Fantasy Congress
Encyclopedia
Fantasy Congress was an online fantasy simulation sport
where players, called citizens, could draft members of the United States House and Senate
, and keep track of their participation within the U.S. Congress. Actions, especially within the process of making and amending pieces of legislation
, of a player's drafted congresspersons were recorded and rated as a cumulative total amount of points against other players.
Fantasy Congress, which ran from 2006 to 2009, was meant to appeal to both recreational and educational players; it offered a wide range of links and research tools to help players in choosing their members of Congress whose activity their scores will derive from. The creators explained that the game could even work to make the government more accountable.
in Claremont
, California
. They came up with an idea for a game that would blend the trading and other gameplay of popular fantasy sports games with politics.
Fantasy sport
A fantasy sport is a game where participants act as owners to build a team that competes against other fantasy owners based on the statistics generated by the real individual players or teams of a professional sport...
where players, called citizens, could draft members of the United States House and Senate
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, and keep track of their participation within the U.S. Congress. Actions, especially within the process of making and amending pieces of legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
, of a player's drafted congresspersons were recorded and rated as a cumulative total amount of points against other players.
Fantasy Congress, which ran from 2006 to 2009, was meant to appeal to both recreational and educational players; it offered a wide range of links and research tools to help players in choosing their members of Congress whose activity their scores will derive from. The creators explained that the game could even work to make the government more accountable.
History
The premise of Fantasy Congress was originally developed by students at Claremont McKenna CollegeClaremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
in Claremont
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They came up with an idea for a game that would blend the trading and other gameplay of popular fantasy sports games with politics.
Gameplay
Points within Fantasy Congress were calculated based on "Legislative success" (including co-sponsored legislation and amendments), voting attendance, "Maverick Score" (the willingness of a member of Congress to cross party lines in close party votes), and noteworthy news mentions. Legislative success is the progress of a congressperson's sponsored or cosponsored legislation through the U.S. legislative process, all the way up to the President's signature or veto. Also, small legislative actions counted for points, such as amendments and changes to the legislation.External links
- Fantasy Congress (broken link as of October 2010)
- Official trailer