POLS 3364 LEGISLATIVE PROCESSES

Fall Semester AY2002-2003
Department of Political Science
University of Houston
Houston, TX, 77204-3011

Classroom: 343 PGH
Time: 10:00AM - 11:30AM Tuesday and Thursday

Instructor: Keith T. Poole

Office: 447 Hoffman Hall
E-Mail: kpoole@ucsd.edu
WebSite: Voteview Home Page
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1:30PM - 3:00PM

Requirements

1. The Historical Origins of the U.S. Congress
   
   Assignment:
   
   
• Chapters 1, 2 and 3, Analyzing Congress
  
• The U.S. Constitution, Appendix B of Analyzing Congress
  
  
2. Congress and the Political System: The Current State of Affairs
   
   Assignment:
   
   
• Preface and Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 7, Congress Reconsidered
  
  
• Overheads 10 September 2002
  
• Overheads 12 September 2002
  
• Overheads 17 and 19 September 2002
  
  
3. Ideology, Party, and Polarization in Congress
   
   Assignment:
   
   
• Chapter 7, Analyzing Congress
  
• Chapters 11, 12, 15, and 16, Congress Reconsidered
  
• Chapters 1 - 4, and 6, Congress: A Political-Economic History of Roll Call Voting
  
  
• Summary: Changes in Congress 1947 - 2002
  
• The Spatial Model of Voting
  
• The 107^th Congress
  
• The Importance of Redistricting
  
• The Ideological Structure of Congressional Roll Call Voting
  
• The Polarization of the Congressional Parties
  
• 9 October 2002: The Senate in the News
  
• The Roman Senate and Strategic Voting
  
• The Paradox of Voting
  
• 10 October 2002: The Senate in the News
  
• The Powell Amendment
  
• McKelvey's "Chaos" Theorem
  
• 15 October 2002: The Senate in the News
  
  
4. Congressional Elections
   
   Assignment:
   
   
• Chapters 4, 5, and 6, Analyzing Congress
  
• Chapters 4, 5, and 6, Congress Reconsidered
  
• Chapter 5, Congress: A Political-Economic History of Roll Call Voting
  
  
• Close Senate Races in 2002
  
• Close House Races in 2002
  
• Democrats: 1946 - 2000 Seats vs. Votes
  
• Republicans: 1946 - 2000 Seats vs. Votes
  
• Midterm Loss of Seats by the President's Party -- Table 4-3 Stewart
  
• 25 October 2002: The Death of Paul Wellstone
  
• President Bush Raises Money For Congressional Candidates
  
• The Democratic Boogeymen in the Senate
  
• Turnout in Elections
  
• Controversy in Minnesota (FOX)
  
• Controversy in Minnesota (CNN)
  
• Wealthy Candidates Spend Big in Races (CNN)
  
• Progressive Ambition
  
• Campaign Spending
  
• 2002 Elections
  
• Court Nominees Go Through (FOX)
  
• Homeland Security Bill (FOX)
  
• Figures From Analyzing Congress Chapters 4 and 5
  
• Supreme Court to Hear Campaign Finance Case (FOX)
  
• Homeland Security Bill (AP-CNN)
  
• Homeland Security Bill (CNN)
  
• Senate Democrats Target Judicial Nominee (CNN)
  
• Figures From Erikson and Wright
  
  
5. The Internal Organization of Congress
   
   Assignment:
   
   
• Chapters 8 and 9, Analyzing Congress
  
• Chapters 8, 9 and 10, Congress Reconsidered
  
• Chapter 9, Congress: A Political-Economic History of Roll Call Voting
  
  
• Inside the Sausage Factory -- How a Bill Becomes a Law
  
• The Committee System
  
• Figures From Chapter 8 Analyzing Congress
  
• Figures From Chapter 9 Analyzing Congress
  
• Homeland Security Bill Signing Ceremony (AP)
  
• Campaign Finance Watchdogs Sniff a Rat (FOX)
  
• Figures From Chapter 8 Congress: A Political-Economic History of Roll Call Voting
  
• Figures From Chapters 8, 9, and 10 Congress Reconsidered
  
• Kentucky's Lucas weighs switch to GOP (CNN)
  
• CBC Wants to Collect on Democratic Delivery (AP-FOX)
  
  

• Course Review as of 4 December 2002
  

6. Congress, the Growth of Government, and the Economy
   
   Assignment:
   
   
• Chapters 13, 14, and 17, Congress Reconsidered
  
• Chapter 11, Congress: A Political-Economic History of Roll Call Voting