In this course we will be conducting a three week legislative simulation based on the rules and procedures of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Each student will be given a role to play throughout the simulation.  It is expected that participation in the simulation will extend each student's understanding of legislative behavior, rules and procedures of the U.S. House of Representatives and the roles that other political actors (e.g., the president, interest groups, etc.) play in the law making process.

This course is going to take an enormous amount of work.  Almost all of the class time will be spent in the simulation, which means that role research, the writing of legislation, etc. will be done outside of class.  There will be two, short, multiple choice quizzes on the committee process and floor procedure, but most of the grade will be based on a final project to be due on the last day of class.
 

Required Books:

SIMCONG:  Congressional Simulation Manual (Smith)

How Congress Works  (Congressional Quarterly Press)

Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process (Olezsak)

Final Project

Depending upon the role that each student is playing, the final project should include the following information.  I will meet with each group of students at some point during the first week of class to discuss any other information that should be included.
 

• detailed summary of role
• copies of legislation written by the student and an explanation of the part that person (and anyone else) played in getting that legislation written and passed
• schedule of meetings with lobbyists, executive advisors, press people, constituents (the instructor), etc.
• contributions report (for legislators, executive, and lobbyists)
• group rankings of legislators (for lobbyists)
• copies of articles written (for press)
• copies of articles written about you (for everyone else)
• written paper answering the following question (To be handed out the first day of class)

Presidential Addresses

State of the Union Address

Class Pictures

Important and Useful Links:

Information regarding the House of Representatives, Bill Tracking, Congressional Publications

Information regarding interest groups and campaign finance

Information regarding other branches of government