POSC360L - Congress Today

3 Credit(s)

Liberal Arts
This course will examine the U.S. Congress. We will take an in-depth look at congressional elections, exploring the incumbency effect, the role of money and campaign communications, and suggested reforms. Next we will turn to the institution of Congress, examining the roles and functions of party leadership, rules, committees, and voting behavior. Congressional interactions with other elements of American politics - the presidency, executive agencies, courts, and interest groups - will be explored as well. Finally, special attention will be paid to the tensions that arise in an institution that represents local constituencies and functions as a national policy-making body.

Prerequisite(s): One 200-level class from any subfield