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Overview

In POLI 345, we explore US politics and political culture, the US Constitution and federalism, and the various participants in the American government, which include public opinion, public participation, media, political parties, campaigns and elections, and interest groups. We also explore the major institutions of the American government, which include Congress, the president, the bureaucracy, and the courts, specifically the United States Supreme Court. In the last part of the course, after becoming familiar with the operation of the American government and the various participants in the governmental system, we explore five specific outcomes or public policy areas of the American government: personal liberty, civil rights, the economy, social welfare, and national security.

Outline

POLI 345 comprises the following 18 units:

Part I: Politics

• Unit 1: Politics
• Unit 2: Political Culture

Part II: Constitution

• Unit 3: The Constitution
• Unit 4: Federalism

Part III: Participants

• Unit 5: Opinion and Participation
• Unit 6: Mass Media
• Unit 7: Political Parties
• Unit 8: Campaigns and Elections
• Unit 9: Interest Groups

Part IV: Institutions

• Unit 10: Congress
• Unit 11: The President
• Unit 12: The Bureaucracy
• Unit 13: Courts

Part V: Outcomes

• Unit 14: Politics and Personal Liberty
• Unit 15: Politics and Civil Rights
• Unit 16: Politics and the Economy
• Unit 17: Politics and Social Welfare
• Unit 18: Politics and National Security

Objectives

When you have completed the course, you should be able to achieve the following course objectives:

1. Identify, define, and explain key terms and concepts used in the study of democratic governance in the United States, including: federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, liberalism, conservatism, gerrymandering, civil disobedience, filibusters, impeachment, executive privilege, veto, judicial review, judicial activism, judicial independence, separation of church and state, the right to privacy, equality of opportunity, segregation, and affirmative action.
2. Compare and contrast democratic governance in the United States and Canada.
3. Recognize and explain the complexities of the U.S. federal system and the interplay of the three branches of government at the national level.
4. Apply knowledge of the structure and operation of the U.S. political system to elections, court decisions, and social conflict.
5. Explain how an individual or group might attempt to affect public policy in the United States.
6. Describe how and why politics and law affect daily life in the United States.

Evaluation

To receive credit for POLI 345, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least a D (50 percent). You must achieve a minimum grade of 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Gaddie, R. K., & Dye, T. R. (2017). Politics in America (11th ed.). New York: Pearson Education

Other Materials

All of the course materials for POLI 345 are available online through the myÐÇ¿ÕÓ°ÊÓportal.

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the POLI 345 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.

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