The Republicans who took control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1994 for the first time in 40 years promised a transformation of that powerful but also unpopular American political institution, the Congress. Yet institutions often have a life of their own, which suggests that today's Republican Congress, even under self-described revolutionaries like Newt Gingrich and Trent Lott, may have a great deal in common with its Democratic predecessors. This course investigates changes and continuities in the politics of Capitol Hill since the Republican takeover. We look at Congress's abilities, then and now, to both represent the people and act on behalf of the public interest in passing legislation. The first half of the course focuses on congressional elections-in particular, whether they impose accountability to the people that elected them and/or to their "cash constituents" who financed their campaigns. The second half turns to how Congress is organized (or not) to make decisions, where power lies on Capitol Hill and what that means for the prospects of congressional leadership, and the nature of congressional policymaking and policies. Requirements: two critical essays and a self-scheduled final exam. No prerequisites. Open to first-year students with Advanced Placement credit in American politics. American Politics Subfield