Controversies in American Politics

Module title	Controversies in American Politics
Module code	POC3130
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)	25

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. This module provides a survey of contemporary controversies in American politics, from questions of constitutional reform and America’s place in the world to issues of public policy such as abortion and gun control. It examines their history, key arguments for and against change, as well as academic research on the influences on public opinion surrounding these issues.

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 provides a survey of the major contemporary controversies in American politics, from constitutional reform, through polarization in public opinion, to areas of public policy. We will use theories and findings from the study of US Politics to understand and analyze each of the controversies we study. We will examine 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 arguments major theories of the influences on debates in the various controversies 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 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 in spontaneous discussion and defence of arguments
9. demonstrate oral and written analytical and organizational skills in essays, presentations and discussion; and
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 and debates:

1. The Constitution and constitutional reform

2. Culture wars in public opinion

3. The electoral system

4. Voting and voting rights

5. Political communication (campaign advertising, fake news, social media)

6. The two-party system

7. Reforming Congress

8. Changing the Supreme Court

9. America’s place in the world

10. Public policy controversies

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	20	The module will be taught through 11 weekly 2 hours of lectures and seminars (starting week 1) over one term, in which we discuss the topics and materials.
Guided Independent study	130	Private study reading and preparing (around 4 hours of reading and note-taking per week = 44 hours); researching and writing essay (around 56 hours researching, planning and writing the essay). Around 28 hours researching (20 hours) planning (4 hours) and writing (4 hours) presentation.

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, 7-10	Written feedback from module convenor and peer feedback other members of the class

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
70	0	30

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	70	3,000 words	1-8,10	Written
Group Project Presentation	30	1 x 7.5 minute presentation of slides as part of pair (15 minute presentation total. Notes (all materials handed in via eBART) and evidence of contribution on Trello.	4,5,7,8,9	Written
	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 (3,000 words)	1-8,10	August/September reassessment period
Group Project Presentation	20 minute viva (7.5 min presentation + questions)	4,5,7,8,9	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

McKay, David. 2017 (9^th edition). American Politics and Society. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Edwards, George. 2004. Why The Electoral College is Bad for American. New Haven: Yale University Press. Issues for Debate in American Public Policy: Selections from CQ Researcher. Washington: CQ Press.

Levinson, Sanford. 2008. Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We the People Can Correct It). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

McCarty, Nolan, Keith Poole, and Howard Rosenthal. 2006. Polarized America: The Dance of Ideology and Unequal Riches. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Key words search

American Politics, political culture, public opinion

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	13/01/2020
Last revision date	18/03/2022