Topic	Name	Description
Course Syllabus	Course Syllabus

1.1: The Challenge of Democracy and the American Political System	What Is Government?	Read this text. Politics is essentially the distribution and use of power within a society. Understanding the various types of authority (traditional, legal or rational, and charismatic) provides insight into how governments use power. This reading offers a foundation for understanding authority and the use of power in the democratic form of government practiced in the United States.
	Majority Rule vs. Minority Rights	Read this text. While majority rule is democracy's most popularly understood principle, it cannot be the only expression of supreme power in this form of government. The majority would too easily tyrannize the minority. The Founding Fathers understood this and worked to fashion a government that would balance majority rule with the need to avoid tyranny.

1.2: The Constitution	Pre-Revolutionary Period and the Roots of the American Political Tradition	Read this text on the political ideas and events that lead to the push for independence by the 13 colonies and the formation of a new American democracy. Do you think the concept of the social contract still plays an important role in American culture?
	A Declaration of Independence	Now, take a moment to read the Declaration of Independence.
	Introducing the Articles of Confederation	Read this text on the first form of government created in the United States. Pay attention to why the Articles of Confederation were weak and led to the need for a new system of government.
	Articles of Confederation	Take a moment to read the Articles of Confederation.
	U.S. Constitution, Annotated	Read the Preamble to the Constitution and the associated annotations.
	Developing the U.S. Constitution	Read this text on the major issues of debate surrounding the development of the U.S. Constitution. Pay attention to the Three-fifths Compromise and the Great Compromise. How do they compare with the aspirational language of the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble of the U.S. Constitution?
	Federalist No. 10 and Federalist No. 51	Read Federalist 10 (published in 1787) and Federalist 51 (published in 1788), two of the most famous Federalist Papers written by James Madison. These are among the most highly regarded of all American political writings. For Federalist 10, identify why Madison believes that the Constitution provides for a form of government that will control factionalism and fulfill the will of the people. Federalist 51 addresses how democracies can form appropriate checks and balances and advocates for a separation of powers within the national government. One of its most important ideas is the oft-quoted phrase, "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition".
	Ratification of the Constitution	Read this section on the challenges of ratifying the Constitution. What role did the fear of authoritarian rule play in this process? Do fears about a strong national government remain in today's American culture?
	U.S. Bill of Rights	Read this annotated list of the Amendments to the Constitution. Which Amendment was the most impactful?
	Amendments to the Constitution	Read this short excerpt from the Federalist Papers. It explains how advocates of ratification tried to convince the public to support the Constitution. The Federalist Papers, which were 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, outlined the philosophy and motivation of the proposed system of government and served (and continue to serve) as a primary source for interpretation of the Constitution. This excerpt provides background information on the Federalist Papers and should serve as a reference point when you read Federalists 10 and 51.
	Constitutional Change	Read this text on the Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Which Amendments have been most important for minority rights?
	Interpreting the U.S. Constitution	Read this short excerpt on how Americans have interpreted the Constitution over time. Since the framers realized they could not possibly plan for every circumstance or situation, they provided an amendment process so government leaders could modify the Constitution and its laws as society grew and changed.
	An Adaptable Document	Read this short excerpt that discusses the idea that the U.S. Constitution is a "living" document. This implies its interpretation must evolve to meet the needs of contemporary society.

