Section outline

  • Course Description

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    The course aims to provide students with basic knowledge and understanding  of the US government. It focuses on the organization, functions and politics of the US political system, especially on its federal level. The course examines the division of powers and the system of checks and balances. The major topics include the analysis of the Constitution, all three major branches of government, the presidency, elections, and political parties as well as policy-making. 

    Through the participation in the course, the students should be able to understand constitutional foundations of all three branches of government, their structure, mechanism of functioning, and mutual overlaps as well as election process and political participation.

  • Week 1 (dd.mm.yyyy): Introduction

    Orientation in the course. Discussion of the syllabus and requirements. American political culture and values.

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  • Week 2 (dd.mm.yyyy): Constitutional Background

    Independence and the Articles of Confederation. Creating the Constitution. The Bill of Rights. Federalism.

  • Week 3 (dd.mm.yyyy): The Presidency

    The leadership issue. Presidential character. Presidential formal and informal powers.

  • Week 4 (dd.mm.yyyy): The Legislative Branch

    Bicameral structure. The powers of the House of Representatives and Senate. How a bill becomes a law.

  • Week 5 (dd.mm.yyyy): The Executive Branch

    The structure and development of the bureaucracy. Its organization, functioning, and staffing.

  • Week 6 (dd.mm.yyyy): The Judicial Branch

    The creation of the federal courts. The structure of the federal courts. The Supreme Court. Nominating the judges. 

  • Week 7 (dd.mm.yyyy): Presidential Election

    Selection and succession of the presidents. Nomination process. Electoral College politics. 

  • Week 8 (dd.mm.yyyy): Congressional Election

    Midterm election.  Election campaign, its strategies and tactics. 

  • Week 9 (dd.mm.yyyy): Who can vote?

    The structure of the U.S. electorate. Political behavior of the U.S. electorate. 

  • Week 10 (dd.mm.yyyy): Political Parties and Interest Groups

    Two-party system, party platform, national convention. Party dealignment and realignment. Interest groups and lobbying. Political action committees.

  • Week 11 (dd.mm.yyyy): Policy-Making

    Policy implementation. Agenda-setting. Social welfare policy and entitlement programs.

  • Week 12 (dd.mm.yyyy): Conclusion of the Course