School of Politics, International Relations & Philosophy  
 
 
PIR-20054 US Government and Politics  
Co-ordinator: Mr Michael Tappin    Room: CBB2.029, Tel:33486  
Teaching Team:  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
N/A
Barred Combinations
N/A
Description

This module will assist the development of your intellectual and key skills. The module should sharpen your critical evaluation of evidence and your ability to argue logically. Hopefully, you'll start looking at the theory in the area of American government and look at how that theory relates to what actually happens. Through class discussion, your verbal communication should be enhanced, and your written communication should benefit from assessment by, and feedback from, essays and examinations.
Aims
The aim of this course is to familiarise students with the basic organisation of American government and politics.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, students should have a working knowledge of the American political system that will provide a basis for taking specialist Level II courses in American government and politics. This is achieved by studying the structures, roles and interactions of American governing institutions and how these respond to public opinion in delivering public policy
Study hours
The course consists of 15 lectures, and 5 seminars; you'll have two lectures, and one lecture and one seminar in every week.
Description of Module Assessment
We assess your performance on the course through two methods:

  • Essay 50%
  • Examination 50%



    • 001: Essay weighted 50%
    2000 words
    002: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 50%
    2 hours
    Version: (1.03) Created: 08/Mar/2010

    This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.