1.3: Federalism	Division of Powers	Read this text that defines federalism and contrasts it with unitary government systems. Pay attention to the division of powers between the national and state governments.
	Evolution of American Federalism	As you read this text, pay attention to the shifting relationship between the national and state governments across time. Note the terms political scientists use to describe the different periods of tension between national and state governments. Which government has increased or diminished its power in relation to the other? Is American federalism a story of balance and struggle or one of increased power for one layer of government at the expense of the other?
	Intergovernmental Relationships	Read this text on how the distribution of funds has influenced the relationship between the national and state governments. Do you think unfunded mandates are necessary or a form of national government overreach?
	Competitive Federalism Today	Read this text on our contemporary phase of federalism. Is this period similar or different from previous stages?
	Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism	Read this text on the advantages and disadvantages of the American federal system. Do you think the benefits outweigh the negative aspects it describes?
	Evolution of Federalism	Watch this presentation on cooperative and fiscal federalism. While fiscal federalism has generated federal monies for states in various areas – agricultural, transportation, and research – some states are concerned about burdensome regulations and requirements. In recent years, we have seen a push to return power to the states (devolution), placing the burden of a wide range of domestic programs on state governments so they can design programs in a way that suits their residents. The Democratic and Republican parties have different principles about federalism. Democrats prefer to have policies set by the national government. They opt for national standards for consistency across states and localities, often by attaching stringent conditions to the use of national funds. Most Republicans decry such centralization. They endorse giving powers to the states and reducing funding for the national government. These differences reveal divergent political ideologies on the "proper" role of government.
	American Federalism, 1776 to 2000	Read this report. The authors identify several significant periods and events in the evolution of American federalism. Is the story of American Federalism about balance and struggle or about increased power for one layer of government at the expense of the other?

2.1: Political Socialization	Political Ideology	Read this article, which defines several types of political ideology. While these ideologies may help explain large political movements, few individuals follow one ideology exclusively. A typical citizen agrees with ideas from several ideologies. This explains why American politics, public opinion, and behavior are dynamic.
	Political Culture and Socialization	Read this article on the sources of our political socialization. Before you begin reading, make a short list of five beliefs you hold about politics. These may be specific opinions about a policy or general beliefs about how politics works. What sources of political socialization have influenced the beliefs you listed?

2.2: The Media	Evolution of the Media	Read this text on different types of media and the evolution from print to new media in the United States.
	Regulating the Media	Read this text on government attempts to regulate the media. Should the media be regulated? If so, what limits should be put in place? If not, how can citizens ensure they receive accurate information?
	Impact of the Media	Read this text on the media's impact on our political conversations, government, and campaigns. What are some examples of priming in the media you consume?
	Elections: New Media, New Challenges	Watch these videos on how new media has affected American elections and the government. How did Barack Obama use the power of new media, including social media, to connect with voters and strengthen the grassroots component of his campaign during the 2008 election?

2.3: Public Opinion	Nature of Public Opinion	Read this text that defines public opinion and identifies how political ideology and socialization inform public opinion.
	How Public Opinion Is Measured	Read this text that describes the components of a public opinion survey. Have you ever completed a survey on your political opinions? If so, did you experience the Bradley effect?
	What Does the Public Think?	Read this text that examines large trends in public opinion regarding U.S. political institutions over time. How do your opinions of these institutions, such as Congress, compare with the findings of past surveys?
	Effects of Public Opinion	Read this text on how public opinion polls impact elections. What are the bandwagon effect and horse race coverage? Do public opinion polls have a positive or negative impact on American elections?

2.4: Political Participation and Voting	Voting Behavior and Intensity	Watch this presentation on voting behavior, voter turnout, and how change depends on certain conditions.
	The 19th Amendment	Read this article on the women's suffrage movement in the United States. It describes how American women finally won the right to vote when the 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920.

3.1: What Are Political Parties and What Is Their Role in Government?	What Are Parties and How Did They Form?	Read this text on the formation and evolution of political parties.
	The Two-Party System	Read this text on the U.S. two-party system. Do you think Americans should encourage the development of minor parties?
	Party Identification	Watch this two-part presentation on party identification and national shifts in party control (realignment and dealignment) in the American political system. Party identification is a person's loyalty or preference for one political party. When people identify with a party, they usually agree with its stance on a few major issues and give little weight to its position on issues they consider minor or secondary. This presentation discusses how elections can serve as turning points that define the political agenda and the alignment of voters within parties during periods of historical change in the economy and society.
	Shape of Modern Political Parties	Read this text on the role of parties in government. What significant challenges do political parties face regarding party unity?
	Divided Government and Partisan Polarization	Read this text on the impact of partisan polarization on government. What repercussions result from redistricting in terms of political parties and elections?

