2022: A Year in Review

As 2022 draws to a close, we at the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) wanted to take the time to reflect on our accomplishments and what lies ahead in the new year, as well as to thank you for your contributions to the CEL.

We are proud to present the Center for Effective Lawmaking Annual Report for 2021-2022. Here you will see highlights from the last academic year, including:

• Hosting our 3rd and 4th Annual Research Conferences, as well as the respective recipients of the Best Publication on Effective Lawmaking award.

• Hosting the discussion panel “Race & Political Representation Inside & Outside of Congress”.

• Hosting the online event “Capitol Conversations: Hoos on the Hill and the Life of a Staffer”.

• Presenting Conversations with Lawmakers entries where we interviewed Representative Barney Frank and journalist Robert Kaiser, as well as Senator Bill Frist.

• Releasing our working paper “The Gender Gap in Political Ambition: Everything You Need to Know in 10 Charts” and hosted an accompanying discussion with co-author Jennifer Lawless.

• Introducing our newest Faculty Affiliates: David Barker, Jesse Crosson, Erinn Lauterbach, and Leah Rosenstiel.

Other exciting activities at the CEL have included:

• Distributing our New Member Guide to all recently elected members of Congress.

• Co-hosting a retreat with the Stennis Center for Public Service.

• Co-hosting the event “Success in the States: How Outstanding State Lawmakers Lead and Govern”.

• Contributing to a panel discussion hosted by the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership about “Measuring the Effectiveness of Public Leaders”.

• Presenting the latest entry in our Conversations with Lawmakers series with an interview with Representative Will Hurd.

• Releasing our newest working paper “Congressional Town Halls and Legislative Effectiveness”.

• Announcing the recipients of our 2022-2023 small grant awards.

• Introducing our newest Advisory Board Member: Representative Tom Davis.

• Introducing our newest Graduate Affiliates: Patrick Buhr and Emily Cottle Ommundsen.

As we move into 2023, we look forward to continuing our work of educating lawmakers, academics and citizens alike about the effectiveness of Congress, which we plan to our expand into the state level. We will kick off the year with the release of our updated Legislative Effectiveness Scores for the 117th Congress. We thank all of you who have provided us support over the years and will continue to do so as we begin a new Congress and a new year of effective lawmaking.

Please consider including the Center in your charitable giving this year; go here and selected the CEL as your ‘Designation.’

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!