American Politics and Policy: 1944-2024

In 2024, the American people will be electing its leaders for the next political cycle. This discussion course is designed to focus on American politics and policy in the post-World War II era, to provide context and background for the mid 2020s and beyond. After a brief Constitutional introduction, it will examine the framework and evolution of legislative and executive power, using primary documents and contemporary secondary sources. Taught from a non-partisan perspective, this historically focused class will examine structural factors and policies which show how American history can be seen as a struggle between the political branches for policy primacy. Some specific topics will include the growth of presidential power, the rise of the administrative state, and the increasing polarization within Congress and the larger American public.

Notes

Online registration closes September 24 at 5 pm CT.

All Graham School courses use Canvas to distribute files and announcements. You will receive an invitation to join Canvas about a week before your course begins. Remote courses require you to login to Canvas to access the Zoom Classroom. Please visit the Liberal Arts Remote Learning Resources page to find step by step instructions for Canvas and Zoom.