3.2: Campaigns and Elections	Voting Maps, Redistricting, and Political Power	Read this article. In the previous section, we learned about the role political parties play in structuring future elections through redistricting. Here, we explore partisan gerrymandering and the legal challenges that often arise from redistricting. Should an independent commission establish the district boundaries? How can we remove party politics from redistricting?
	Voter Registration	Read this text on the voter registration process in the United States. Are you registered to vote? Do you believe registration requirements should be difficult or easy for the average U.S. citizen?
	Voter Turnout	Read this text on voter turnout. Do you vote in every election? Why or why not?
	Elections	Read this text that presents a survey on how elections are organized in the United States. What is the difference between a primary and a caucus? What role does the electoral college play in presidential elections?
	Campaigns and Voting	Read this text on political campaigns. Remembering what we have read about campaign finance law, is fundraising properly regulated in U.S. elections, or does it present challenges for democracy?
	Has the Electoral College Outlived Its Usefulness?	Read this debate on whether the U.S. Electoral College should continue to play a role in choosing the American president. Which side makes a more convincing argument – Ross Baker (pro) or Jamie Raskin (con)? Why?

3.3: Interest Groups	Interest Groups Defined	Read this text on interest groups. Do you belong to any interest groups?
	Collective Action and Interest Group Formation	Read this text on interest groups that emerge from collective action. What is disturbance theory? Can you think of a workable solution for the free rider problem in interest groups?
	Interest Groups as Political Participation	Read this text on interest group membership as a form of political participation. Is the pluralist or elite perspective more persuasive regarding interest groups and their influence?
	Pathways of Interest Group Influence	Read this text on how interest groups influence policy. Have you ever contributed to a political action committee (PAC)?

4.1: The Legislative Branch – Congress	The Institutional Design of Congress	Read this text that outlines the power of Congress, bicameralism, and the legislature's oversight role. Take a few moments to search the news for stories on current congressional hearings. Once you find a set of hearings that are occurring now or have recently concluded, read a little bit more. What type of oversight is the committee engaging in?
	Congressional Representation	Read this text on Congressional representation. Which of the three representation models – delegate, trustee, politico – seems best? Why? In recent years, discussions on descriptive representation have intensified. Take a moment to research the demographics of members of Congress. How are these demographics similar to the overall population? How are they different?
	Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress	Read this report on the many roles and duties of the individuals voters elect to Congress. Which role is the most important? Why?
	House and Senate Organizations	Read this text on the organization of the House and the Senate. Pay attention to the party leadership in the two chambers.
	Party Leadership	Review these materials to explore various aspects of the Senate's leadership structure. The Senate leadership includes the presiding officer, majority leader, minority leader, and the whips. The Senate's presiding officer is not the most visible member of the Senate. They can only vote if there is a tie. The majority and minority leaders schedule Senate business. Whips are less important in the Senate because the close personal relationships that form in the Senate's smaller body make it easier to determine how members will vote without a count.
	The Legislative Process	Read this description of how a bill becomes a law. Is the filibuster a necessary and useful tool or a barrier to sound policymaking? Why?
	Congressional Oversight	Read this report. Oversight is an integral part of the system of checks and balances between the legislative and the executive branches of government.

4.2: The Executive Branch – The Presidency	The Design and Evolution of the Presidency	Read this text on the design and the evolution of the presidency. Pay attention to the expanding power of the presidency and the role of crisis in this expansion.
	The Presidency	Read this chapter on the institution of the presidency. The office of the presidency is not administered by just one person. The president heads a team, which includes the vice president, a cabinet of advisers, and staff. Can you summarise the responsibilities of the president? What checks and balances are woven into this office?
	Presidential Governance: Direct Presidential Action	Read this text on the instruments presidents have to influence public policy. Which of these tools is most useful? Why?
	Executive Privilege: History, Law, Practice and Recent Developments	Read this report. Executive privilege is the power the president and other executive branch members claim to resist subpoenas and other interventions from the legislative and judicial branches. The U.S. Constitution does not mention executive privilege, but the Supreme Court ruled the concept is an element of the separation of powers doctrine. It is derived from the supremacy of the executive branch, an element of its area of constitutional activity. Various presidents – most infamously Richard Nixon – have invoked their right to executive privilege over a litany of issues they deemed private communications.

