U.S. Politics in Crisis

Catalog description

It often seems like the American government achieves little other than stoking political animosities amongst the American people. We see daily news stories about gridlock, polarization, partisanship, and corruption. This course introduces students to the basic principles of the U.S. constitutional system and how they are served by the three branches of government, paying special attention to the democratic process, vital public issues, and civil rights and civil liberties. Students will gain a critical understanding of the function and dysfunction in American politics and government, as well as concrete ideas about what can be done about it. This course counts towards the fulfillment of the Disciplinary Perspectives element of the CLAS general education curriculum.