Legislative Process

This course will explore the study of the development, structure, powers, processes, problems, and personnel of major legislative bodies with emphasis on the U.S. Congress. The course is designed to increase students understanding of legislative bodies as both deliberative assemblies and bodies of representatives. This class will allow students to explore and analyze such questions as: How and why is Congress organized the way it is, and how do the rules of the game influence the legislative process? How does competition and polarization affect representation, and vice versa? What motivates members of various legislative bodies? In which ways do, or can, members of Congress represent us? How do institutions and electoral rules affect who is elected and how we are represented? To provide students a broad overview of the study of the Legislative Process, the course is divided into several units: Foundations of the Legislative Process, The Deliberative Assembly, The Electoral Connection and Representation, and Policy Making.