AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (CIV) (KSS)

Catalog description

Course provides a broad survey of the American political system, including key structures, processes, behaviors, institutions and policies. Students analyze documents and texts that are foundational to the American political system, describe the basic structure of the system that the Constitution established, and learn how it has evolved over time. Also, students seek to understand how American politics affects the lives of average Americans. The course focuses on how individuals make decisions; how the rules, institutions and procedures shape those decisions; and in turn, how these actors try to shape the rules, institutions and procedures that govern political processes. The focus on the individual is intended to demonstrate that, while politics can be complex, individuals can begin to make sense of political processes and even predict outcomes by understanding the forces that affect decision makers.