Spring 2023  |  POL 3308 Section 001: Congressional Politics and Institutions (65515)

Instructor(s)
Class Component:
Lecture
Credits:
3 Credits
Grading Basis:
Student Option
Instructor Consent:
No Special Consent Required
Instruction Mode:
In Person
Class Attributes:
UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
Times and Locations:
Regular Academic Session
 
01/17/2023 - 05/01/2023
Tue, Thu 11:15AM - 12:30PM
UMTC, West Bank
Anderson Hall 370
Enrollment Status:
Closed (85 of 85 seats filled)
Also Offered:
Course Catalog Description:
This course is an introduction to the politics of the U.S. Congress and the federal legislative process. Throughout the semester, we will focus on the behavior of individual legislators and the role that they play in crafting federal legislation in policy areas such as healthcare, civil rights and the environment. We will devote special attention to changes in Congress, as well as current political and scholarly controversies such as congressional confirmation process of Supreme Court justices, congressional war powers, the influence of parties, and campaign finance. The theme of the course is why do legislators behave as they do and who interests do they represent.
Class Notes:
http://classinfo.umn.edu/?kpearson+POL3308+Spring2023
Class Description:
This course is a comprehensive survey of the contemporary U.S. Congress. We will begin by analyzing congressional elections, how members of Congress represent their states and districts, and the links between elections and governance. Then we will focus on the organization of Congress, including the interplay between parties and the committee system. We will then analyze the legislative process, rules and procedure, the budget process, interest groups, and the interaction between the Congress and the White House. The current Congress is deeply polarized along partisan lines. We will investigate the implications of this partisan polarization, along with the consequences of divided and unified party control of government and important institutional features of Congress, such as the Senate filibuster and the House Committee on Rules. Class sessions will include lecture and discussion. It is important that students keep up with the assigned reading to understand the lectures and participate in class. Although attention to current congressional politics will enhance the value of this course, it is no substitute for careful reading and classroom discussion. Students will write two short papers, an 8-10 page paper, and take a midterm and a final exam.
Textbooks:
https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/65515/1233
Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
3 November 2014

ClassInfo Links - Spring 2023 Political Science Classes

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