305 Syllabus

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PSC 305sps: PRESIDENCY AND CONGRESS, Syllabus for SPS
By Jeremy Lewis. Last revised 12 Mar. 2007.

PURPOSE: Catalogue Language: PSC 305 Presidency and Congress. Analysis of the two dominant federal institutions and their processes; contrasting methods of election, constituencies served, goals, staff and time horizon. Characteristics and operation of government in foreign and domestic policymaking, budgeting; and the instruments of conflict and cooperation.

Learning objectives:

understanding of the constitutional provisions of shared power between presidency and congress
knowledge of the means of presidential leadership
knowledge of the process of congressional policymaking
understanding of the making of major US policies, such as foreign policy, civil rights policy, budget policy and social welfare policy
critical thinking about the presidency, congress and the process of making public policy

Expected Outcomes:

critical discussion about the relationship between the presidency and congress

essays and a paper demonstrating critical thinking about the presidency and congress

We will explore each of these two government institutions separately and in their mutual relations. We shall consider the theories of congressional and presidential action, a case studies of conflict between congress and the presidency, and comparison of presidencies.

The style of the course will be seminar-based, with lectures on the key points of the main readings, placing the week's readings in context. Sometimes part of a session will be used for a film; frequently you will be expected to contribute presentations, questions and discussion. You may present from outline notes, but not by reading out of the book; for that is unparliamentary.

About the Book:

Leloup, Lance T., and Steven A. Shull. The President and Congress: Collaboration and Combat in National Policymaking. New York: Longman. A brief, combined text on the two institutions, which focusses on the recent generation of tensions btween presidency and congress (rather than previous books' emphases on presidential leadership), and on case studies of making policy.

Behavior: you are expected to comply with the HC Honor Code and with specific rules placed on our Requirements page above.

Students With Disabilities, HC notice:
"Huntingdon College makes every reasonable accommodation for disabilities that have been processed and approved through our Disability Services Committee in accord with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In order to request disability-related services at Huntingdon College, students must self-identify to the Disabilities Intake Coordinator, and provide appropriate and up-to-date documentation to verify their disability or special needs. After the accommodations have been approved by the Disability Services Committee, the 504 Coordinator will notify your professor(s) of the Committee’s decision. If you have any questions regarding reasonable accommodation or need to request disability-related services, please contact Disability Services at (334) 833-4556 or email disabilityservices@huntingdon.edu."