One thing to be on the watch for in the President’s address is his plan to “go it alone” (by use of executive orders) to accomplish his policy agenda, such as increasing the federal minimum wage, says Patrick Flavin, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science in Baylor University’s College of Arts & Sciences.

That plan is likely to draw criticism from Congress, who will argue that the President is usurping their constitutional power to make the laws, Flavin predicts.

Flavin, who has researched income inequalities, said that the topic of disparity between rich and poor also would generate widespread interest should the President choose to address it.

Flavin’s research interests include political inequality, government representation of public opinion, political behavior, the impact of political processes on citizens’ quality of life and public policy. To learn more, visit his blog at http://blogs.baylor.edu/patrick_j_flavin/

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITYBaylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCESThe College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University’s oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 26 academic departments and 13 academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines.