Week 1: Keystone and the Goals of Congress

What is the key point of Keystone? Three parts:

1. What is the organizing principle of Congress?
2. What is the motivation?
3. What is the consequence?

Who or what makes up the `Washington Establishment? What roles do they play? Is Fiorina's perspective persuasive and what alternatives exist? Consider:

1. Interest group liberalism .
2. Enlightened public servants.
3. Some combination of them all.

What resources do Congressmen control? Consider the selective benefits available to Congressman (privileges available as a consequence of holding office):

1. Publicity
2. Constituency service
3. Legislative

Be able to give examples for each category and explanations of the relevance of each. Should we be afraid of the use of publicity and constituency service resources--what threats do they pose according to Fiorina? What about the way legislative resources have been used, according to Fiorina? Consider carefully the logic presented on p.46 of Keystone.