Beltway History and Politics: American Constitutional Democracy in Theory and Practice

3 credits

POL_SC-4900

Political Science
College of Arts and Science

(same as HIST 4900, CNST_DEM 4900). This course is an experiential overview of American political history for students on the Kinder Forum’s Washington program, showing how American constitutional democracy was developed and implemented right here on the Potomac, as much as possible in the actual places where the events occurred. Emphasis will be placed on interplay between constitutional theory and actual political experience over time, and the tensions and institutional changes that emerged as Americans and their government coped with cataclysmic social changes, unparalleled economic development, and fearsome international challenges. Prerequisites: This course is limited to students participating in the Kinder Scholars Washington D.C. Internship program.