The United States Congress in the Separation of Powers System - JPB169

• Title: The United States Congress in the Separation of Powers System
• Guaranteed by: Department of Political Science (23-KP)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2022
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:1/1, C [HT]
• Capacity: unlimited / unlimited (50)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: PhDr. Jakub Dopieralla
• Teacher(s): PhDr. Jakub Dopieralla
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: Mgr. Ľubica Skřivánková (14.06.2019)

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.

Aim of the course

Last update: PhDr. Jakub Dopieralla (25.01.2023)

The course aims to help students understand the position of the United States Congress within the overall American political system by explicitly analyzing it through the lens of the separation of powers doctrine. Beginning with the philosophical and historic roots of today´s institutional relation between the three branches of government and the federal and state levels, students will gain an understanding of the fluid nature of the mutual interactions between the key institutions. After establishing this fundamental framework for analysis, the course will then proceed to examine selected aspects of separation of powers in today´s political discourse.

The course will consist of lectures on contemporary issues of the position of Congress in the political system, providing empirical grounding for debates on whether the separation of powers is eroding and Congress is ceding power to the other branches of government.

 

The course aims to provide students with two main takeaways:

 

1)      Gain an understanding of why the separation of powers doctrine is particularly important to the United States and what is the position of Congress in it.

 

2)      Develop critical thinking by engaging in debates on current issues that shape the public discourse

 

Literature

Last update: Mgr. Ľubica Skřivánková (14.06.2019)

DODD, Lawrence, OPPENHEIMER, Bruce. (2016). Congress Reconsidered. DC: CQ Press.

CHAFETZ, Josh. (2017). Congress´ Constitution. Yale: Yale University Press.

JONES, Charles. (2005). The Presidency in a Separated System. DC: Brookings.

SMITH, Steven, ROBERTS, Jason, VANDER WIELEN, Ryan. (2011). The American Congress. Cambridge: CUP.

VILE, M.J.C. (1998). Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund.

 

Readings for individual seminars will be provided to students by the beginning of the semester.

Teaching methods

Last update: PhDr. Jakub Dopieralla (16.02.2023)

The course will consist of a series of lectures outlining the fundamentals of the issues concerning Congress and the separation of powers.

The classes only take place in person, there is no online option! 

Requirements to the exam

Last update: PhDr. Jakub Dopieralla (16.02.2021)

To pass the course, students will have to follow the lecture topics and write a final take-home essay at the end of the semester. The essay will be graded on a 1-100 point scale, students will need to get at least 51 points to pass,

 

Syllabus

Last update: PhDr. Jakub Dopieralla (16.01.2020)

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

Entry requirements

Last update: Mgr. Ľubica Skřivánková (14.06.2019)

Students should be familiar with the basics of how the United States political system works, they should also be knowledgeable about the United States Constitution.