American Politics

Module title	American Politics
Module code	POL2047
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Amy McKay (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	150

Module description

Understanding the American people and culture requires understanding the US system of government. In this module you will learn the origins of and rationale for the American political system. We will focus on such topics as the creation of the US Constitution; the role of race and ethnicity in US politics, the structure and operation of Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy and the courts; the varying roles of intermediary organizations including political parties, pressure groups and the news media, as well as the factors that help explain the public opinion and political behaviour of Americans.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This modules aims to:

• Describe the rationale and motivations for behind the design of the American political system and the implications of that design for governing and the policymaking process.

• Explore how citizens form opinions about government and public policy and why their how these opinions may change over timebe influenced by factors including race, ethnicity, religion, age, education, and income.

• Describe Critically assess and apply theories of representation as it exists in the US Congress , as well as legislative committees and the overall policy process.

• Explain the role of interest groups, parties, public opinion, and the media in American democracy.

• Critically analyse news events as they relate to empirical research and theory issues in American politics.

• Promote understanding of the definition and use of predictive statistical social science models and graphical representation of data.

Improve your ability to critically analyse texts and to read and communicate effectively.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. demonstrate knowledge of American politics, processes and institutions across all three branches of government
2. appreciate the role of actors such as voters, parties, and elected officials play in American governmental institutional arrangements

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. explain in a critical way how institutions and preferences combine to produce outcomes
4. demonstrate understanding of predictive social science models and graphical representation of data.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. read effectively and summarise comprehensively complex information and arguments
6. demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task

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:

The American Constitutional Framework
Ideology, Public Opinion, and the Media
Interest Groups
Congress
The Courts
The President
Bureaucracy
Voting, Elections, and Parties
Race in American Politics

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
21.5	128.5	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	16.5	11 x 1.5 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	5	5 x 1 hour Tutorials
Guided Independent study	128.5	A variety of private study tasks directed by module leader. These tasks may include (with an indicative number of hours): Reading assignments (60 hours) Preparation for and completion of examination (28.5 hours) Preparing analyses of news events in writing or for presentation (35 hours) Following American political news events (5 hours)

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Observing and commenting on students' presentations	Up to 10 minutes per session	1-6	Oral from peers

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
60	40	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Final exam	40	2 hours	1-6	Written
News presentation	20	5 minutes	1-6	Written
Two-part news analysis	40	1200 words	1-6	Written

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
Final exam	Final exam (2 hours) (40%)	1-6	August/September reassessment period
Three-part news analysis	Essay (1800 words) (60%)	1-6	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

David McKay, American Politics and Society
The Federalist Papers
Baumgartner, Frank R. and Jones, Bryan D. 1991. Agenda Dynamics and Policy Subsystems. Journal of Politics.
Henry E. Brady, Sidney Verba and Kay Lehman Schlozman. 1995. Beyond SES: A resource model of political participation. American Political Science Review
Richard F. Fenno, Home Style: House Members in Their Districts, Ch. 5

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

(For specific readings, see ELE – vle.exeter.ac.uk)

Key words search

American politics, American government, Presidency, Congress, Supreme Court, Race and politics

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/10/2006
Last revision date	10/02/2025