Introduction to American Politics
This course is designed to provide a foundation for students new to the study of American politics. The course begins with a historical that provides the context for the institutional designs of the American political system and the rights and liberties guaranteed to citizens. This is followed by explorations of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and the interplay between them.The course also spends time engaging with elections, parties, public opinion, and the evolving role of the media. Students are challenged to not only understand the system that has been created, but to grapple with the decisions and the repercussions that each choice has for the entirety of society.