Clarion University students in Political Science 356 "Congress and the Legislative Process" class taught by Dr. Barry Sweet, professor of political science, got a personal glimpse of the life of a legislator when Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-5) visited the class.
The course examines legislative institutions in the United States, which whether at the state or national level, are the centerpiece of our republican form of government. In the United States, legislators actually legislate, whereas in most democracies they have much less input into
 |
| Congressman Glenn Thompson. |
In the course, students begin to explore how U.S. legislatures help to make public policy. They focus on the U.S. Congress since it the most studied U.S. legislature and can provide important insights into the behavior of state legislatures.
Each student in the class is asked to select a member of the U.S. House of Representatives to research and write a paper about. The students then research their respective member's political career path to the House, districts, committee assignments, unofficial organizations such as caucuses, bills sponsored, fund raising, party unity score, presidential support score, and interest group ratings.
Thompson, who just completed his first year in office, explained his 28 years in health care before being elected to represent the 5th Congressional District, which encompasses 17 Pennsylvania counties, nearly 22 percent of the land in Pennsylvania.
"I had tried to make a difference in the life of my neighbors in my health care jobs," said
Thompson. "Now my job is to try to make a difference in the life of my neighbors, all of Pennsylvania."
Thompson is serving on the education and labor, small business, and agriculture committees. He has sponsored or co-sponsored 175 bills in the past year, and has visited Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, and Palestine. He answered student questions about jobs, subsidies, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and health care.
Summing up, he told his audience, "We need good problem solving at all levels of government.
In addition to visiting the classroom, Thompson toured Clarion University's Health Science
Education Center, Gregory Barnes Center for Biotechnology Business Development at Clarion
University, reviewed the sports medicine area, and toured Clarion Hospital.
Sweet invites both federal and state legislators to speak to his class because the legislative processes are so similar.
Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.
