Separation of Powers: The Conflict | In Person (Ryan Ranch) ▶ NEW SECTION

Course Description:

By popular demand, we’ve added a new section—same course, new dates.

This course explores the enduring tension at the heart of American constitutional government: the division of power among branches of authority, as well as the division of power between federal and state governments. From its philosophical roots to current political conflicts, we will examine how the principle of separation of powers in America has been contested, reshaped, and tested over time.

We begin with the intellectual foundations of separation of powers, focusing on Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu and the political crises that influenced the framers. We then examine the struggles over separation and the increase in executive power in the twentieth century. The final two sessions focus on the changing relationship of executive, legislative, and judicial powers—and state and national authority—from President Reagan to the present. We'll also examine the rise of right-wing populism and its impact on separation of powers.