GOVT218 - Congress and the Presidency

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Academic Year 2005/2006

Congress and the Presidency
GOVT 218 SP

This course examines the interactions between two branches of our government and its impact on the politics of legislation to better understand relations between presidents and Congress in the formulation and implementation of public policy.

MAJOR READINGS

Binder, Sarah. 2003. STALEMATE: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF LEGISLATIVE GRIDLOCK. Brookings Institute Press. 0815709110
Conley, Richard S. 2003. THE PRESIDENCY, CONGRESS, AND DIVIDED GOVERNMENT. Texas A&M Press. 1585442119
Fisher, Louis. 1998. THE POLITICS OF SHARED POWER. 4th edition. Texas A & M Press. 0890968217
Jones, Charles O. 2005. THE PRESIDENCY IN A SEPARATED SYSTEM. Brookings Institute Press. 0815747179
Thurber, James A. ed. 1996. RIVALS FOR POWER: PRESIDENTIAL-CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS. CQ Press. 1568021526

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

There will be three or four short papers, one book review, and a longer research paper. There will also be several single problem homework assignments.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students will be required to make use of the following research tools: government documents and journal sections of the library, government internet sites, as well as very basic quantitative methods.

This course is designed to provide the student with the detailed knowledge of how both the Presidency and the Congress work. We will examine the dynamics that affect each as an institution, and the relationship between the two, as well as the effects of other political actors (e.g. Supreme Court, political parties, interest groups, media) in the American political system. We will also be exposed to the various theoretical approaches to the study of the Executive and Legislative processes.

As this is an election year, we will spend time analyzing the contemporary presidency of George W. Bush and the activities of the 109th Congress as well as the upcoming 2006 elections.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: GOVT151

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Donato,Gary R.

Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: SCIE58;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 25)

SR. major: 5 Jr. major: 10

SR. non-major: X Jr. non-major: 5 SO: 5 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006