Syllabus
The couse will cover the topics listed below. Some of the more complex issues may require more time to get through, so it does not hold that each topic will take up one lecture/seminar, there will be some flexibility, also taking into account the interests of students.
- Philosophical roots of separation of powers (vertical and horizontal)
- The structure of Congress and its changing role in the US political system
- The contemporary Congress as a "broken branch"
- Delegation of congressional powers to other branches
- Congress´ power to make war
- Veto politics
- Power of the purse, government shutdowns
- House/Senate relations
- Impeachment politics
Annotation
The course examines the United States Congress through the framework of the separation of powers doctrine. From the general description of the main features of the system pertaining to Congress, it then moves on to contemporary issues and their proposed solutions vis a vis the separation of powers.