Political Science 3312
Congress and the Legislative Process
Professor David R. Jones
Section TV24 2:30-3:45, VC 4180
Fall 2010
Office: B-5278; 646-312-4418
Hours: Tu, Th 12:30-1:30
e-mail: David.Jones@baruch.cuny.edu
Learning Goals for this Course
Students will learn the factors that influence who wins election to Congress, the role this electoral process plays in
the behavior of its members while in office, the institutional features, organizational structure and norms of Congress
that influence the lawmaking process, and the dynamics of interbranch relationships between Congress and the
executive branch as well as between Congress and the courts.
Course Requirements
1. Attendance is mandatory and you must be on time. Students who are consistently late or have excessive
unexcused absences will be dropped from the course.
2. Arrive prepared for discussion. Complete the readings (listed below) before the class for which they are assigned
and be ready to participate in class discussions.
3. Be respectful in class. Do not have any private conversations once class begins. Turn off all mobile phones and
texting devices. In general, no electronic devices are allowed to be on without my prior permission.
4. Check the course’s Blackboard site regularly for updated class notices, dates, readings, and grades.
Grading
Class participation will count as 10% of your grade. The remainder of your grade consists of several short
homework assignments totaling 10% of your grade, two research papers each worth 20% of your grade, a midterm
worth 20% of your grade, and a final exam worth 20% of your grade. The exams will be closed book and will cover
readings, lectures, and classroom discussions. If you miss an exam or a paper deadline you will automatically fail
the course. Makeup exams will not be given, unless approved before the exam. Same policy for homeworks and
papers: NO LATE HOMEWORKS OR PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO.
Specifics regarding the writing assignments will be discussed in class and posted on the Blackboard website. If you
have any disabilities that need to be accommodated, you must contact the Disability Services Office: 646.312.4590.
Academic Honesty
Baruch College’s policy on Academic Honesty is rigorously enforced in this class. For details on what constitutes
academic dishonesty—including cheating and plagiarism—see the school website:
www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html. If questions remain, ask me. Ignorance is not an
acceptable excuse. My policy is to give a failing grade for the entire course if you plagiarize any assignment or cheat
on any exam. In addition, I am required by College policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to
the Dean of Students office. This report becomes part of your permanent file, and you may be expelled from Baruch.
Required Readings
Davidson, Roger, Walter J. Oleszek and Frances E. Lee. 2009. Congress and Its Members. 12th edition.
Washington, DC. CQ Press. [DOL]
Additional required readings will be made available on the Blackboard [BB] website.
Blackboard Contents
On our Blackboard site you will find many materials useful to you in this class. These include:
 A copy of the course syllabus
 Updates regarding the course schedule and relevant due dates (“Announcements”)
 Advice for note taking and studying for this class (“Course Documents”)
 Recommended news sources for current events information (“Course Documents”)
 Recommended resources for research on congressional topics (“Course Documents”)
 Grades posted after each assignment and exam (“Course Documents”)
 Additional recommended readings for each topic (“Course Documents”)
 Homeworks, after they are assigned (“Assignments”)
Questions
I welcome all of your questions related to the class and congressional politics in general. Please feel free to raise
your hand with a question during class, visit me in my office, email me during the week, or speak with me briefly
before or after class.
Course Schedule (All dates are subject to change)
8/26
Introduction to the course; background and overview
8/31
Theories of representation and elections
Readings: DOL, ch. 1, 2
9/2
Who represents New York in Congress?
Readings:
[BB] Read the 3 profiles of Gillibrand, Schumer, Rangel
HW due:
Know your district
Introduction to congressional elections: “Can Mr. Smith Go to Washington Anymore?”
Readings:
DOL ch 3: pp. 59-69
[9/9 No classes at Baruch]
[9/14 Classes follow a Friday schedule (this class does not meet)]
9/16
Elections: Rules; paper assignment given
Readings:
DOL, ch. 3: pp. 39-59
9/7
9/23
Elections: Candidates & Incumbency
Readings:
DOL, ch 3: pp. 59-69; ch. 5: pp. 147-155
9/28
Elections: Campaigns and Information
Readings:
DOL, ch 3: pp. 70-85; ch. 4: 91-104
9/30
Elections: Voters
Readings:
DOL, ch. 4: pp. 104-117
10/5
National Forces in Congressional Elections
Readings:
DOL, ch. 4: pp. 117-123
10/7
Campaign Strategy
Readings:
DOL, ch. 4: pp. 87-91
10/12
Election outcomes: representativeness and responsiveness
Paper assignment due
10/14
Midterm exam
10/19
Introduction to legislative politics: “Obama’s Deal”
Readings:
[BB] Cohn 2010, “How They Did It”
10/21
Freshman orientation in Congress
Readings:
[BB] Sidlow 2007, “Setting Up Shop”
10/26
Organization: Parties and Leaders
Readings:
DOL, ch. 6
10/28
Organization: Committees
Readings:
DOL, ch. 7
HW due:
Committee politics
[11/2 class cancelled—Election Day—VOTE!]
11/4
House Procedures
Readings:
DOL, ch. 8: pp. 237-259
11/9
11/11
Senate Procedures
Readings:
Readings:
DOL, ch. 8: pp.259-266
[BB] Packer 2010, “The Empty Chamber”
Resolving Bicameral Differences
Readings:
DOL, ch. 8: pp. 266-269
11/16
Legislative Behavior
Readings:
DOL, ch. 9, 13
11/18
Presidential-Congressional Relations; paper assignment given
Readings:
DOL, ch. 10
11/23
Foreign Policy
Readings:
DOL, ch. 15
Oversight
Readings:
DOL, ch. 11
11/30
12/2
Congress and the Courts
Readings:
DOL, ch. 12
12/7
Budget Process
Readings:
DOL, ch. 14
12/9
Conclusion / evaluations / papers due
Readings:
DOL, ch. 16
12/21
FINAL EXAM 3:30-5:30pm (same room as class)