Congressional Norms in an Era of Conflict - April 8, 2021
Channel: Brian Alexander
Date: 2021-04-09

The U.S. Congress depends on informal rules — norms — to function.  Many traditional norms such as courtesy and reciprocity are under siege in this age of partisan conflict.  What are the congressional norms of today?  How are they changing?  Can the Congress function if traditional norms go by the wayside?  Five expert panelists including political scientists and a former member of Congress discuss.
 
The panel features:
 
- JULIA AZARI. Marquette University. Author of Delivering The People's Message: The Changing Politics of the Presidential Mandate (2014).
- MATT GREEN. Catholic University. Author of the forthcoming, Newt Gingrich:  A Study of Party Entrepreneurship (with Jeffrey Crouch).
- JENNIFER LAWLESS. University of Virginia. Author of Women on the Run: Gender, Media, ,and Political Campaigns in a Polarized Era (2016, with Danny Hayes).
- DON WOLFENSBERGER. The Wilson Center. Author of Changing Cultures in Congress: From Fair Play to Power Plays (2018).
- THE HONORABLE ROB WOODALL (Ret. GA-7). Congressman Woodall served on the House Committee on Rules, the House Budget Committee, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
- BRIAN ALEXANDER.  Moderator. Washington and Lee University. Author of A Social Theory of Congress: Legislative Norms in the Twenty-First Century (2021).

The program was made with the support of the Department of Politics at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia