This course will examine the purpose, structure and effectiveness of Congress. The main question for the course is: does Congress work? Special attention will be given to the way in which Congress has responded to the various crisis in American history.
Every other Spring, even years
Previously: GOVT 210
A critical examination of the American Presidency, with emphasis on recent revisionist approaches. Topics include the constitutional basis of presidential power, presidential personality and style of leadership, as well as considerations of executive staffing and presidential-congressional relations.
Every other Fall, odd years
Previously: GOVT 220
This course will offer a general introduction to the diversity of politics in Latin America. We will consider history, politics, economics, and society, with particular emphasis on the obstacles impeding the consolidation of democratic rules and procedures. Comparative cases will be examined to introduce students to the comparative writing method. A final research paper allows students to practice this craft. Lastly, we will examine regional organizations and consider US involvement in the region. Students should discover and appraise the political diversity of Latin America, as each country is uniquely affected by politics, economy, and culture.
Every other Spring, odd years
This course serves as an introduction to the politics of East Asia, in particular China, Japan, the Koreas, and Taiwan. Topics include the current functioning of political institutions, with an emphasis on each nation's economic, political, and cultural development.
Occasionally
Previously: GOVT 215
A survey of the basic principles, issues, actors, processes, and institutions in the field of international law. Emphasis is placed on the way in which international law affects or fails to affect the policies of states and the behavior of governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. International law is analyzed both from the vantage point of nation-state centered power politics and of nation-state challenging global trends.
Previously: GOVT 325
A study of the rationale for the criminal law and punishment as well as an examination of the effectiveness of the American justice system. Issues examined include capital punishment, the law of search and seizure, society's response to dangerous drugs, individual versus societal responsibility for crime, and the proper response of a democratic people to crime and criminals.
Every Spring
Previously: GOVT 290
What is justice? Does it exist? This course undertakes a critical examination of major theories of justice, drawn from political philosophy, theatre, and literature. Typical authors studied include Rawls, Aristotle, Kant, Mill, Sophocles, Hawthorne, and Nietzsche.
Occasionally
Previously: GOVT 285
This course examines many current environmental issues including: air and water; natural resources; biodiversity; food politics; indigenous rights; collective action problems; security and conflict; international accords; climate change. Environmental issues affect politics at all levels, so we will examine national, state, and local action (or inaction) in the US and abroad. We will also study how these levels of government interact with the public, the media, non-governmental organizations, and interest groups. This course considers the political challenges various stakeholders face when addressing environmental issues, and postulates how actors might overcome these challenges.
Every other Spring, odd years
This course explores the way in which political issues have been presented in literature. A variety of novels, short stories, poems, and essays will be analyzed for the insights into politics that they offer.
Occasionally
Previously: GOVT 275
Students may take internships in governmental agencies or political organizations in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the major. Specific arrangements pertaining to course number, title, and amount of credit will be determined according to the individual merits of each proposed intern project. No more than 3 credit hours will be counted toward the major. Additional fees may apply.
Every Fall, Interim, Spring, and Summer
Previously: GOVT 395