POLS2127 U.S. Politics
Later Year Course
| Offered By | School of Politics and International Relations |
|---|---|
| Academic Career | Undergraduate |
| Course Subject | Political Science |
| Offered in | First Semester, 2013 |
| Unit Value | 6 units |
| Course Description |
This course provides an introduction to U.S. political behaviour and institutions. We will discuss the design and rationale for the U.S. political system and the implications it has for both citizen involvement and governing. We will also examine how reforms to governmental institutions and processes influence the way citizens interact with government. Throughout the course we will make comparisons between the U.S. system and other democracies around the world. |
| Learning Outcomes |
Having successfully completed this course, students should have acquired the following skills:
1. Knowledge: a good working knowledge of the American political system and its institutions, public opinion and elections
2. Empirical: ability to integrate evidence from different sources in order to generalise about American politics and behaviour
3. Analysis: ability to explain the consequences of America’s unique design
4. Evaluation: ability to explain how political attitudes and behaviour are affected by institutional arrangements. |
| Indicative Assessment |
Tutorial participation (10%) (LO 1-4) One 2,000-2,500 word essay (40%) (LO 1-4) 2 hour final exam (50%) (LO 1-4) |
| Workload |
Two hours of lectures and one hour of tutorials each week. Students are expected to undertake 7 hours of independent study a week including reading and preparing essays. |
| Requisite Statement | |
| Recommended Courses |
None |
| Prescribed Texts |
Fiorina, Morris P., Paul E. Peterson, D., Bertram Johnson and William G. Mayer. 2011. America's New Democracy. 6th Edition. Longman Press. Selected readings from: Brunell, Thomas L. 2008. Redistricting and Representation: Why Competitive Elections are Bad for America. Routledge. (available as an ebook through the library) Dahl, Robert A. 2002. How Democratic is the American Constitution? New Haven: Yale University Press. Dalton, Russell J. 2008. The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation is Reshaping American Politics. CQ Press. Fiorina, Morris P. 2010. Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America. 3rd Edition. Longman Press. Gelman, Andrew. 2008. Red State, Blue State, Poor State: Why Americans Vote the Way They Do. Princeton University Press. Streb, Matthew J. 2008. Rethinking American Electoral Democracy. Routledge Wattenberg, Martin P. 2008. Is Voting for Young People? Longman Press. |
| Technology Requirements |
Access to the internet. |
| Academic Contact | jeffrey.karp@anu.edu.au |
The information published on the Study at ANU 2012 website applies to the 2012 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2011 website.
