Brian Alexander

Brian Alexander serves as Assistant Professor of Politics in the Department of Politics at Washington and Lee University's College. His academic work focuses on congressional operations, legislative norms, and American political institutions.

Dr. Alexander's research interests include:

• Congressional norms and cooperation mechanisms
• Historical and contemporary legislative processes
• Thomas Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practice
• Political polarization and institutional resilience
• Twenty-first century congressional behavior

His scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on how legislative norms function within the U.S. Congress, examining both historical foundations and current applications of parliamentary rules. His work bridges historical political thought with contemporary congressional practices, revealing enduring patterns in legislative behavior despite increasing political polarization.

Dr. Alexander has received notable recognition:

• Domestic fellowship at the International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS) at Monticello (2019)

He has been active in public scholarship, publishing in Roll Call (Capitol Hill's newspaper) and moderating expert panel discussions on congressional norms. His book "A Social Theory of Congress: Legislative Norms in the Twenty-First Century" represents a significant contribution to the field as the newest comprehensive work on the U.S. Congress in more than 15 years. Dr. Alexander has also provided historical insights on Thomas Jefferson's parliamentary manual and its continuing relevance to modern congressional rules, demonstrating expertise spanning both historical political thought and contemporary legislative practice.