Project Overview
Military Veterans in Congress, 1789-Present
Department(s)
Political Science
Abstract
How do the military backgrounds of Members of Congress shape their foreign and defense policy preferences while in office? To tackle this question, students working on this project will help to compile an extensive dataset on the personal backgrounds of military veterans in the US Congress from 1789 to the present. Students will engage in qualitative research using primary (and historical) resources to code key aspects of each individual's military record, including their branch of service, time in service, rank, and whether they served in combat. Students working on this project will gain valuable research skills in qualitative research, the use of primary historical documents, and how to code such data.
Student Qualifications
-Background in political science or international relations (with coursework in POSC 232 or POSC 152)
-Close attention to detail
-Experience with Microsoft Excel
-Preferred experience with online databases, such as Ancestry.com
Number of Student Researchers
3 students
Project Length
Up to 10 weeks