Popular Sovereignty and Balance of Power

MIA and MPA Politics Core II. This course explores the foundational principles of constitutional democracy in the United States, with a focus on the separation of powers and the evolving balance among the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Through close readings of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, students will examine the revolutionary premise that sovereign power is delegated by the people and limited by design. The course analyzes the structure of checks and balances, the expansion of executive authority, particularly during emergencies, and the role of legislative and judicial oversight. Comparative perspectives on democratic governance in other countries will also be considered.

Classroom simulations will test the limits of authority among the branches, encouraging students to engage in legal and policy reasoning under constitutional constraints. A final policy memo will require students to analyze a contemporary issue, assess institutional powers, and develop grounded recommendations despite imperfect conditions for resolution.