Colin Achilles

Associate Director at the Center for Effective Lawmaking. All posts are my own and do not represent my employer. Retweets do not imply endorsements.

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

A new @TheLawmakers working paper from Peter McLaughlin of the @universityofri examines how voters interpret different measures of legislator effectiveness: https://t.co/SGsS1bBjWR

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers went to Boston recently to attend the @APSAtweets annual conference. See here for the trip highlights: https://t.co/Hb73q2mICb

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

The CEL is looking for proposals for research projects that advance our understanding of legislative effectiveness.

The deadline to apply is October 15, 2026.

For more information about the award and instructions on how to apply, please visit: https://t.co/SDQWlIusPg

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers officially welcome and congratulate Jordon Newton of @VandyPoliSci as our newest Research Affiliate, and @Kisoo__Kim for recently joining the university. Learn more about them here: https://t.co/ITlLTsYaoB

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

The CEL is proud to celebrate co-director and Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy professor Craig Volden for receiving national recognition for his research on state legislatures.

https://t.co/B4vaVN6fkF

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

In this conversation with CEL Co-Directors Craig Volden and Alan Wiseman, Alaska Congressman Nick Begich (R) reflects on his time in public service and shares insights on what makes for effective lawmaking in the US House of Representatives.

Read here: https://t.co/bCip7bP0Oy

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers officially welcome and congratulate Chloe Lola Browne and Wahinya Njau of @PoliticsUVA as two of our newest Graduate Affiliates. Learn more about them here: https://t.co/M7BHLC9Swi

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers officially welcome and congratulate @jacob__lollis of @uofcincy as one of our newest Faculty Affiliates. Learn more about him here: https://t.co/9ufmfnL8T2

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers officially welcome and congratulate @MackenzieDobso2 of @UTKnoxville as one of our newest Faculty Affiliates. Learn more about her here: https://t.co/45jVdfMlU0

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers are excited to welcome Eileen Chou, interim dean of @UVABatten to our Board of Advisors. Learn more about her here: https://t.co/RGJuBhrfNm

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

In this conversation with CEL Co-Directors Craig Volden and Alan Wiseman, AR Representative Andrew Collins (D) reflects on his time in public service and shares insights on what makes for effective lawmaking in the Arkansas Legislature.

Read more here: https://t.co/1FgCFslvoO

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

The CEL attended the 2026 @NCSLorg Summit in Chicago, IL, where we met with state lawmakers and had a chance to discuss our work, hand out swag and our new guide for state lawmakers, and discuss legislative effectiveness.

Read more: https://t.co/UMtMBkh2BX

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

In this @TheLawmakers working paper, @ToddMakse of @PIR_FIU looks at the geographic patterns of collaboration and legislative effectiveness across state legislatures and regions: https://t.co/fqpIsuZ4eD

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

In this CEL working paper, the authors introduce Issue-Specific State Legislative Effectiveness Scores (ISLES), allowing them to ask when, where, and among whom lawmaking success happens in state legislatures.

Read the full paper here: https://t.co/X6aSzyzoiU

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

In this conversation with CEL Co-Directors Craig Volden and Alan Wiseman, Alabama Senator Arthur Orr (R) reflects on his time in public service and shares insights on what makes for effective lawmaking in the Alabama Legislature.

Read more here: https://t.co/VQt8BGtCnH

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers Co-Director @craigvolden of @UVABatten was a guest on @1440_Daily to discuss why Congress has become dysfunctional and unpopular over the years, though collaborative legislation still exists.
https://t.co/5fmoEFy9QQ

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers co-hosted a discussion panel on Capitol Hill that highlighted core budget issues and their role in the authorization and appropriation processes. https://t.co/iuICnybS38

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

The CEL is pleased to announce the release of our new guidebook, Being An Effective Lawmaker From Day One, a resource designed to help newly elected state legislators become more effective lawmakers.

Download the guide here: https://t.co/QJfBC66eqA

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

@TheLawmakers are pleased to announce that Co-Director Alan Wiseman (@VandyPoliSci) is the recipient of @APSAtweets's 2026 Barbara Sinclair Lecture Award for “illuminating the value of legislative work and articulating a positive vision of effective lawmaking”.

[Center for Effective Lawmaking @TheLawmakers]

New in @PRQjournal: Emma Schroeder uses bill introduction data and SLES data from 49 state legislatures to examine how men and women respond as more women serve in office. The findings show that representation shapes behavior in nuanced ways.

Read more: https://t.co/048LhXxoO4