Skip to main content
Cornell University

Cornell Brooks Public Policy

Spring 2025 Electives

American Defense Policy & Military History from the World Wars to the Global War on Terror

America has fought two wars in the 21st century, in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have been the longest wars in American history and have ended badly, amid much ambivalence about the defense policies that created them. Those wars and policies are part of the long history of the war that America has fought as a global power and the policies that shaped those wars and shaped that global power. This course will look at US defense policies and military experience over the long 20th century, from the earth-spanning conflicts of WorldWar I and II, to the nuclear tension of Cold War conflicts, and finally to the global war on terror.

Constitutional Law

In this course, we will examine one of the most important documents in American history – our Constitution.  Course topics will include the historical background of the document from the Magna Carta to the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.  We will look at the creation of the Constitution, including the conflict between strong supporters of this proposed new Constitution (Federalists) and their opponents (Anti-Federalists). How did the Founders resolve their differences and what led the States to adopt a document limiting and balancing the powers of the President, Congress, and the Judiciary? We shall look at the constant tension (from the beginning to the present) over the balance of power between the three co-equal branches.  We shall discuss the role of the Constitution from both empirical and theoretical perspectives and look at how it has evolved from 1788 to the present day. Special attention will be paid to the use of Amendments, particularly the Bill of Rights, to address events/circumstances unforeseen by the drafters.  Finally, the course will discuss critical cases where the Supreme Court defined and redefined what the Constitution meant.

History of the U.S. Senate

Would you like to know more about the U.S. Senate? Why, for example, does it have the sole power to try all impeachments? In this history course we will explore the Senate’s evolution, from its constitutional origins to the modern era. Assigned readings will examine the Senate’s powers and responsibilities, including its advice and consent role in nominations, its oversight responsibilities, and its role in impeachment trials. We will discuss themes of continuity and change, consider the role of individual senators as change agents, discuss the nature of leadership, and debate the filibuster. In addition to general class reading, discussions, and exams, each student will write a short paper, and participate in an oral presentation.

The Economics and Regulation of Risky Health Behaviors

Risky health behaviors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, risky sex, drug use, poor diet and physical inactivity (leading to obesity), and self-harm are responsible for hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths and impose billions of dollars in medical care costs each year in the United States. This course teaches the economic approach to studying risky health behaviors. The research literature on the economic causes and correlates of risky health behaviors will be studied, and numerous policies to modify risky health behaviors, such as the minimum legal drinking age and recreational marijuana laws, will be debated in class.

Being Native in the 21st Century: American Indian & Alaska Native Politics, History, and Policy

  • 4 credits
  • PAM 3020/5020/ AMST 3024/ GOVT 3051/6051
  • Nick Courtney

The course examines the historical political landscape of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S. and the interplay between tribal interests, politics, and the federal government. The course also looks at contemporary Native issues, federal policy and programs, tribal governance, relations between Tribal Nations and states and between Tribal Nations and the federal government. Finally, the course will explore Indigenous pop-culture and its influence on federal policy.