PBPL 82.10 Congressional Investigations, Law, and Democratic Governance

The course introduces students to the purpose and practice of congressional investigations. Issues covered will include: the role of congressional oversight in our democratic system of governance; the reach and limits of Congress’s constitutional authority to investigate; tools and tactics in congressional investigations; and how citizens and elected officials can best address current challenges to conducting effective congressional inquiries. Class discussion will frame these issues by focusing on the House Select Committee investigation of the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol and other high-profile congressional inquiries, featuring video excerpts and personal perspectives from individuals involved with these efforts. The course emphasizes in-class exercises in which students tackle various oversight challenges in the role of congressional investigators, and ultimately students will stage a mock investigative hearing.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:SOC; WCult:W

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

The Nelson A Rockefeller Center for Public Policy