Legislative Affairs (LGAF)

LGAF 6201. Politics and Public Policy. 3 Credits.

Examination of political processes that influence policy formulation, policy implementation, and the uses of policy analysis. Topics include political and policy decision making, actors, and process.

LGAF 6202. Legislative Politics. 3 Credits.

Theory, structure, and process of the U.S. Congress, with emphasis on member–constituency relations, individual and collective decision making, party and committee activities, executive–legislative relations, and interest-group activities.

LGAF 6203. Executive–Legislative Relations. 3 Credits.

Political and institutional relationships between the executive and legislative branches of the federal government.

LGAF 6205. Legislative Data and Analytics. 3 Credits.

Qualitative and quantitative techniques, tools, and processes used to wield data for effective decision-making in the legislative arena.

LGAF 6212. Congressional Committees. 3 Credits.

Overview of the history, function, and influence of Senate and House committees in the U.S. Congress.

LGAF 6217. Budgetary Politics. 3 Credits.

Examination of federal budget policymaking and politics.

LGAF 6219. American Presidency. 3 Credits.

Personalized and institutionalized aspects of the presidency, with emphasis on the politics of contemporary policymaking.

LGAF 6220. Congress and the Courts. 3 Credits.

Institutional and political relationship between the U.S. Congress and the federal courts.

LGAF 6221. Executive Branch Decision Making. 3 Credits.

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LGAF 6222. Parties and Elections. 3 Credits.

Nature and functions of American political parties: organizational status, nominating and electoral politics, and role in governing.

LGAF 6223. Public Opinion and Political Socialization. 3 Credits.

Sources and dynamics of public opinion and political socialization.

LGAF 6224. Interest Group Politics. 3 Credits.

Theory, structure, and activities of interest groups in America politics.

LGAF 6228. Media and Congressional Politics. 3 Credits.

Role of the media in American politics, with emphasis on news coverage, political debates, and political advertising, with their impact on the electorate.

LGAF 6233. Comparative Legislatures. 3 Credits.

Selected problems of legislative theory and behavior from a comparative perspective, with particular reference to the parliamentary systems of Germany, France, and Britain.

LGAF 6234. PACs and Congress. 3 Credits.

Examination of the structure and function of political action committees in the United States in the context of wider arenas of campaign finance, elections, and issue management.

LGAF 6235. Ethics and Congress. 3 Credits.

The role of ethics in the U.S. Congress.

LGAF 6240. Special Topics in Legislative Affairs. 3 Credits.

In-depth coverage of significant theoretical and empirical issues in American politics, including such topics as political behavior, electoral politics, and race and politics.

LGAF 6241. Legislative Writing and Research. 3 Credits.

Using specialized databases and policy journals and communicating research findings to a sophisticated, policy-driven audience.

LGAF 6242. Legislative Drafting. 3 Credits.

Introduction for non-lawyers to the process of legislative drafting in the U.S. Congress.

LGAF 6243. Advanced Legislative Procedure. 3 Credits.

Detailed study of the rules, procedures, traditions, and constitutional underpinnings that govern the work of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

LGAF 6244. Running for and Representing in the U.S. Congress. 3 Credits.

Running for and serving in Congress from a member's perspective.

LGAF 6246. Congress and Foreign Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in setting foreign policy.

LGAF 6247. Managing a Congressional Office. 3 Credits.

Practical consideration of the proper structure, organization, and management of a Congressional office.

LGAF 6248. Religion and Politics. 3 Credits.

The influence of religion on politics in the United States.

LGAF 6249. Congress and National Security Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in setting defense policy.

LGAF 6251. Budgetary Policy. 3 Credits.

Analysis of U.S. monetary and fiscal policy.

LGAF 6260. Special Topics: Domestic Policy. 3 Credits.

Analysis of U.S. policy on selected domestic problems.

LGAF 6261. Congress and Defense Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in U.S. defense policy.

LGAF 6262. Congress and Intelligence Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in U.S. intelligence policy.

LGAF 6263. Congress and Cybersecurity Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in U.S. cybersecurity policy.

LGAF 6264. U.S. Energy and Environmental Policy. 3 Credits.

An overview of energy and environmental policymaking in the United States.

LGAF 6266. Congress and Trade Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in setting U.S. trade policy.

LGAF 6267. Congress and Healthcare Policy. 3 Credits.

The role of Congress in U.S. healthcare policy.

LGAF 6270. Special Topics: Congress and Foreign Policy. 3 Credits.

Analysis of U.S. policy on selected issues, challenges, or world regions.

LGAF 6271. Race and Ethnicity in American Politics. 3 Credits.

The role of race and ethnicity in American politics.

LGAF 6272. Congressional and Political Reforms. 3 Credits.

Contemporary political reform in the United States, both inside and outside of Congress.

LGAF 6273. Congressional Oversight. 3 Credits.

Historical origins, constitutional foundation, and purpose of Congressional oversight in U.S. government.

LGAF 6281. Congress and Federalism. 3 Credits.

The role of federalism in the U.S. Congress.

LGAF 6290. Independent Study. 1-3 Credits.

Directed readings in a topic related to Congress and public policymaking. Limited to Legislative Affairs degree candidates. Written permission of program director required.

LGAF 6298. Capstone in Legislative Affairs. 3 Credits.

Application of legislative strategies, tactics, and situational considerations to advanced political problems.

LGAF 6299. Thesis. 3 Credits.

LGAF 6300. Thesis. 3 Credits.