U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan emerged as one of the most effective House congressional members in an annual ranking published Tuesday by two political scientists.

Known as the Legislative Effectiveness Scores, the ranking showed that Nolan, the five-term Minnesota congressman, managed to get three of his measures signed into law during the 2013-14 congressional session.

Lawmakers' scores are based on how successful they are in moving their own legislative interests through Congress. Bills are coded for their substantiveness. Some bills, for instance, are ceremonial.

Nolan, 72, served three terms in Congress during the 1970s. He re-entered politics more than three decades later, and was elected to Congress again in 2012, this time serving Minnesota's Eighth Congressional District.

Nolan, in the 2013-14 session, had 13 "substantial" bills and saw three of them signed into law, according to the methodology. Among Democratic House members, he was ranked third.

Among the most effective Republican House members were Rep. Darrell Issa of California. The top ranking went to Rep. Dave Camp, R-Michigan.

Ricardo Lopez