House Proceedings, Proposal for Final Paper Due
Class 10 (Nov. 4)
– Topic 7: Gridlock, Readings [1]-[3]
Class 11 (Nov. 11)
– Topic 8: Committees (part 1), Readings [1]-[3], Discussion of Second Short Paper
Class 12 (Nov. 18)
– Topic 9: Committees (part 2), Readings [1]-[2], Second Short Paper Due
Class 13 (Nov. 25)
– Topic 10: Partisan Theories, Readings [1]-[4]
Class 14 (Dec. 2)
– Topic 11: The Filibuster, Readings [1]-[3]
Class 15 (Dec. 9)
– Discussion of Final Papers, Final Papers Due