Copolymers of cationic trimethyl(4-methacrylamidophenyl)ammonium methyl sulfate (TMMAPhAMS) or zwitterionic 3-dimethyl(4-methacrylamidophenyl)ammonato propane sulfonate (DMMAPhAPS) monomer with methacrylamide (MAA) have been prepared by free radical polymerization using 4,4'-azobis-cyanovaleric acid as an initiator in aqueous solution. Copolymer compositions were obtained by elemental analysis. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated by the Fineman-Ross and Kelen-Tudos methods. The r(1)r(2) = 0.17 for TMMAPhAMS/MAA copolymer and r(1)r(2) = 0.34 for DMMAPhAPS/MAA copolymer, using the Fineman-Ross treatment, exhibit a slight tendency toward alternation. The microstructure of the cationic copolymer series (TMMAPhAMS/MAA) is more alternating than that of the zwitterionic series (DMMAPhAPS/MAA). A similar phenomenon was observed using the Kelen-Tudos treatment. The statistical distribution of monomer sequences was calculated by the Pyun method. From the microstructure data, the alternation and the blockiness amounts were determined. The dilute-solution properties of the two copolymer series have been studied in related to their composition and added electrolytes.