POLS 020A. Special Topic: The U.S. Congress: People, Places and Policy (AP)

Congress is the storied chief lawmaking body in the United States, simultaneously
leading, following, and disregarding public sentiment as it legislates. That is, when it
legislates: the institution is one of the least popular entities in the nation and has been
mired in low productivity since the 1990s. What explains changes in public perception
and productivity level? What are lawmakers doing with their time if they are not solving
public problems? How well does the institution represent "the people"? Which people?
How is power expressed in Congress? To answer these questions, this course
assesses the efficacy of the well-established Congressional studies literature,
supplemented with greater attention to historical development, ethnography, geospatial
dynamics, and public policy.
Social Sciences.
1 credit.
Catalog chapter: Political Science  
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/political-science


Access the class schedule to search for sections.



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