In American Democracy, legislative power at the national level is divided principally between two distinct institutions: Congress and the Presidency. By design, our framers created a government comprised of separate institutions with overlapping powers and distinct constituencies. In this course, we will investigate both the origins and consequences of this institutional design. Yet, institutions are not static; the evolution of institutions is inevitable. We will examine how each institution has shifted over time, the political and contextual factors that lead to these changes, and their consequences on both policymaking and representation. Finally, institutions are not empty vessels but rather are comprised of a body of goal-oriented elites. We will examine how elite behavior and legislative processes may be best explained by the goal of winning elections. Furthermore, we will identify the mechanisms that power elites implement to pursue legislative objectives, the barriers they face, and the representation and policy-making that results. Throughout the course, we will apply these theories to explain and predict the legislative institutions, actors, and processes in Washington, D.C.
- Teacher: Justin Berry