Course Description:
The purpose of the course is to learn about the history, development and current state of Congress. The course will examine various internal (i.e. institutional rules and procedures) and external (i.e. elections, interest groups) dimensions of the Congress, as well as focus on the policy process and examine the interaction of legislative branch with other political actors. The general goals of the course are: (1) to provide an understanding of the historical foundations of the modern Congress; (2) provide knowledge about the complex rules, procedures and structures that dictate Congressional functioning and; (3) enable students to develop a more thorough understanding of the American political system as a whole, by examining the interrelationships between Congress and other government actors throughout the policymaking process.
