This course will give students a practical understanding of what it takes to run for office, serve as an officeholder, and what leadership amongst leaders means. It takes leadership to change, impact, create and implement policy. While people take on many different roles in policy formation, holding office is the surest way to make your voice heard, to provoke thoughtful debate and ultimately to enact important policy. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to, the decision to run, the campaign for office, holding office, committees, caucuses, decision- making, term-limits, gerrymandering, policy v politics, caucus leadership, balance of power with executive branch, coalition-building, negotiation, messaging, and gender issues.