The U.S. Senate

5 credits · Undergraduate

How does the world's greatest deliberative body really work? This seminar will explore the history of the upper chamber, from the Constitutional Convention to the 17th Amendment through present day; the rules and customs of the institution, including the filibuster; and the roles of party leaders, committee chairs and campaign committees. The course will explore the Senate's core responsibilities beyond lawmaking, including confirmations, investigations, appropriations and declarations of war. Each class will spotlight a different senator as a window into how the institution functions. This course is offered in person in Washington D.C. to students in the Bing Stanford in Washington Program only.