[1] He specializes in the study of the legislatures, most notably the United States Congress.
[2] He has also completed work in comparative politics, examining parliamentary systems.
[5] Dodd currently serves on the Editorial Board of the American Political Science Review.
During his childhood, Dodd lived in Greenville, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Iowa Park, Texas.
He graduated from Iowa Park High School in 1964, and subsequently earned his bachelor's degree in government and history from Midwestern State University in 1968.