Learn from experts in the field about congressional campaigns, legislative priorities, and emerging national issues.
Explore how America’s changing culture is impacting political movements.
Immerse yourself in the American political system as you draft legislation to represent your political goals. Use your power of persuasion to convince others of the value of your bill and move it from your committee to the Senate floor. Negotiate with other political parties and special interest groups that are attempting to change or derail your bill and ultimately, a debate and vote will decide if your legislation will become law.
In the first class, students will break into campaign teams as they become immersed in a presidential election.
Students will divide into the following groups: candidates, campaign managers, senior policy advisors, speech writers, media outlets, and swing states. Over the course of the week, they will strategize a plan to secure votes for their candidate before they ultimately elect a new president.
During the second week, students will take on the role of US lawmakers as they draft legislation and push for it to become law. Along the way, students will have to overcome lobbyists, PAC influence, and a House vote, as well as convince the newly elected President to sign the bill.
By using an experiential learning approach, students will quickly engage in these topics, and the instructor introduces the underlying theory and concepts as students tackle these issues while pushing their political agenda.
Highlights
- Stage a mock Presidential election and strategize a plan to secure your candidate's success or even campaign for votes as you run for President
- Participate in a Senate simulation where you will champion your ideas and passions into legislation to become law, moving it from Committee to the Senate floor
- Learn about the role political parties, public opinion, and special interest groups can have on shaping behavior and policies at the federal, state, and local levels
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