166-211 American Politics and Society

Note

Available as 166-311 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Normally 25 points of first-year Politics; students with only 12.5 points in Politics may apply to the 2nd/3rd-year coordinator.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The operations of the American political system, describing the interplay of interests, culture, personalities and institutions. We begin by considering the Constitution and the principles which it embodies, and then examine key institutions, including the Presidency, the Congress, the Supreme Court and the political parties. On completion of the subject a student will have: an introductory understanding of the major political institutions in the United States that may serve as a preparation for further studies in political science; a familiarity with the major problems confronting various presidents since the Second World War; some knowledge of the achievements and failures of various presidents, such as Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Clinton; an appreciation of the diversity of American society; an understanding of the major social problems confronting the United States today.

Assessment

Essay work or equivalent totalling 5000 words.