Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center

Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center The Carl Albert Center is strengthening representative democracy through scholarship, learning, and

The Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center is a nonpartisan institution dedicated to the study of American democracy and the Congress through teaching, research, and public service. The Center offers academic programs in congressional studies at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The four-year graduate fellowship is a fully financed program in pursuit of a doctoral degree. Undergraduate research fellows engage in collaborative work with political science faculty. The Center’s Congressional Archives is a national and international resources dedicated to preserving the history of the Congress. Among the largest of such archives in the country, it holds the papers of 60 former members of congress, most of which served Oklahoma, and close to 20 other individuals with close ties to congressional politics. The Center promotes a wider understanding of public service through its programming, such as the biennial Julian J. Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture in Representative Government, the congressional issues journal Extensions, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative, which sponsors programs such as N.E.W. Leadership to address the under-representation of women in politics and public service. The Center also engage undergraduate students in public service through the Capitol Scholars, Community Scholars, and Civic Engagement programs. The Carl Albert Center is a member of the Association of Centers for the Study of Congress; Harvard University’s National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement; and The NEW Leadership Development Network sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us to hear Sarah Binder deliver the Josh Lee Lecture yesterday. We all learned a g...
09/11/2026

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us to hear Sarah Binder deliver the Josh Lee Lecture yesterday. We all learned a great deal about the interdepence of the Federal Reserve.

The Sooner Mentors Program is eager to match more arts and sciences students with alumni mentors. Sooner Mentors pairs s...
08/06/2026

The Sooner Mentors Program is eager to match more arts and sciences students with alumni mentors. Sooner Mentors pairs students with experienced professionals, alumni, and community leaders to foster meaningful professional relationships - carefully matching pairs based on shared industry interests, affinity groups, and hobbies. If you’re interested in being a mentor or mentee, follow the QR codes for more information about the program.

A huge congratulations to Nathan Barron for successfully defending his dissertation today. Nathan will be starting as an...
07/23/2026

A huge congratulations to Nathan Barron for successfully defending his dissertation today. Nathan will be starting as an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University in the Fall!

For over 40 years, the Carl Albert Center has hosted the Julian J. Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture in Representative Gove...
05/19/2026

For over 40 years, the Carl Albert Center has hosted the Julian J. Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture in Representative Government. Our speakers are asked to turn their lectures into a book to be published by the University of Oklahoma Press. Frances Lee's 2023 lectures, Two Cheers for Congress: A Defense of Shared Power for a Polarized, Distrustful Society was just released, now titled: A Case for Congress. You can purchase your copy here https://www.oupress.com/9780806196756/a-case-for-congress/

We’re excited to share that members of the OK Votes Executive Team were honored at the Spring Campus Awards for their le...
04/30/2026

We’re excited to share that members of the OK Votes Executive Team were honored at the Spring Campus Awards for their leadership, scholarship, and impact across campus. These students don’t just talk about engagement - they lead it.

Jhvani Patel - OU Outstanding Senior and emcee of the honor list
Randi Wright - Letzeiser Honor List
Barrett Love - President’s Award for Outstanding Sophomore

Congratulations to each one of you!! We're proud of the way you represent OK Votes and the Carl Albert Center.

03/10/2026

A big thanks to Derek Sparks, Rep. Rosecrants, Rep. Menz, and Rep. Pae for visiting with our Capitol Scholars interns this semester. Our students have learned so much from your experiences in government.

Send a message to learn more

We're very proud of our Civic Engagement Fellow Jhanvi Patel who spoke today at the TEDxOU event about the power of civi...
03/06/2026

We're very proud of our Civic Engagement Fellow Jhanvi Patel who spoke today at the TEDxOU event about the power of civic engagement and what it takes to build real participation. She shared that meaningful engagement starts by "meeting students in their world, on their own time." When people feel like they belong in the conversation, real civic participation begins. Congratulations Jhanvi on a successful talk!

03/02/2026

A big congratulations to Carl Albert graduate fellow Nathan Barron on accepting a tenure track job in the political science department at Florida Atlantic University. Nathan will defend his dissertation this summer and start with the Owls in the fall!

Send a message to learn more

The Carl Albert Center is saddened to hear about the passing of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. Jackson ran for pre...
02/17/2026

The Carl Albert Center is saddened to hear about the passing of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson. Jackson ran for president in 1984 and 1988. You can watch many of his campaign ads here

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We're excited to share this video celebrating Jhanvi Patel, one of our incredible Civic Engagement Fellows who has been ...
02/03/2026

We're excited to share this video celebrating Jhanvi Patel, one of our incredible Civic Engagement Fellows who has been with OU Votes for four years.

As a Carl Albert Capitol Scholar, a Top Ten and Outstanding Senior (2025-2026), she is the definition of commitment and excellence.

All of us at the Carl Albert Center are very proud of this young woman and all she has accomplished during her time at OU. We know her future is bright!

Jhanvi Patel shares how affordability and accessibility made it possible for her to attend the University of Oklahoma, and how that opportunity has shaped he...

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630 Parrington Oval
Norman, OK
73019

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Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

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