American Politics
| Module title | American Politics |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC2005 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Daniel Stevens (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 40 |
|---|
Module description
Students of Politics need to understand different political systems 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 an introduction to American democracy, from its foundations in the Constitution and federalism, to its political culture, institutions and processes, and the policies that emerge from it all. It examines 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 comprehensively examines the political system of the United States, from its foundations with the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, through the way its institutions work, to contemporary debates about gun control and health care. We will use theories and findings from the study of US Politics to understand politics in each of the domains we study. We will 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 knowledge of the major theories of US Politics in the various subfields we examine in oral and written work;
- 2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different theories and research in oral and written work;
- 3. Apply major theories about US Politics to historical and contemporary issues in oral and written work;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Demonstrate comprehension and the ability to use key concepts pertaining to US Politics in oral and written work;
- 5. Synthesize and critique major theories and arguments in the field in your written work;
- 6. Demonstrate that you understand the implications of new evidence for a given theory in your oral and written work;
- 7. Demonstrate that you can identify different methods of research in the field and their possible 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. demonstrate oral and written analytical and organizational skills in essays, online and/or in-person discussion with some guidance;
- 9. 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
Its origins and the compromises that allowed its passage
2. US Federalism
The history of the federal system, how it has evolved, and why it is fundamental to understanding US politics
3. Ideology and Public Opinion
US political culture and how this manifests itself in public opinion over time.
Debates about polarization and its consequences
4. Political Parties
Reasons for the two party system, party competition, role of party identification
5. Voting and Elections
Recent national elections, voter turnout, understanding vote choice
6. Congress I
Congressional campaigns and elections
7. Congress II
How Congress is organized; congressional committees
8. Congress III
Congress and the presidency; divided government
9. Presidency
The powers of the presidency
Presidential approval and its effects
The “two presidencies” thesis
10. The Supreme Court
Principle of judicial review
Activism versus restraint
The contemporary Court
11. Public Policy
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and teaching activity | 10 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and teaching activity | 10 | Seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 40 | About 4 hours per week reading and preparing |
| Guided Independent study | 29 | Group project. Around 20 hours researching, 4 hours planning, 5 hours writing. |
| Guided Independent study | 61 | Preparation for summative essay |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions based on readings or topics to be submitted at the beginning of the week (emailed on Sunday before class) | 3-5 questions | 4, 5, 7-8 | Written feedback from module convenor and peer feedback from other members of the class |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 0 | 40 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 75 | 2,500 words | 1-9 | Written feedback |
| 1 x 5 minute presentation (as part of 15 minute presentation) | 25 | 5 minutes + slides (all materials submitted via eBART) + evidence of contribution on Trello | 4, 5, 7, 8 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,500 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Presentation | 15 minute viva (5 min presentation + questions) | 4, 5, 7, 8 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
McKay, David. 2017 (9th edition). American Politics and Society. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
Fiorina, Morris. 2017. Unstable Majorities:Polarization, Party Sorting and Political Stalemate. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press.
Theiss-Morse, Elizabeth, Michael Wagner, William Flanigan, and Nancy Zingale. 2018 (14th edition). The Political Behavior of the American Electorate.
Thurber, James, and Antoine Yoshinaka (eds.). 2015. American Gridlock: The Sources, Character, and Impact of Political Polarization.
Wattenberg, Martin. 2015. Is Voting for Young People?
| 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 | 04/03/2008 |
| Last revision date | 18/03/2022 |