4.3: The Executive Branch – The Bureaucracy	Bureaucracy and the Evolution of Public Administration	Read this text on the origins and development of the U.S. bureaucracy. Pay attention to the migration away from the patronage system. Do you think the bureaucracy has become too large?
	Toward a Merit-Based Civil Service	Read this description of the merit-based approach to civil service. Name some benefits and drawbacks to a merit-based approach to civil service staffing.
	Understanding Bureaucracies and Their Types	Read this text that describes several bureaucratic models and types of agencies, corporations, and cabinet positions in the U.S. bureaucracy. Have you ever interacted with representatives from one of these bureaucratic organizations? Did you have a good experience? How would you improve things if you could?
	Controlling the Bureaucracy	Read this text on bureaucracy oversight. The U.S. bureaucracy includes unelected officials who have a great deal of power to implement policy. Does the bureaucracy have enough oversight to ensure citizens' wishes are carried out democratically?
	Development of the U.S. Bureaucracy	Read this text on the history and development of the bureaucracy in the American political system – from the spoils system to the Pendleton Act, which mandated that certain segments of federal civil service jobs would be merit-based. Legislators passed the Pendleton Act after a disgruntled government office seeker assassinated President James Garfield.

4.4: The Judicial Branch	Guardians of the Constitution and Individual Rights	Read this text on the federal court system. Pay attention to the concept of judicial review. This concept is fundamental to the U.S. court system and serves as a key instrument for providing government checks and balances. Spend some time reviewing the key court cases in Table 3.1.
	The Dual Court System	Read this text that describes the relationship between state and federal courts in the United States. Note that the Supreme Court is the highest court for both systems.
	The Federal Court System	Read this text on the levels of the federal court system. Reviewing the judicial selection process, consider the importance of senatorial courtesy. Do you think this practice should continue?
	The Supreme Court	Read this text for a thorough overview of the Supreme Court and its procedures. What is the amicus curiae process? Take a moment to research the news for a current case facing the Supreme Court. Can you identify the various procedures you are learning about here in its coverage?
	Judicial Decision-Making and Implementation by the Supreme Court	Read this text that describes some consequential Supreme Court judicial decisions. Compare the philosophies of judicial activism and judicial restraint. Which philosophy do you agree with most? Why? Remember that some people argue that opinions represent judicial activism or restraint based on whether they agree with or oppose the verdict.
	Supreme Court Appointment Process	Read this report on the Supreme Court nomination process. This report gives a detailed account of the president's role in filling vacancies on the Supreme Court. It also explains the Congressional process.
	The Supreme Court	Watch this lecture on the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the only court with complete control over the cases it chooses to hear. Its nine justices dispose of thousands of cases annually, and most of their time is concentrated on the fewer than 100 cases per year that they accept for review. These cases usually deal with substantial federal questions or constitutional issues. The court's decisions and opinions establish guidelines for lower courts nationwide.

5.1: American Civil Liberties	What Are Civil Liberties?	Read this text that describes different types of civil liberties and their origins in the U.S. Constitution. What civil liberties are spelled out in the first ten amendments? Which civil liberties are most important to you? Why?
	Securing Basic Freedoms	Read this text on speech, religion, and the press in the First Amendment. What is the Establishment Clause? Explain the concept of symbolic speech. These ideas are fundamental to protecting civil liberties in the United States.
	Rights of Suspects	Read this text on the rights of criminal suspects and the use of the plea bargain. Can you describe some positive and negative aspects of plea bargains in the criminal justice system?
	Rights of the Accused	Read this article. The framers of the Constitution remembered a government that unfairly accused and convicted people of crimes they did not commit. They wanted to ensure the new government they established would not do this. Therefore, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights guarantee essential protections for individuals accused of committing crimes in the United States.
	Interpreting the Bill of Rights	Read this text on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments and their effect on the expansion of rights in the United States. While the concept of privacy is not explicitly found in the Constitution, the Amendments in this reading are often cited as providing the foundation for the Constitution to expand rights and function as a living document that changes with the times.
	The Fourth Amendment	Watch this presentation to learn more about privacy rights established under the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment prevents the government from conducting unreasonable searches and seizures. A reasonable search is conducted with a warrant issued by a judge based on probable cause. What is unreasonable varies with how much privacy people can expect when being searched.

