GVPT479C

Prerequisite: GVPT170 Restriction: Must be in Government & Politics program or Government & Politics: International Relations program. This course will help students understand Maryland politics through direct engagement with the state legislative process. Students will identify a bill that is being considered in the current Maryland legislative session. They will conduct analysis and engage in advocacy work needed to affect the preferred outcome of the bill. Direct work on legislation will be integrated with the study of state political institutions and processes. As such, the course will involve travel to the Maryland State Legislature in Annapolis to meet with lawmakers and policy advocates. Students should have the flexibility in their schedules to be able to make at least two trips to Annapolis during the semester. While several class sessions will be dedicated for this purpose, students will need more than the hour and a half class time to make the trip and engage with legislative stakeholders.