1. Pick any bill from the 116th (2019-2020) Congress. Explain its fate. Instead of giving a mere chronology, tell why the measure moved or stalled. What happened to previous versions? Which groups or blocs backed and fought it? Did the administration take a position? Which strategies and tactics did its friends and foes use? Even if it failed or stalled, did it prompt the passage of a similar measure in a different form? Look at parliamentary strategies, major amendments, and roll calls. Again, you should explain the outcome, not just describe the process. Some possible topics:
- HR 6395 (defense authorization)
- HR 5430 (NAFTA update)
- HR 8 (background checks)
- HR 1 (political reform)
- HR 4 (elections)
- HJ Res 77 (Syria)
- HJ Res 76 (student loans)
- S.J. Res 7 (Yemen)
- SJ Res 36 (Saudi arms sales)
- SJ Res 68 (Iran war powers)
3. Pick pending legislation that has not yet passed either house. Write a memo to its prime sponsor detailing a plausible strategy for securing its passage at least in one chamber. In your answer, consider all phases of the legislative process and take account of the influence of interest groups and the administration.
Get background from a source such as CQ Magazine where you may find the partisan breakdown of roll-call votes. .
Other possible sources include:
- Statements of Administration Policy -- indications of whether POTUS will sign or veto.
- Congress.gov (http://www.congress.gov/) -- official site for bill summary and status
- GovTrack (http://www.govtrack.us/) – unofficial site for congressional information
- ProQuest Congressional (http://congressional.proquest.com/profiles/gis/search/basic/basicsearch ). -- many congressional documents including searchable Congressional Record. If your computer will not accept this URL, go through the library web page (http://library.claremont.edu). Click “databases,” then the letter “P,” then “ProQuest Congressional.”)
- Committee web pages, which usually contain testimony and text of reports. See http://www.house.gov/committees/ or https://www.senate.gov/committees/index.htm
- ProPublica tools and websites at https://projects.propublica.org/represent/
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- Essays should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than five pages long. I will not read past the fifth page.
- Cite your sources with endnotes in standard Turabian format. Endnote pages do not count against the page limit.
- Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you. Return essays (as Word documents, not pdfs) to the Sakai dropbox by 11:59 PM, Friday, March 5. I reserve the right to dock papers will one gradepoint for one day’s lateness, a full letter grade after that.
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