College of Social Sciences and International Studies
American Politics
Module POL2047 for 2016/7
Module POL2047 for 2016/7
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL2047: American Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.
Module Aims
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.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 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 |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 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 |
Personal and Key Skills | 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 7. speak confidently before small and large audiences on a subject you have studied |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
- 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