module specification

This module examines the structure, values and operation of the US government, including all its principles of exceptionalism, the major institutions and key actors. It examines the policy-making process, electoral politics and the roles of interest groups and the media. It also looks at some major areas of controversy within American politics, such as political ethics, gun control, healthcare (Obamacare), and race and immigration. In the wake of the election of the property-tycoon and celebrity Donald Trump as the President in 2016, it considers the impact of the celebrity politician, social media and cyber-activity in US political life. In particular, this module aims to:
• examine and analyse the structure and operation of the American government
• develop awareness of the domestic and international context in which US government makes policy
• raise awareness of, and enable informed engagement with, contemporary controversial and ethical issues in American government and public policy making

Gi4008

Institutions of Government - The Constitution; the Presidency; the Congress; the Supreme Court; Federalism LO1,LO2,LO3
•  The Political Process - Interest groups; political parties; mass media; elections and voting behaviour; celebrity politics; cyber-activity and the use of the social media. LO1,LO2,LO3
•  Policymaking - Gun control; race and immigration; welfare and health-care reform; abortion policy LO1,LO2,LO3
•  Employability Enhancement – researching government-produced data/documents, on-line resources and presenting findings LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4

•  There is a two-hour weekly lecture and a one-hour weekly seminar.
•  Lectures incorporate a mixture of speaking, Power Point slides. Prezi and video presentations and use of IT.
•  Seminars are centred on a series of pre-prepared questions, student presentations and multimedia resources.
•  Blended learning is encouraged in the classroom through the use of multimedia and internet resources. This is complimented outside the classroom by the use of a module website containing a range of materials designed to enhance students’ learning, including lecture notes, guides to improving essay writing and seminar skills, and resources such as links to relevant websites, online articles, videos and podcasts.
•  Reflective learning is encouraged through the use of self-reflection tasks accompanying seminar presentations and the written assignment.

On successful completion of this module students will:
1. be able to assess and critically analyse domestic and international events that impact on the US, including their causes and implications for syllabus knowledge.
2. show an awareness of, and more confidence in, using learning, academic and communication skills, including evaluating news reports and official statements about American government
3. apply their resulting analytical expertise to write and comment with authority on the subject of Contemporary American Politics for assessment purposes.
4. have developed a range of transferable employability skills, in oral, writing and research competencies for degree progression,

Assessment is based on two elements:
1. An essay, worth 80% of the final grade. It will be 2500 words in length. This must be submitted by week 14.
2. A seminar presentation, worth 20% of the final grade, based on the topics dealt with in the course.
Essay:  Writing and presentation skills for academic practices

Weekly Seminar Presentation/Assessment (continuous performance): 20%. – Reflection in class debates for subject and educational scholarship.

Formative Feedback: Essay Workshop (Week 9) and submission of essay abstract via Turnitin to supplied with feedback commentary within a week of submission. Dialogue is promoted for a shared understanding of academic judgements and marking criteria is provided for students to develop skills for good practice. This feedback is timely, constructive and developmental.

Summative Feedback: Submission of essay and returned with marks comments via Turniitin within two weeks of submission. Deadlines, marking and moderating processes are communicated via weblearn and within lectures/classes.

Core Text:

R. Duncan and J. Goddard (2005) Contemporary America, 2nd ed. (London: Palgrave  Macmillan)
D. McKay (2013) American Politics and Society, 8th ed. (Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell)
R. McKeever and P. Davies (2013) Politics USA, 3rd ed. (London: Pearson Longman)
G. Peele (ed.) (2014) Developments in American Politics 7 (London: Palgrave Macmillan)

Other Texts:

D. Mckay, D. Houghton and A. Wroe (2002) Controversies in American Politics and Society (Oxford: Basil Blackwell)
R. Singh (ed.) (2003) Governing America: The Politics of a Divided Democracy (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
R. Singh (2003) Contemporary American Politics and Society: Issues and Controversies  (London: Sage)
H. Sitkoff (ed.) (2001) Perspectives on Modern America (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
M. Wheeler (2013) Celebrity Politics: Image and Identity in Modern Political Communications (Cambridge: Polity)
M. J. C. Vile (2007) Politics in the USA, 6th ed. (London: Routledge)

Journals:

American Journal of Political Science
American Politics Research
Public Opinion Quarterly.

Websites:

The US Government portal - http://www.usa.gov
The White House - http://www.whitehouse.gov
The National Archives - http://www.archives.gov
The Republican Party - http://www.gop.com
The Democratic Party - http://www.democrats.org