| Teaching Weeks | Topics | Textbook Reference |
| Weeks
1-3 |
US Constitution and federalism.
•The nature of the US Constitution. •The key features of the US Constitution and an evaluation of their effectiveness today. •The main characteristics of US federalism. •Interpretations and debates around the US Constitution and federalism. |
US Government and Politics by Anthony J. Bennett pp.18-45 |
| Weeks
4-6 |
US Congress.
•The structure of Congress. •The functions of Congress. •Interpretations and debates around Congress. |
US Government and Politics by Anthony J. Bennett pp.59-94 |
| Weeks
7-9 |
US Presidency.
•Formal sources of presidential power as outlined in the US Constitution and their use. •Informal sources of presidential power and their use. •Relationships between the presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court. •Limitations on presidential power and why this varies between presidents. •Interpretations and debates of the US presidency. |
US Government and Politics by Anthony J. Bennett pp.111-162 |
| Weeks 10-13 | US Supreme Court and Civil Rights.
•The nature and role of the Supreme Court. •The appointment process for the Supreme Court. •The Supreme Court and public policy. •The protection of civil liberties and rights in the US today. •Race and rights in contemporary US politics. •Interpretations and debates of the US Supreme Court and civil rights. |
US Government and Politics by Anthony J. Bennett pp.172-223 |
| Weeks 14-17 | Democracy and participation.
•Electoral systems in the USA. •Presidential elections and their significance. •Campaign finance. •The key ideas and principles of the Democratic and Republican parties. •The distribution of power and changing significance of the parties. •The current conflicts, tendencies and the changing power and influence that exists within the parties. • Coalition of supporters for each party. • Voters: how the following factors are likely to influence voting patterns and why, in relation to one recent presidential election campaign (since 2000) – race, religion, gender and education. •Interest groups in the USA – their significance, resources, tactics and debates about their impact on democracy. • The influence, methods and power of at least one single interest group, professional group or policy group. •Interpretations and debates of US democracy and participation, including: advantages and disadvantages of the electoral process and the Electoral College and the debate around reform; the role of campaign finance and difficulty in achieving effective reform; the role of incumbency in elections and the ways in which interest groups can influence the three branches of government and policy creation, including the role of PACs and Super PACs and their impact on democracy. |
US Government and Politics by Anthony J. Bennett pp. 252-285 (elections) and pp. 294-318 (partties) and pp. 329-341 (pressure groups). |
| Weeks 18-20 | Comparative approaches
•Similarities and differences between the UK and USA. •The extent to which rational, cultural and structural approaches can be used to account for these similarities and differences. |
The UK and US is compared at the end of every chapter in US Government and Politics by Anthony J. Bennett. |
| Weeks 21-23 | Socialism core ideas and principles:
•Core ideas and principles of socialism and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and the economy. •The differing views and tensions within socialism. •Socialist thinkers and their ideas. |
Printed handout given to the students covering this topic. |
| Weeks 24-26 | Feminism core ideas and principles:
•Core ideas and principles of feminism and how they relate to human nature, the state, society and the economy. •The differing views and tensions within feminism. •Feminist thinkers and their ideas. |
Printed handout given to the students covering this topic. |
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