United States Government 4219-AW006

The subject of analyzes in class is the American constitutional order: primarily institutions but also their impact on citizens' behavior. Our goal is to show the dynamics of mutual relations between all kinds of institutional actors on the political scene. We will learn their competences and limitations. We'll look at their interactions within the braking and balance system. We will look for the sources of the most important conflicts shaping American politics today, as well as during the development of American democracy after 1787. We will learn the system, values, which is reflected in the political institutions of American democracy. Where appropriate, we will compare American and Polish experiences with democracy, which will allow us to better understand its character.

1. Basics of Democracy, specificity of the patterns of development of American democracy
2. The American Constitution
. Civil Liberties
4. Federalism
5. Congress - the legislative branch
6. The Presidency and the administration
7. The Supreme Court and the Legislative branch
8. Political Parties

Students are expected to follow current event in USA

Type of course

obligatory courses

Prerequisites (description)

The principal goal of the course is to show the "unfinished" nature of American polity. It is a system that continues to grow, trhanks to its open nature and institutional flexibility. We shall also see how the institutions of American democracy are the extension of values and ideas which the Founding Fathers talked about more than 200 years ago.

Course coordinators

Bohdan Szklarski

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, the student:

KNOWLEDGE:
Understands:

- the complexity of the democratic system;
- the role of values in politics and the relationship between values and political institutions and phenomena;
- the necessary terminology to describe political phenomena in democracy, with particular emphasis on the United States;
- the role of institutions and law in shaping the political system;
- the multidimensionality of American politics at all levels of the system;
- the relationships between domestic and foreign policy in the USA.

SKILLS:
Can:

- apply theories from the field of political science to analyze fundamental aspects of domestic politics in the USA.

SOCIAL COMPETENCES:
Is prepared:

- to be an active participant in politics and to use language for participating in public discussions and formulating personal opinions.

Assessment criteria

Material will be divided into two exams: Mid-term and Final.
Exams will have a form of a test with multiple choice questions, and true/false questions, There are 50 points to be gotten in each exam. If a student has a formal excuse for missing the mid-term exam he/she will be allowed to take a final exam covering the material from the whole course. If yone does not present a formal excuse for a missed mid-term, the score is ZERO. Scores from BOTH exams will be added together for a fial grade. A passing grade must be above 50 points or 60% of the top score in class. There will be no make-up exam in case someone misses the mid-term exam. In such case a student will write a final exam consisting of questions covering the whole material. .

Practical placement

none

Bibliography

Jon R. Bond and Kevin B. Smith Analyzing American Democracy: Politics and Political Science (Routledge 2019)

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 4219-AW006 in USOSweb