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American Government and Politics (220-0-20)

Instructors

Alvin Tillery

Meeting Info

University Hall 122: Mon, Wed 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

This course introduces students to the institutions and processes of the federal government in the United States of America. The course explores the following core questions: What are the philosophical foundations of the American republic? How does America's constitutional design shape the functioning of the nation's institutions? What are the basic roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches? What is the history of political parties in America? How are public policies made in the United States? What are the basic rights of American citizens? How have social movements shaped politics in the United States? How do citizens form opinions and participate in politics?

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Explain the constitutional and institutional foundations of American government and how they have evolved over time.

  2. Analyze how political power operates across institutions, levels of government, and social groups.

  3. Assess the role of citizens, political parties, interest groups, and social movements in shaping political outcomes.

  4. Evaluate debates about democratic accountability, representation, and inequality in American politics.

  5. Apply core concepts from American political science to contemporary political events and policy debates.

Teaching Method

Lecture with discussion sections.

Class Materials (Required)

Ginsberg, Benjamin, Theodore J. Lowi, Margaret Weir, Caroline J. Tolbert, Megan Ming Francis, and Andrea Louise Campbell. We the People: An Introduction to American Politics. Edition 14. W.W. Norton & Company, 2023.

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration -- Reserved for Political Science students until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites.

Associated Classes

DIS - University Hall 112: Wed 4:00PM - 4:50PM

DIS - University Hall 112: Wed 5:00PM - 5:50PM

DIS - Locy Hall 109: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - Locy Hall 110: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM