Summer 1 2014 - 93655 - PA388K - Advanced Topics in Public Policy

National Security: Congress vs. the President

This class will be held in Washington, DC.

The roles of Congress in U.S. national security are vitally important, particularly at the critical junctures of interaction between the legislative and executive branches, including the White House, Pentagon, State Department, and other federal agencies and actors. The basis for these interactions was established in Articles 1 and 2 of the U.S. Constitution and reflects the intent of the framers. The historical and deliberate tension between these branches predates the ratification of the Constitution, but it has evolved significantly, particularly over the past 40 years. It is essential that any student contemplating a career in national security understand these roles, relationships, and interactions. The objective of this course is to provide that understanding. For this course, national security is defined to include not only defense and the military but also diplomacy, foreign aid and development, intelligence, and homeland security. The course is largely devoted to recent and current issues and their lessons for the future. It examines four themes:

the structure and powers of Congress and how the Congress operates
the framework for interaction between Congress and the executive branch,
the creative tension between Congress and the executive branch in national security policy, and
a more in-depth look at selected current national security issues.

 This class will take place at the Archer Center, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006.