Course Readings

 

 

Topic 1: Public Opinion and Congress

[1] Stewart, Charles (2001). Analyzing Congress. Chapter 1.

[2] Fiorina, Morris P. (2006). Culture War: The Myth of a Polarized America. Chapters 1, 2, and 4.

[3] Abramowitz, Alan I. and Kyle L. Saunders (2008). Is Polarization and Myth?. Journal of Politics 70:542-555.

[4] Fiorina, Morris P., Samuel A. Abrams, and Jeremy C. Pope (2008). Polarization in the American Public: Misconceptions and Misreadings. Journal of Politics 70:556-560.

 

Topic 2: Ideology in Congress

[1] Cohen, Richard E. (2004). Kerry Most Liberal Senator. National Journal, February 27, 2004.

[2] Friel, Brian, Richard E. Cohen, and Kirk Victor (2008). Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007. National Journal, January 31, 2008.

[3] McCarty, Nolan, Keith T. Poole, and Howard Rosenthal (2006). Polarized America: The Dance of Ideology and Unequal Riches. Cambridge: The MIT Press. Chapter 2, pgs. 15-32.

[4] Poole, Keith T., and Howard Rosenthal (1997). Congress: A Political-Economic History of Roll Call Voting. Chapters 2 and 3.

[5] Carroll, Royce, Jeff Lewis, James Lo, Nolan McCarty, Keith Poole, and Howard Rosenthal (2008). Who is More Liberal, Senator Obama or Senator Clinton?.

 

Topic 3: Representation

[1] Erikson, Robert S. and Gerald C. Wright (2005). Voters, Candidates, and Issues in Congressional Elections. In Congress Reconsidered, 8th Edition, Edited by Dodd, Lawrence C. and Bruce I. Oppenheimer. Washington: CQ Press. Chapter 4.

[2] Ansolabehere, Stephen, James M. Snyder, Jr., and Charles Stewart, III (2001). Candidate Positioning in U.S. House Elections. American Journal of Political Science 45:136-149.

[3] Canes-Wrone, Brandice, David W. Brady, and John F. Cogan (2002). Out of Step, Out of Office: Electoral Accountability of House Members’ Voting. American Political Science Review 1:127-140.

[4] Nagourney, Adam (2003). Political Parties Shift Emphasis to Core Voters. New York Times, August 30, 2003.

[5] Milbank, Dana and Mike Allen (2004). Bush Fortifies Conservative Base: Campaign Seeks Solid Support Before Wooing Swing Voters. Washington Post, July 15, 2004.

[6] Miniter, Brendan (2005). The McCain Myth: The Moderation the Makes Him a Senate Powerhouse Will Keep Him Out of the White House. Wall Street Journal, May 31, 2005.

[7] Spretnak, Charlene (2000). How Gore Lost the Green Vote. San Francisco Chronicle, November 19, 2000.

 

Topic 4: Redistricting and Gerrymandering

[1] Stewart, Charles III (2001). Analyzing Congress. Pages 199-213.

[2] Toobin, Jeffrey (2006). Drawing the Line: Will Tom Delay’s Redistricting in Texas Cost Him His Seat?. The New Yorker, March 6, 2006.

[3] Lithwick, Dahlia (2006). Mess With Texas: The Supreme Court Has Another Look at Partisan Gerrymanders. Slate.com, March 1, 2006.

[4] Shotts, Kenneth W. (2003). Does Racial Redistricting Cause Conservative Policy Outcomes? Policy Preferences of Southern Representatives in the 1980s and 1990s. Journal of Politics 65:216-226.

[5] The Redistricting Game. (Optional)

 

Topic 5: Budget Politics

[1] Oleszek, Walter J. (2007). Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process. Chapter 2.

[2] Alvarez, R. Michael, and Jason L. Saving (1997). Congressional Committees and the Political Economy of Federal Outlays. Public Choice 92:55-73.

[3] Arnold, R. Douglas (1979). Congress and the Bureaucracy: A Theory of Influence. Pages 129-137.

[4] Engber, Daniel (2006). What’s an Earmark? No One Knows for Sure. Slate.com, April 6, 2006.

[5] Smolowe, Jill (1995). Sticks and Stones. Time, November 27, 1995.

[6] Haveman, Joel (2005). Last-Minute Swap Let Spending Bill Through. Los Angeles Times, December 24, 2005.

[7] Simon, Richard, Tom Hamburger, and Lance Pugmire (2006). Rep. Calvert’s Land of Plenty. Los Angeles Times, May 15, 2006.

 

Topic 6: Legislative Procedure / C-Span Week[1]

[1] Oleszek, Walter J. (2007). Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process. Chapters 5 and 7.

[2] Saturno, James V. (2006). How Measures Are Brought to the House Floor: A Brief Introduction. Congressional Research Service Report.

 

Topic 7: Gridlock

[1] Binder, Sarah A. (1999). The Dynamics of Legislative Gridlock, 1947-1996. American Political Science Review 93: 519–33.   

[2] Krehbiel, Keith (1998). Pivotal Politics. Chapter 2 and 3.

[3] Bumiller, Elisabeth (2006). For President, Final Say on a Bill Sometimes Comes After Signing. New York Times, January 16, 2006.

 

Topic 8: Committees (part 1)

[1] Stewart, Charles III (2001). Analyzing Congress. Chapter 8.

[2] King, David C. (1997). Turf Wars. Chapter 1.

[3] Krehbiel, Keith (1991). Information and Legislative Organization. Chapter 2 and 3.

 

Topic 9: Committees (part 2)

[1] Fenno, Richard F., Jr. (1973). Congressmen in Committees. Pages 1-26.

[2] Shepsle, Kenneth A. (1978). The Giant Jigsaw Puzzle. Chapter 3.

 

Topic 10: Partisan Theories

[1] Stewart, Charles III (2001). Analyzing Congress. Pages 257-269.

[2] Kiewiet, D. Roderick, and Matthew D. McCubbins (1991). The Logic of Delegation: Congressional Parties and the Appropriations Process. Chapter 3.

[3] Cox, Gary W., and Matthew D. McCubbins (1993). Legislative Leviathan: Party Government in the House. Chapter 7.

[4] Cox, Gary D. and Matthew D. McCubbins (2005). Setting the Agenda: Responsible Party Government in the U.S. House of Representatives. Chapter 2, Chapter 5, pgs. 87-96.

 

Topic 11: The Filibuster

[1] Binder, Sarah A., and Steven S. Smith (1997). Politics or Principle? Filibustering in the United States Senate. Chapter 1 and 2.

[2] Klotz, Robert (2004). The Nuclear Option for Stopping Filibusters. PS: Political Science and Politics 37:843-846.

[3] Palmer, Betsy (2005). Changing the Senate Rules: The ‘Constitutional’ or ‘Nuclear’ Option. Congressional Research Service Report.


[1] In class, we will view select sessions of the House and Senate, in particular, in relation to campaign finance reform. The readings will provide background on campaign finance reform and background on legislative procedure.