One Day University

The 2006 election signaled a monumental shift in political power in the nation’s capital. The Democratic Party gained control of both houses for the first time since 1995, promising to use their newfound strength to aggressively confront the Republican administration on a range of issues — especially the war in Iraq. With a divided government — and during the final two years of a presidency— the importance of Congress in federal policymaking is greater than ever. How is the new Congress faring? What is the role of the minority Republicans, and what tools are they using to advance their own agenda and thwart the Democrats? This course goes beyond the headlines to examine the politics and power-plays of the current Congress and assess how its actions will affect the upcoming presidential election.