a top informed by a book coauthored with jeffrey jenkins, fighting for the senate, the house and the rise of party government which i highly recommend. now charles a longtime friend of the center is the distinguished professor of political science at mit. where he has taught since 1985. he is also a fellow of the american academy of arts and sciences, and addition to the two books that have already mentioned, charles is also the author of a wonderful textbook analyzing congress. and editor with gareth nelson of the indispensable to volume committees and the united states congress. thank you very much for being with us today charles, and letting us host you. we should have a few minutes for q and a at the end of the presentation. but before you ask a question, please raise your hand, past the microphone and you can be heard. thank you, charles. >> so, thanks richard, it is great to be here. again as richard was saying, if you months ago i was going to be giving a talk about -- a more recent book about senate elections before the 17th amendment, or it is the john boehner was swept off

jenkins and the house and the rise of party government which i highly, highly recommend. charles, and a longtime friend of the center is the distinguished professor of political science at m.i.t. where he has taught since 1985. he is also a fellow of the american academy of arts and sciences in addition to the two books i've already mentioned charles is also the author of a wonderful textbook analyzing congress, an editor with garrison nelson of an indispensable two-volume committees in the united states congress. . thank you very much for being here with us today, charles, and letting us host you. we should have a few minutes for q and a after the presentation, but before you ask a question, please raise your hand so we can pass the microphone and you can be heard. thank you, charles. >> thanks, richard. it's great to be here. as richard was saying, a few months ago i was going to give a talk about senate elections about the 17th amendment right as john boehner was eventually swept off the stage, and i suggested to richard that, well, maybe i should talk about speaker el