Politics and Governance: Executive Power, Bureaucracy, and Accountability

Catalog description

This seminar examines the role of the executive branch in modern governance, exploring the complexities of policymaking, policy implementation, political accountability, and bureaucratic expertise. Students will analyze how executive power is exercised, the role of civil servants in shaping policy, and the tensions between political oversight and bureaucratic autonomy. Topics include the meritocratic foundations of civil service, governance reform efforts, the politicization of bureaucracies, and the varying roles of executive agencies across policy domains. Drawing on comparative and historical perspectives, the course will explore key debates about executive power and accountability, including case studies on governance challenges in different policy areas. Students will engage with scholarship in political science, public administration, and law, developing a nuanced understanding of how executive policymaking functions in democratic and non-democratic contexts. The seminar is designed to be interactive, incorporating guest speakers, student presentations, case studies, and policy simulations. A major paper (capstone) will serve as the culminating assignment, allowing students to conduct in-depth research on an issue related to executive policymaking and governance. Satisfies Political Science major requirement.