Off in the quiet corners of the policy process, public servants distribute public benefits, write rules that have the force of law, adjudicate conflicts and selectively enforce the law. Frequently the government delegates these tasks to non-profit organizations. These public and quasi- public administrative organizations play, therefore, a critical role in the politics of who gets what, when and how – the essential question of public policy. Administrative organizations in the United States play this powerful role, however, within a constitutional democracy. This course focuses on policymaking through the administrative state and the relationship between the administrative state, democracy and the U.S. Constitution. Prerequisites: POL_SC 1100; Honors eligibility required.