Reforming Congress – Andy Ballard, American University

November 9, 2021  

  • Video
  • 0:15- Background
  • 2:45- Broad areas of research
  • 5:50- How does dealmaking work in Congress?
  • 13:05- Are there different behaviors based on the different types of decisions?
  • 17:07- Traits relating to compromise-behavior
  • 17:43- Are there catalysts to compromise?
  • 20:50- Polarization and compromise
  • 22:05- How do rewards help with party discipline?
  • 29:46- What are the exact rewards that can be given?
  • 31:12- Exchanging policy for policy
  • 35:52- Agenda Control
  • 46:30- Co-sponsorships
  • 50:35- Rules in the chambers
  • 52:24- Minority Capacity Concept
    [Lightning Round]
  • 59:13 – What should congressional representation mean?
  • 1:05:22 – How would your ideal Congress allocate its time?
  • 1:07:30 – How should debate, deliberation, or dialogue occur or be structured in Congress?
  • 1:10:02 – What fundamental institutional improvement should Congress make in the next 50 years?
  • 1:12:11- What book or article most shaped your thinking with respect to congressional reform?
  • 1:13:25- Research plans for the long term
Ballard-transcript