Introduction to American Government and Politics

Module code: PL1013

This module serves as an introduction to contemporary American politics and the American system of government. The course begins by examining the implications of the American Constitution and then moves on to discuss the formation of the modern political system.

It then moves on to look at the development of the major institutions of government in the United States. You'll also reflect on the interaction and influence of the media, money and interest groups before concluding with discussion of foreign policy making.

The module will further consider the nature of federalism as an aspect of US political life. How much power do the individual states have and how effectively do they use it? The module will also draw on the different types of political behaviour observed across different states, focusing on how we classify ‘red’, ‘blue’ or ‘purple’ states.