300-level course on the executive and legislative branches of federal government
Much deeper than PS 201
I expect you to keep up with what’s going on
Newspapers/websites—New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Real Clear Politics, Roll Call, Politico, The Hill (follow on social media, esp. X)
Radio & Podcasts—e.g. Understanding Congress
Cable TV is sometimes illuminating—CNN/Fox/MSNBC
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Me
32nd year at NC State, former chair of PS
Main interests in Congress, 2 books (The Floor in Congressional Life & Congress: A Performance Appraisal; new book has a lot of Congress in it)
Teach courses in American Politics—including PS 301 Presidency and Congress, PS 463 Public Choice and Political Institutions, PS 464 The Classical Liberal Tradition
Director Free & Open Societies Project
Director new minor – PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) – PS 208 & PS 408
More on my website
https://sites.google.com/ncsu.edu/taylor/
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Introduction
Course design
Taught somewhat “Socratically”—Socrates taught in a conversational manner
I will lecture but I will continually be asking questions of you—and hope you will be asking questions of me
Please make sure you have done the reading, keep up with what’s going on
PPTs on website
Course policies
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Introduction
Books, “course ready” on Moodle, available separately
Roger H. Davidson, Walter J. Oleszek, Frances E. Lee, and Eric Schickler Congress and Its Members, 19th ed. (Washington DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2024); 18th & 17th ed is OK as well.
George C. Edwards III, Kenneth R. Mayer, and Stephen J. Wayne, Presidential Leadership: Politics and Policy Making, 13th ed. (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth 2024); recent earlier addition is OK as well
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Assignments
3 tests, essay, not cumulative, 2 out of 5, dates: 9/16, 10/28, 12/7—15% each
Oral presentation—see handout. Do only one, on many aspects of the course—Nov/Dec, 15%
Political Science project proposal—see handout. Take your time thinking about this one!—10/9—12.5%
Member of Congress bio—see handout. Dispassionate analysis, therefore watch sources!—9/9—12.5%
Class participation—holistic, must come to qualify, 6 absences auto deduction, I’m looking for “thoughtful engagement”, see syllabus—15%
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Course Architecture I
Foundations
Start with the Constitution and the thinking of the Framers
Articles I and II very brief—we need to follow the two institutions’ historical development
The Presidency, Congress, and Democracy
Connections between federal elected officials and the people
Elections, presidential and congressional
How the public influences policy-making outside of campaigns and elections
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Course Architecture II
Internal Organization
Executive—President, Cabinet departments & constituent agencies, White House & Executive Office of the President
Congress—Parties and Committees
Inter-branch relationships
Powers of each in competitive relationship
Congressional oversight of the executive
Control of the judiciary
Policy-making, how a bill becomes a law, House-Senate differences, executive role