Associate Professor of Political Science
Russell Teaching Professor

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Website

Anthony J. Madonna is an Associate Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Georgia. He received his PhD in political science from Washington University in St. Louis in 2008. His research interests include American political institutions and development, congressional politics and procedure, and presidential politics. His work has appeared in such journals as the American Journal of Political Science, Political Research Quarterly, the Journal of Politics, Presidential Studies Quarterly, and Legislative Studies Quarterly.

Education
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  • PhD, Washington University in St. Louis, Political Science, 2008
  • MA, Washington University in St. Louis, Political Science, 2005
  • BA, Michigan State University, Political Science, 2002
More About
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Madonna’s teaching interests include Introduction to American Government, Introduction to Political Science, Legislative Process at the graduate and undergraduate level and American Political Development.  He has also taught Special Topics: Congressional Development in the Washington, D.C. Semester Program sponsored by UGA.  Madonna has won several University-wise and Departmental teaching awards.  Prior to coming to the University of Georgia, he received the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007.  In 2008, he received an Arch Award for teaching excellence from the University of Georgia Student Government Association.  He was awarded the Susette M. Talarico Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and was named as a Lilly Teaching Fellow by the University of Georgia’s Center for Teaching and Learning for 2011-2013.  In 2013, he was awarded the Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

During the 2012-2013 academic year, Madonna was rewarded a Congressional Fellowship through the American Political Science Association and spent the academic year working with the Congressional Research Service.

Areas of Expertise
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  • Legislative Rules
  • American Political History
  • Congressional Politics
  • Special Collections Library, University of Georgia, “Faculty Fellows Program.” 2019-2020.
    Patrick J. Fett Award (MPSA best paper on the scientific study of Congress and the presidency). 2019.
    Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, 2013-2014
    Thomas P. Lauth Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2015; 2022
    Susette M. Talarico Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2010; 2012; 2014
    Separation of Powers
Honors, Awards, and Achievements
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  • Special Collections Library, University of Georgia, “Faculty Fellows Program.” 2019-2020.
  • Patrick J. Fett Award (MPSA best paper on the scientific study of Congress and the presidency). 2019.
  • Richard B. Russell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, 2013-2014
  • Thomas P. Lauth Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2015; 2022
  • Susette M. Talarico Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2010; 2012; 2014
Course Instruction
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Research Interests
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  • American political institutions
  • Congressional politics
  • The United States Senate
  • Legislative rules of procedure
  • The filibuster
  • American political development
  • Presidential politics
  • Quantitative methods.
Selected Publications
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“Interbranch Warfare: Senate Amending Process and Restrictive House Rules.” Political Research Quarterly, 76 (March 2023): 279-291. With Ryan D. Williamson.

“Dodging Dead Cats: What Would it Take to Get Congress to Expand Capacity?” 2020. In Congress Overwhelmed: The Decline Congressional Capacity and Prospects for Reform. Lee Drutman, Timothy LaPira and Kevin Kosar, editors. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, Illinois. With Ian Ostrander.

“No Vacancy: Holdover Capacity and the Continued Staffing of Major Commissions.” Journal of Public Policy, 37 (December 2017): 341-361. With Ian Ostrander.

“Coalition Formation in the House and Senate: Examining the Effect of Institutional Change on Major Legislation.” The Journal of Politics, 73 (November 2011): 1225-1238. With Jamie L. Carson and Michael S. Lynch.

“Confirmation Wars, Legislative Time, and Collateral Damage: The Impact of Supreme

Court Nominations on Presidential Success in the US Senate.” Political Research Quarterly, 69 (December 2016): 746-759. With James E. Monogan III and Richard L. Vining, Jr.

“The Cost of Majority Party Bias: Amending Activity Under Structured Rules.” Legislative Studies Quarterly, 41 (August 2016): 633-655. With Michael S. Lynch and Jason M. Roberts.

“Winning Coalition Formation in the U.S. Senate: The Effects of Legislative Decision Rules and Agenda Change.” American Journal of Political Science, 55 (April 2011): 276-288.

“Going Nuclear, Senate Style.” Perspectives on Politics, 5 (December 2007): 729-40. With Sarah A. Binder and Steven S. Smith.

“Adding Recess Appointments to the President’s `Tool Chest’ of Unilateral Powers.”  Political Research Quarterly, 60 (December 2007): 645-654.  With Ryan C. Black, Ryan J. Owens and Michael S. Lynch.

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