PO207-15 Politics of the U.S.A.

Department: Politics & International Studies
Level: Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader: Trevor McCrisken
Credit value: 15
Module duration: 10 weeks
Assessment: 50% coursework, 50% exam
Study location: University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the political system of the United States of America and to the rival theoretical accounts explaining the political outcomes this system generates. It focuses on the ideas that influence US politics, and the key actors that participate in the American political system. These actors include the President, Congress, the Supreme Court, political parties, and the electorate. It also assesses the power and influence of informal actors that affect US politics such as the media and special interest groups, as well as considering the impact of race, ethnicity, gender and religion on political participation and representation. Finally, the module explores the political formulation of foreign policy.

Module aims

The module aims to:

Provide students with a comprehensive overview of how government and politics are organised in the United States, focusing on the federal level;
Introduce students to the complex and distinct nature of American political institutions, along with their historical and ideational basis;
Locate contemporary US politics within the context of the theoretical debates on the nature of the US political system, and its relation with the rest of the world.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

TBC

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

To be familiar with the main foundations of the US political structure
To understand the format, functions and powers of the major institutions of US government at the federal level
To have an awareness of the major policy debates in contemporary US politics
To be familiar with a wide range of contemporary academic literature on US government and politics
To be able to critically analyse complex ideas, both orally and in writing, with relation to contemporary US politics

Indicative reading list

TBC

Subject specific skills

TBC

Transferable skills

TBC

Study time

Type	Required
Lectures	9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Seminars	9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Private study	132 hours (88%)
Total	150 hours

Private study description

TBC

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group C

	Weighting	Eligible for self-certification
Essay (3000 words)	50%	Yes (extension)
3,000 word essay
Online Examination	50%	No
1.5 hour examination Online examination: No Answerbook required

Feedback on assessment

Exams and essays are marked according to criteria set out in the Undergraduate Handbook

Past exam papers for PO207

There is currently no information about the courses for which this module is core or optional.