POLI 240 - American Political System

3 credit (3 lecture, 0 lab) 3 contact hours [Reading Level 3]

This course introduces politics and government at the federal level. Although in many ways it is a basic traditional survey sequence in American government, the course goes beyond the traditional examinations of government institutions (the executive, the legislature and judiciary) to explore how the complex web of ideas, groups, personalities and processes interact with those institutions to arrive at public policy. Within the larger context of the evolution of our present political system and the ongoing debate between liberals and conservatives, the course attempts to discover how our political culture; federal structure; the Constitution; public opinion, political socialization, campaigns and voting; pressure groups and lobbying; political parties; civil rights and liberties; public policy, foreign/defense policy and international affairs relate to power, influence, and decision-making in American politics. This course points out problem areas and inequities in development of our lives and relies on both historical and contemporary examples, stressing the present-day practice of politics to illustrate and explain the principles and processes outlined above.
OFFERED: every semester