Actualités et agenda
Nos formations
Présentation
Assessments:
1. A group work consisting in a prepared debate (groups of 3-4) on a chosen
topic. 40%
2. A reading report of a set of documents on a topic chosen from a list that will be
given in class. In this report, the student is asked to identify the questions
raised by the documents and analyze the way in which these documents
address the issue. 60%
The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to the study of American
politics. The course is designed as a broad survey; as such, it does not provide a
comprehensive treatment of all possible topics in American politics but rather
provides you with the building blocks necessary to understand the American political
system as a whole. As the title of the course implies, we will examine the dynamics
that structure American political institutions, behaviors, and outcomes.
Week 1 Introduction & The Founding and the Constitution
Study Case : Checks and Balances in the Constitution
Week 2 Federalism
Study Case: Federal Vs State Marijuana Laws
Institutions
Week 3 Congress: the First Branch
Study Case : The Origin and Evolution of the Senate Filibuster (Mister Smith Goes to
Washington)
Study Case : Congressional Investigations
Study Case: Gerrymandering, the Republican example of 2012
Week 4 The Presidency
Study Case: The Obama Veto on the Keystone XL Pipeline
BREAK
Week 5 Bureaucracy
Study Case: The EPA: Regulating Clean Air
Week 6 The Judicial Branch and the Supreme Court
Study Case 1: Abortion
Study Case 2: Gay Marriage
Week 7 Political Parties & Groups and Interests
Week 8 Public Opinion and the Media
Week 9 Foreign Policy
Modalités
The success of this course depends on the active participation of all class members. Thus, attendance at all class meetings is a natural expectation of the course. In order to allow you to develop more in-depth knowledge or a broader perspective on American politics, you will find a list of podcasts that I believe will be interesting for you at the end of this syllabus. Please try to listen to one a week.
Each session comes with some reading suggestions. Please use them.
Assessments:
1. A group work consisting in a prepared debate (groups of 3-4) on a chosen
topic. 40%
2. A reading report of a set of documents on a topic chosen from a list that will be
given in class. In this report, the student is asked to identify the questions
raised by the documents and analyze the way in which these documents
address the issue. 60