Elias Defends Free & Fair Elections

On September 21, Democratic Lawyer Marc Elias and Ron Elving, Executive in Residence Emeritus at American University and Senior Political Contributor for National Public Radio, took a meaningful, provocative, and sobering look at free and fair elections, which serve as a bedrock of democracy in the United States. Elias made distinctions between obstacles and illegal activity, provided more detail on mail-in voting across the U.S., and urged the students in the room to commit to a decades-long agenda to advance their passions and priorities. Thanks to David Barker for hosting the first CCPS Dialogue on Democracy of the 2026-2027 academic year, and to James Thurber and his wife Claudia for funding these important conversations.
Watch the Replay

CCPS Fall 2026 Programming

On November 10 at 6:00 pm, Vanderbilt Political Science Professor Alan Wiseman will deliver the 2026 Barbara Sinclair lecture, an annual event honoring the late political scientist who was a renowned expert on Congress. Wiseman's research agenda addresses the impact of political institutions on political actors' behavior and strategies, focusing substantively on legislative, electoral, and bureaucratic and regulatory politics in the U.S.
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Hybrid Schedule for Public Affairs Intensive

Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professionals, will be able to register in early October for two CCPS intensive institutes running in Wintersession (Spring header). View the hybrid schedule for the Public Affairs & Advocacy Institute (PAAI) led by Laura Uttley, VP of Policy and Government Relations at Woodwell Climate Research Center, below. Learn more about PAAI by expanding Institutes on the left.

• December 21 & 22, 2026: 9 AM–4 PM ET (virtual)
• December 28, 2026: 10 AM–Noon ET (virtual)
• January 4–9, 2027: 9 AM–5 PM ET (in person at American)
• January 10, 2027: 9AM–1 PM ET (in person at American)

New Format for Campaign Management Institute

Quentin Fulks, Campaign Manager of Harris-Walz 2024, announced a hybrid schedule for the Wintersession of CCPS' Campaign Management Institute. AU students should review the schedule with their advisors when registering for Spring 2027 classes. Pictured are Fulks and digital experts Megan Clasen and AU Alum Monica Patel, from Gambit Strategies in Chicago.

• December 21, 2026: 10 AM–3 PM ET (virtual)
• December 22 & 23, 2026: 9 AM–4:30 PM ET (virtual)
• December 28, 2026: 10 AM–3:30 PM ET (virtual)
• December 29, 2026: 9:30–11:30 AM ET (virtual)
• January 4–6 , 2027: 9 AM–4 PM ET (In person at American)
• January 8, 2027: 9 AM–1 PM ET (In person at American)

European Advocacy Institute Info Sessions

Sign up for this Spring semester class and travel to Brussels March 7-13, 2027 with Professor Korneliya Bachiyska. Previous coursework on American policymaking and the EU are helpful but not required. AU students should see their academic advisor for information on enrolling in the European Public Policy & Advocacy Institute and/or join the Director on Zoom on October 22 @ 8 pm ET or October 28 @ 5 pm ET.
Register for Zoom

Civic Engagement Tool Shows Congress on the Job

Before Election Day on November 3, witness your candidates on the job at Congress On Demand. Congress on Demand offers free, unedited, on-demand access to the Senate floor speeches of every member of Congress running for the U.S. Senate in 2026. This includes 22 incumbent Senators—13 Republicans and 9 Democrats—as well as eight House members who have won their parties’ Senate nominations. See for yourself how well they represent you and how they behave in Congress.

Created and executed by CCPS Faculty Fellow Eve Silberberg, Congress On Demand is designed as a civic-engagement tool for politically disengaged citizens, political hobbyists, journalists and local newsrooms, students, and educators. In an era of disinformation, citizens can go beyond news coverage and hours of video to see their representatives on the job. 

Seeking submissions for Congress & the Presidency Journal

Congress & the Presidency journal is actively seeking new research article submissions that aim to broaden perspectives on the executive and legislative branches. We're committed to broadly studying American governance and want your input to help shape a more inclusive future of research. Visit Congress & the Presidency for more information and to submit research articles for potential peer review.