American Democracy and the Challenges of the 21st Century: The Presidency, Congress, and the Courts
| Module title | American Democracy and the Challenges of the 21st Century: The Presidency, Congress, and the Courts |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC3122 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Daniel Stevens (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
Students of Politics need to understand different polities around the world. While the United States is very familiar to us it has a political system that is fundamentally unlike that of Britain or most countries in Europe. Indeed, the way it elects its president, for example, is unique. This module provides you with an examination of American institutions, from their foundations in the Constitution and federalism, to institutions and the policies that emerge from it all. You will examine the design and rationale for the American political system and the implications it has for governing and the policy making process. We will also examine how reforms to governmental institutions and processes might influence the way citizens interact with government. Throughout the module we will make comparisons between the American system and other democracies around the world.
No prior knowledge skills or experience are required to take this module and it is suitable for specialist and non-specialist students
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to provide you with a comprehensive examination of the political institutions of the United States, from their foundations with the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, through to the way contemporary institutions operate, to debates about gun control and health care. This module aims to enable you to use theories and findings from the study of US Politics to understand politics in each of the domains we study. You will also survey classic and contemporary work in these fields.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate detailed knowledge of the major theories of US Politics on the presidency, Congress and the courts, through oral and written work;
- 2. critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different theories and research in the study of the presidency, Congress and the courts;
- 3. apply a range of theories about US Politics to historical and contemporary issues in public opinion, media and elections;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. demonstrate expertise and the ability to use key concepts pertaining to US Politics in oral and written work;
- 5. synthesize and critique a variety of theories and arguments in the field in your written work;
- 6. demonstrate a deep understanding of the implications of new evidence for a given theory in your oral and written work;
- 7. demonstrate that you understand different methods of research in the field and their implications for findings in your oral and written work;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. work independently and in groups, including presentations for class discussion, and in spontaneous discussion and defence of arguments in class, and to manage conflict;
- 9. demonstrate oral and written analytical and organizational skills in essays, group presentations and group discussion;
- 10. write essays to a deadline.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
1. The US Constitution
2. US Federalism
3. How Congress is Organized
4. Congress and the Presidency
5. Presidential Power
6. President and Congress
7. How the Supreme Court Works
8. The Supreme Court and Public Opinion
9. Lower Courts
10. Issues in Public Policy
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 22 | The module will be taught through 11 weekly 2 hour seminars (starting week 1) over one term, in which we discuss the topics and materials. |
| Guided Independent study | 128 | Private study reading and preparing for seminars (around 6 hours of reading and note-taking per seminar); researching and writing essay (around 50 hours researching, planning and writing the essay). Around 12 hours researching (6 hours) planning (3 hours) and writing (3 hours) presentation. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar questions based on readings or topics to prepare for class (emailed 24 hours in advance) | 3-5 questions for approximately 30 minutes of discussion | 4, 5, 7-10 | Verbal feedback from module convenor and other members of the class. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0 | 50 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar participation | 15 | Over the 11 seminars | 4,5,7-10 | Written feedback at the end of term. |
| Essay | 50 | 3000 words | 1-8,10 | Written feedback |
| 1 x 15 minute policy presentation | 35 | 15 minutes + slides + 2 page handout (all materials handed in via eBART) | 4,5,7,8,9 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar participation | 15 minute viva | 4,5,7-10 | August/September assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (3,000 words) | 1-8,10 | August/September assessment period |
| Policy presentation | 30 minute viva (15 min presentation + questions) | 4,5,7,8,9 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Devins, Neal, and Lawrence Baum. 2019. The Company They Keep: How Partisan Divisions Came to the Supreme Court.
CQ Researcher. 2019 (20th edition). Issues for Debate in American Public Policy.
McKay, David. 2017 (9th edition). American Politics and Society. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
Pika, Joseph et al. 2018 (9th edition). The Politics of the Presidency. Washington: CQ Press.
Smith, Steven, and Jason Roberts. 2015. The American Congress.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | none |
| Module co-requisites | none |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 14/12/2018 |
| Last revision date | 05/02/2019 |
