David C. King is Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at The Harvard Kennedy School and Faculty Chair of Harvard’s Bi-Partisan Program for Newly Elected Members of the U.S. Congress. Professor King joined the faculty in 1992, focusing on the institutions of governing in the United States. He currently teaches courses on Congress, interest groups and public policy. He also chairs Harvard’s Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
Professor King is the author, co-author, and co-editor of three books, and he has published in a range of journals, including The American Political Science Review, and The Journal of Politics. His current research project explores the history and consequences of “transparency” reforms in the U.S. Congress.
In the wake of the 2000 presidential elections, Professor King directed the Task Force on Election Administration for the National Commission on Election Reform, chaired by former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. That effort culminated in the landmark Help America Vote Act. After a problem-filled 2006 election in Boston, Professor King evaluated and oversaw a new management structure for Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. He regularly speaks about U.S. elections to a variety of audiences and advises election-related non-profits. Professor King is the Board Chair for the pro-democracy group, Initiatives for China.