FYS 1082 US CONGRESS VS. US PRESIDENT

The US Congress vs. the US President:  A Very Constitutional War.  The battles that we see today between the US Congress and the US President are constitutional confrontations. Party politics, the 24/7 media cycle, and personalities may – and do! – make it more difficult to resolve these conflicts. However, the legislative-executive competition for power is a product of valued constitutional priorities such as the separation of powers and checks-and-balances. This seminar examines the historical origins and the present-day exercise of congressional and presidential powers in the United States national government. Readings will draw upon the writings of decision-makers across U.S history, as well as journalists and scholars, all from diverse perspectives.  The tough questions raised in these readings and class discussions will push students to think in new ways, testing their own political judgments.