Congress vs the Presidency: The Battle for Control

3 credits · Undergraduate credit

This class deals with the perpetual tension between America's legislature and its chief executive. We will cover all aspects of this historical dance - separation of powers, executive privilege, signing statements, Congressional oversight, budget power, and the epicenter of this fight, war powers. In looking at this rivalry, we will consider the role of the 24-hour media cycle, Congress' increasing reluctance to challenge Presidents on military actions, the control of information by the White House, and the role of the Supreme Court in sorting all this out.