PO2AMG: American Government and Politics

Module code: PO2AMG

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Graham O'Dwyer, email: g.m.odwyer@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module examines the historical, ideological and constitutional frameworks of American government and politics. It analyses the relationship between ideas and values, such as liberty and individualism, and the ways in which these condition the expression of the American system of government at both the national and local level. It also looks at the intermediate institutions that connect the public to the federal government in Washington. These include federal elections, the US media, and various interest groups. Finally, the module explores the central institutions in Washington: the Presidency, Congress, and the US Supreme Court. Embedded within these topics are questions that explore central policy issues such as gun control, immigration policy, and environmental policy at the national level.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the relationship between ideas, political values, and the US system of government
2. Understand and analyse the origins and development of the America system of government, federalism, and the US Constitution over time
3. Develop in-depth knowledge of American intermediate institutions such as elections, political parties, and interest groups
4. Develop in-depth knowledge of the American institutions of government at the federal level
5. Develop knowledge of specific policy areas and the ways in which the structures of American government condition these

Module content

Although subject to change, the topics to be addressed in the module include: 

• The American ideology 
• The US Constitution 
• American Federalism 
• The Electoral College System 
• The US Congress 
• The Presidency 
• The Supreme Court 
• Gun Control 
• Social Policy
• Environmental Policy 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will involve eleven one-hour lectures, and eleven ninety-minute seminars. Students will prepare for seminars by doing set readings and reflecting on a number of seminar questions. The lectures will look at topics in a macro sense, looking at each topic in broad terms, exploring the literature in the field, and a number of key issues that demand attention. Seminars are discussion-based, with no presentations, but delve down deep into the specific details of each topic through case studies. Screencasts will be used occasionally to guide student progress, introduce topics, and to help prepare for assessments. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students are heavily encouraged to create (i) an essay plan and (ii) a policy brief plan and use these as the basis for discussion with Dr. Graham O’Dwyer on how they intend to answer both pieces of coursework for the module.  

Reassessment

Additional costs