Course Syllabus

WASHINGTON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

CLASS SYLLABUS

Fall 2026

SPEA V378 – Federal Government Processes

Monday nights – 6:30 to 9 pm

IU's Capital Campus

Course Description: In this course, through detailed examination of the legislative process, the budget process and the regulatory process, students will explore Federal Government processes and how they aid and hinder programmatic implementation.  The skills and knowledge discussed in this class help students understand the inner workings of the Federal Government.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes: The class objective is to understand the core Federal Government processes that establish policy: authorization process, appropriations process, budget process, and regulatory process. The students will gain the ability to understand, read and research bills, public laws, statutes, and regulations. Using primarily federal government documents, required readings along with lectures will provide students with an understanding of key federal government agencies and their missions including the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Government Accountability Office. 

Reading Assignments: There is no required textbook. Each week reading assignments will come from various free government and public online resources. In addition, you are expected to stay up to date on major developments about the federal government by reading online news sources on a daily basis.