Class will be conducted in
seminar style with particular students as discussion leaders in most classes. Coming
to each class fully prepared is absolutely essential. Students who have not
done the assigned reading for the class may be asked to leave. Students
should also keep up to date on the latest news from Congress, as matching the
reality of Congressional action with legislative theory will be a recurring
theme of discussion. Students will also participate in a legislative
simulation, taking the roles of members of Congress and lobbyists.
Simulation Reports: Each student will be responsible for crafting two
short simulation reports. The exact assignment for the simulation-prep report
depend on students’ individual roles in the simulation. Students playing
lobbyists will do short research reports that seek to persuade the students
playing members of Congress to act on behalf of their respective interest
group. Students playing members of Congress will write reports on their
members’ backgrounds, constituencies, and ideological commitments. Either of
these papers will be 4-5 pages. All students will also write a 2-3 page
post-simulation assessment report which will explain and justify students’
individual actions in the simulation and examine the reasons for success or
failure. Papers will be graded on both form and content. Grades for
late papers will be reduced one third grade for each day late with a maximum
of one full grade reduction.
Group Board Game Project: Groups of four or five students will design
and construct a board game to model some aspect of Congressional life.
Possibilities topics include the electoral process, the legislative process,
constituent relations, and Congressional careers. Groups will submit periodic
progress reports through the semester and present a preliminary design scheme
in class. Games must include a comprehensive set of rules and a bibliographic
essay. Games will also be evaluated by guest evaluators based on
Verisimilitude, Pedagogical value, Comprehensiveness, Amusement value, Beauty,
and Je ne sais quoi.
Research Paper: Each students will write a 12-15 page research paper.
Suggested topics will be distributed in class. Papers will be graded on
both form and content. Grades for late papers will be reduced one third
grade for each day late with a maximum of one full grade reduction.
Assignments
