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American Politics

Module description

Understanding the American people and culture requires understanding the US system of government. In this module you will learn the origins and nature of the American political system. We will focus on such topics as the content, power, and rationale of the US Constitution; the structure and operation of Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy and the courts; the varying roles of intermediary organizations such as 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 for 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 opinions may change over time.
• Explain why and how some citizens vote the way they do, while others do not participate at all.
• Critically describe the role of interest groups, parties, public opinion, and the media in American democracy.
• Describe representation as it exists in the US Congress, as well as legislative committees and the overall policy process.
• Appreciate the powers and limitations of presidential power in domestic and foreign policy.
• Promote familiarity with the role played by the US Supreme Court in governance.
• Promote improved critical thinking to analyse news events and issues in American politics.
• Promote understanding of the definition and use of predictive social science models.
• Improve your ability to critically analyse texts and to 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 the definition and use of predictive social science models

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
• Public Policymaking

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

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, democracies, American Government, Presidency, Foreign Policy