OPUC20205 - Congress and the Presidency: Contemporary Topics

Course Description

This discussion/lecture course will focus on the relation between the U.S. Congress and the Presidency, looking at a few different topics of historical and contemporary interest. Structurally, the Constitution separates power, and American politics is a constant struggle between the branches for policy primacy. Through secondary scholarship and primary sources, we will examine the distinctive cultures and organizations of the House, Senate, and the Executive branch, and then look at how these interact on three perennial issues: taxing and spending, the war power, and health care policy. There are no prerequisites for this course, and we will use examples of ways to teach these materials in the classroom.

1.Congress and the Presidency: Culture and Organization

2.Taxing and Spending: Revenue and Appropriations Processes

3.The War Power

4. Health Care Policy