Professor MacDonald studies American Politics, and more specially, the U.S. Congress and bureaucracy. He teaches the Department’s introductory American Government course, as well as its course on the U.S. Congress at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. He also teaches research methods at the graduate level, including the Quantitative Political Analysis class.
Professor MacDonald’s research examines how the U.S. Congress addresses policy problems and, in doing so, attempts to maintain power and legitimacy within the U.S. separation of powers system. Most of this research has focused on how and why Congress tries to influence policy choices by executive agencies after Congress has delegated policy-making authority to the bureaucracy. He has published articles in the American Political Science Review, American Politics Research, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly , Public Opinion Quarterly, and other academic journals. Professor MacDonald was a 2010-2011 recipient of the “Outstanding Researcher” Award from the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. For further information on Professor MacDonald teaching and research click on this link for his personal website.