PIR-20071 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

The US is one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world today. Little aspect of politics, culture or public discussion does not touch on events in the U.S. in some way. There is much made of the 'special relationship' between the US and UK, which suggests that the political systems have much in common. This assumption can be deceptive, as the two countries have almost polar opposite approaches to politics in the structure of their governmental institutions and rationale for the way they are organised. Presidents are nothing like prime ministers, and the US system is not designed with the efficient pursuit of public policy in mind. Instead, it seeks to check and limit governmental power in an attempt to protect people's liberty.
This module analyses how the US government is structured and how it operates in practice. You will come away more able to fully understand the way in which complex issues play out in the US and why that policymaking seems so different from the UK.

1. To give students an introduction to US government and politics.
2. To enable students to analyse the interrelationships between US political institutions, the electoral system, public opinion and the making of public policy.
3. To enable students to develop a critical perspective on the scholarly debates in the current literature and to develop their own perspectives on modern American politics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Interpret and distinguish between different theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of US politics: 1
Acquire, assess, organise and engage with a variety of sources as a part of conducting research: 1
Effectively and fluently communicate complex arguments supported by the appropriate evidence in written form: 1
Analyse key problems in the US political system integrating theoretical concepts and empirical material: 1

Study hours

Lecture attendance - 12 hours
Tutorial attendance - 12 hours
Engagement with online resources in preparation for tutorials - 48 hours
Research and preparation of essay - 78 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment