A study of historical processes and political mechanisms by which the U.S. Constitution-as an institution for stable democratic-republican government-undergoes elaboration, retrogression, and other changes. The course will focus on some of the most important areas of American constitutional development that go beyond the mechanisms of formal amendment and Court interpretations, such as: parties and the election system; the administrative state; and citizenship rights. Each area will include attention to negative events of the past five years, assessing the likelihood of constitutional degeneration or recovery. Prerequisite: Pol Sci 101 (Intro to American Politics) or similar background.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC
