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.
Executive Education Programs
Senior Executives in State and Local Government
Courses
The U.S. Congress and Law Making
Academic Journal/Scholarly Articles
Books
Book Chapters
HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series
Research Papers/Reports
Reviews
Commentary
Magazine and Newspaper Articles
Sponsored projects include research, training, convening, and other initiatives externally funded through grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Funding sources can include the US federal government, state and local agencies, private foundations, corporations, and foreign entities (public and private).
The below list includes all sponsored projects in progress or completed within the current and past 2 calendar years, administered at the Harvard Kennedy School under the direction of the named faculty member as Principal Investigator. Please note that this list includes only those activities supported by external sponsored funding; other sources of support are not included (e.g., philanthropy, HKS or Harvard internal resources).
Project Title
Sponsor Name
Award Date
Transparent Engagement
Harvard Kennedy School is proud of its energetic involvement in the world. To better understand how to solve public problems by improving policy and leadership, we engage directly with policymakers, public leaders, governments, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses whose activities affect those problems. However, we recognize that such engagement can raise questions about perceived and potential conflicts of interest, so we disclose publicly the key professional activities of our faculty outside the Kennedy School.
Outside Professional Activities For David King
Unpaid Board Chair, NGO: Initiatives for China. Role includes helping founder, and HKS graduate, Jianli Yang, negotiate relationships with State and Local governmental leaders in the United states. Engagement on a twice-a-month basis throughout the academic year. This notice was updated in June 2020, and the relationship with Initiatives for China will presumably continue through AY21.
Contracted Speaker, Non-Profit University: Indiana University. Periodically speak to a group of international politicians/bureaucrats for an Executive Education program administered by Indiana University. Engagement one day per academic year. This notice was updated in June 2020, and the relationship with Indiana University will presumably continue through AY21.
Contracted Speaker, For-Profit: Knovva Academy. Periodically speak to a gathering of high school students for a "simulated United Nations" event in Boston. This program is administered by Knovva Academy, a for-profit start-up focusing on integrative skill-building through a UN simulation. Engagement in 2019 was two academic days, and we anticipate a similar engagement in 2020. This notice was updated in June 2020, and the relationship with Knovva Academic will presumably continue through AY21.