5.2: Equality and Civil Rights	The African American Struggle for Equality	Read this text on the African American struggle for equality. Trace this effort – from the end of slavery through the campaign to secure voting rights and legal protections. What barriers to equality do you see in the United States today as we enter a new chapter of this struggle for equality in the United States?
	The Fight for Women's Rights	Read this text on the fight for women's rights in the United States – from the early struggle to secure the right to vote to the ongoing controversy over Roe v. Wade (1973), which the Supreme Court overturned in 2022. The evolving struggle over reproductive rights has taken center stage at the state and national levels.
	Civil Rights for Indigenous Groups	Read this description of the rights of Indigenous groups. Note the relationship between the federal bureaucracy and these indigenous communities.
	Our Fight for Disability Rights and Why We Are Not Done Yet	Watch this talk from Judith Heumann about the development of the disability rights movement in the United States. Note the steps citizens take to impact the rights of people with disabilities.

6.1: Making Public Policy	What Is Public Policy?	Read this text for an overview of public policy. Public policy is about outcomes. It is the product of all the work and processes you have learned about up to this point.
	Categorizing Public Policy	Read this text that discusses how Americans classify public policy. Note the categories of distributive, redistributive, and regulatory policy. Write a list of five laws you know. What classifications do these laws fit into?
	Policymakers	Read this text on individuals and groups that contribute to policymaking in the United States. It describes four steps of the policymaking process: 1. agenda setting, 2. policy enactment, 3. policy implementation, and 4. evaluation. Which step do you think is most important? Why?

6.2: Domestic and Economic Policy	The Congressional Appropriations Process	Read this report, which examines the roles the U.S. Congress and the President play when developing the annual federal budget.
	Government's Financial Condition	Watch this video, which discusses the U.S. debt and operating costs. It describes how the government's large financial obligations (popularly called "entitlement spending") can create deficits.
	Budgeting and Tax Policy	Read this text on the budgeting process and tax policy in the United States. What is the difference between progressive and regressive tax policies? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of progressive and regressive taxation?
	Deficit and Debt Ceiling	Watch this presentation on the deficit and debt ceiling. How high of a priority should deficit reduction be for policymakers?
	History	Read this brief overview of Medicare and Medicaid. These governmental programs provide medical and health-related services to low-income and elderly Americans. They are the largest entitlement programs in the United States.
	Medicare and Medicaid Milestones, 1937 to 2015	Review this list of significant events in the history of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
	Medicare Sustainability	Watch this presentation on the sustainability of Medicare. What are some major challenges of the Medicare program? What reforms, if any, would you make to this policy?
	The Federal Role in Education	Read this brief overview of the federal government's role in education. The framers did not envision a significant federal government role in education despite its significance in American society. Education policy primarily falls under the purview of state and local governments.

6.3: Foreign and Defense Policy	Defining Foreign Policy	Read this text on the institutions and concepts at work in U.S. foreign policy.
	Foreign Policy Instruments	Read this text on how government and other agencies develop and practice foreign policy in the United States. Which tools are most effective? What does success or effectiveness mean in this field?
	Diplomacy: The U.S. Department of State at Work	Read this report on the goals of U.S. diplomacy. Of the many competing goals, which do you think is the most important? Why?
	Institutional Relations in Foreign Policy	Read this text on the dynamics that play out between the legislative and executive branches in the formation of foreign policy. Pay attention to the theory of the dual presidency. Can you find examples of actions of current or past presidents that support or contradict this theory?
	Approaches to Foreign Policy	Read this text which explores various foreign policy approaches to global affairs. Do you think the United States should employ a policy of selective engagement in the current global environment? Why or why not?

Study Guide	POLSC232 Study Guide

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