Events – Center for Effective Lawmaking

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Roadmap to the Budget Process

Craig Volden, Alan Wiseman, Johnnie Kaberle, Chris Bertram, Bettina Poirier, Tom Kahn, and Chad Chirico (from left to right). Photo by Andrew Colford. Roadmap to the Budget Process Monday, July 27, 2026On Thursday, July 16, the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) co-hosted a panel discussion on Capitol Hill with American University’s Program on Legislative Negotiation (PLN) and the Partnership for a Secure America (PSA) entitled “Roadmap to the Budget Process.” Panelists highlighted core budget issues and their role in the authorization and appropriation processes. The importance of negotiation in budgetary matters was also a…

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July 27, 2026

Advancing the Study of Effective Lawmaking: Highlights from CEL’s 8th Annual Research Conference

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Advancing the Study of Effective Lawmaking: Highlights from CEL’s 8th Annual Research Conference

Group photo outside the UVA Colonnade Club (Photo by John Robinson, Batten School). Advancing the Study of Effective Lawmaking: Highlights from CEL’s 8th Annual Research Conference Tuesday, June 30, 2026Charlottesville, VA – On Monday, June 22nd, 2026, the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) hosted its 8th annual research conference at the University of Virginia (UVA). The conference brought together researchers and practitioners from around the country to share their latest research findings and to discuss trends in effective lawmaking in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. The morning opened with remarks…

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June 30, 2026

Events / Legislative Research / State Legislatures

Building Effective Legislation in the Commonwealth

Building Effective Legislation in the Commonwealth On Friday, March 27, 2026, the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) co-hosted a seminar along with the Virginia chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network (SSN) titled “Building Effective Legislation in the Commonwealth.” Scholars from the University of Virginia (UVA) and across the state enjoyed a day of discussion and skill-building, focused on how to strengthen their policy engagement and impact. The event was held at Garrett Hall, which houses the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at UVA.The seminar opened with an introduction…

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April 7, 2026

Blog / Conference / Events / Legislative Research

From Statehouses to Scholarship: The Effective Lawmaking in American State Legislatures Second Annual Conference

From Statehouses to Scholarship: The Effective Lawmaking in American State Legislatures Second Annual Conference Nashville, TN – On Friday, February 27th, the Center for Effective Lawmaking hosted its second annual Effective Lawmaking in American State Legislatures conference at Vanderbilt University. As part of the Center for Effective Lawmaking’s mission to generate and advance research in legislative effectiveness in American state legislatures, thirty-one practitioners and researchers from institutions around the country were invited to Vanderbilt University to discuss timely topics in state legislative effectiveness. Topics included:The development and impact of party…

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March 10, 2026

Blog / Events

Habits of Effective Lawmaking: The CEL at the Gallagher Dialogues Now on PBS Reno

Habits of Effective Lawmaking: The CEL at the Gallagher Dialogues Now on PBS Reno Last year, Craig Volden and Alan Wiseman, Co-Directors of the Center for Effective Lawmaking, were invited to speak at the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities’ third annual Gallagher Dialogues in Reno, Nevada. Last year’s gathering, which drew several hundred attendees, coincided with the opening days of the 2025 Nevada legislative session. Several members of Nevada’s executive branch of government were in attendance, including Governor Jo Lombardo, and nearly half of the current sitting members of…

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March 9, 2026

Board of Advisors / Center Affiliates / Events / Video

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

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

Center Affiliates / Events / Faculty Affiliates

CEL at APSA 2025

CEL at APSA 2025 Tuesday, October 21, 2025Between September 11-14, the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) attended the annual American Political Science Association (APSA) conference in Vancouver, Canada titled “Reimagining Politics, Power, and Peoplehood in Crisis Times”. The event allowed for more than 5,000 political scientists, scholars, and experts across the discipline to participate and showcase their works to the broader audience, with panels and presentations that included the following from CEL affiliates (and others):Accountability in Darkness: The Effects of Local Media Closures on Legislators – Kisoo Kim (University of Virginia)Congressional…

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October 21, 2025

Events / Legislative Anaylsis / Legislative Research

Effective Lawmaking and Legislative Negotiations

Effective Lawmaking and Legislative Negotiations Tuesday, July 22, 2025On Wednesday, July 9, the Center for Effective Lawmaking co-hosted a discussion panel on Capitol Hill with the Program on Legislative Negotiation (PLN) and the Partnership for a Secure America (PSA) entitled “A Guide to Effective Lawmaking and Legislative Negotiations.” Panelists discussed the importance of legislative negotiations and other keys to effective lawmaking on Capitol Hill. The panel featured CEL Co-Director Craig Volden (University of Virginia), CEL Co-Director Alan Wiseman (Vanderbilt University), PLN Director Bettina Poirier (American University), and PLN Co-Founder Chris Bertram (American University), who…

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July 22, 2025

Events

CEL Co-Hosts “Capitol Connections” Event

CEL Co-Hosts "Capitol Connections" Event Wednesday, July 16, 2025On Tuesday, July 8, the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) co-hosted a networking reception titled “Capitol Connections: A UVA & Batten School Networking Mixer.” Taking place at the Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar in Washington, D.C., the event brought together 130 current and prospective students, alumni, faculty, and staff of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and the University of Virginia more broadly. Participants connected with new and familiar people, while hearing how bipartisan leadership is shaping the future…

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July 16, 2025