Blog – Center for Effective Lawmaking

CEL Summary: A View from the Executive and Legislative Branches

Shuwanza Goff and Craig Volden (from left to right). CEL Summary: A View from the Executive and Legislative Branches Monday, February 16, 2026On Monday, February 9, the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) held a presentation entitled “A View from the Executive and Legislative Branches” as part of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy’s Batten Hour series. The panel discussion featured Shuwanza Goff, a veteran congressional staffer and former director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs under President Joe Biden who now serves on the CEL…

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February 16, 2026

Announcing the Release of the 2020-2023 Louisiana State Legislatures State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES)

The Louisiana State Capital in Baton Rouge..Art Deco Architecture by Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth and completed in 1932.

State Highlights / State Legislative Effectiveness Scores / State Legislatures

Announcing the Release of the 2020-2023 Louisiana State Legislatures State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES)

Announcing the Release of the 2020-2023 Louisiana State Legislatures State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) is proud to announce the release of our State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) for the 2020-2023 Louisiana legislative session. This initiative is part of our broader effort to measure the lawmaking effectiveness of individual legislators in all 99 state legislative chambers in the United States.These scores capture lawmaking effectiveness by tracking the number of bills legislators sponsor, how far those bills advance through the legislative process, and the substantive significance…

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February 12, 2026

State Highlights / State Legislative Effectiveness Scores / State Legislatures

Announcing the Release of the 2020-2023 Mississippi State Legislature State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES)

Announcing the Release of the 2020-2023 Mississippi State Legislature State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) is proud to announce the release of our State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) for the 2020-2023 Mississippi legislative session. This initiative is part of our broader effort to measure the lawmaking effectiveness of individual legislators in all 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. These scores capture lawmaking effectiveness by tracking the number of bills legislators sponsor, how far those bills advance through the legislative process, and the substantive…

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February 5, 2026

Conversations with Lawmakers / State Legislatures

Discussing Effective Lawmaking with North Dakota Senator Judy Lee

Discussing Effective Lawmaking with North Dakota Senator Judy Lee Judy Lee has represented North Dakota’s 13th Senate District since 1994, making her one of the longest-serving members of the chamber. She is a senior Republican lawmaker with extensive institutional knowledge and experience navigating long-term policy change. She is currently the chair of the Human Services Committee and was the President Pro Tempore in 2007. She has also served on, or been associated with, committees related to healthcare, human services, long-term care, and regulatory policy.Senator Lee is widely recognized for her…

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January 29, 2026

State Highlights / State Legislative Effectiveness Scores / State Legislatures

Announcing the Release of the 2019-2022 Maryland and Alabama State Legislatures State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES)

Announcing the Release of the 2019-2022 Maryland and Alabama State Legislatures State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) is proud to announce the release of our State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) for the 2019-2022 Maryland and Alabama legislative sessions. This initiative is part of our broader effort to measure the lawmaking effectiveness of individual legislators in all 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. These scores capture lawmaking effectiveness by tracking the number of bills legislators sponsor, how far those bills advance through the legislative…

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January 22, 2026

Legislative Anaylsis / Legislative Research

Legislative Effectiveness and Informal Institutions: Evidence from Latin America

Legislative Effectiveness and Informal Institutions: Evidence from Latin America Tuesday, January 6, 2026In fragmented presidential systems, there is discussion about why some legislators are more effective than others. In an article published in Latin American Politics and Society, Beatriz Rey examines Brazil’s highly fractionalized party system to understand how lawmakers advance legislation when parties fail to provide sufficient coordination. The study argues that legislative member organizations (LMOs) supply policy expertise and political information that parties often lack, enabling legislators to sponsor and shepherd bills more effectively. Rey tests this argument…

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January 6, 2026

About the CEL

2025: A Year in Review

2025: A Year in Review As 2025 draws to a close, we at the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) wanted to take the time to reflect on our accomplishments this year. These included, but were not limited, to the following:Updating our Legislative Effectiveness Scores for the 118th Congress (including for issue areas) and sharing our congressional New Member Guide with every newly elected member of the House and Senate, as well as at regularly held briefings and sessions with congressional staff.Announcing the release of our State Legislative Effectiveness Scores, with individual reports on California, Georgia, Illinois, Montana,…

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December 19, 2025

Conversations with Lawmakers / State Legislatures

Discussing Effective Lawmaking with Montana Representative Steve Fitzpatrick

Discussing Effective Lawmaking with Montana Representative Steve Fitzpatrick Representative Steve Fitzpatrick, a Republican member of the Montana State House of Representatives, has been serving in the Montana state legislature since 2011. He first served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives, representing District 20 from 2011–2017, followed by two terms in the Montana Senate, representing District 10, from 2017-2025. In 2025, he returned to the House as the Representative for District 24. His colleagues have consistently elevated him into leadership roles, including his service as House Majority Whip from…

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December 18, 2025

State Highlights / State Legislative Effectiveness Scores / State Legislatures

Announcing the Release of the 246th New York State Legislature State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES)

Announcing the Release of the 246th New York State Legislature State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) is proud to announce the release of our State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (SLES) for the 246th New York State Legislature legislative session (2023–2024). This initiative is part of our broader effort to measure the lawmaking effectiveness of individual legislators in all 99 state legislative chambers in the United States. These scores capture lawmaking effectiveness by tracking the number of bills legislators sponsor, how far those bills advance through the…

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December 17, 2025

Board of Advisors / Center Affiliates / Events / Faculty Affiliates / Legislative Anaylsis / Legislative Research / Video

The Money Signal—How Fundraising Matters in American Politics

(l-r) Kevin Kosar, Molly Reynolds, Danielle Thomsen, and Daniel Stid. The Money Signal—How Fundraising Matters in American Politics Thursday, December 11, 2025On Thursday, December 4, 2025, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) held a panel discussion to mark the publication of a book written by Danielle M. Thomsen, Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Irvine and Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) faculty affiliate and advisory board member. Titled “The Money Signal—How Fundraising Matters in American Politics,” the book examines how congressional fundraising has changed over the years and…

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December 11, 2025