GV369-6-SP-CO:
American Political Institutions

The details
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
ReassessmentOnly
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
11 May 2021

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

American Political Institutions is designed to promote strong analytic thinking with respect to political institutions in the United States (e.g. Congress, Presidency, Electoral Campaigns, etc.).

Students should be reasonably familiar with the American political system so that these topics can be studied in more depth than a general introduction class. Particularly, this module offered in this semester will focus on American Congress.

Module aims

After taking the class, students should be able to have a strong working knowledge of the American political system, and they should also be able to understand how research takes place within each topic area.

Module learning outcomes

• Students will gain an understanding of the role of political institutions in shaping the dynamics of American government, public policy, and political behavior.
• Students will learn about a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of American institutions.
• Students will learn to think critically and analytically both about American institutions themselves and the bodies of research that seek to understand these institutions.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be structured with a mix of lecture and in-depth class discussions of weekly topics. As such, it is required that students come to class prepared, having completed all assigned readings for the week they are assigned and having thought critically about the arguments and evidence presented in the readings. Students should pay close attention to the research methods used to test hypotheses and support theories, why the authors chose such methods, and whether the methods present a reasonable test of theory.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Reassessment without attendance 2022-23 ONLY IF REQUIRED BY EXAM BOARD     

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Ju Park, email: jp20761@essex.ac.uk.

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Edward Morgan-Jones
University of Kent
Reader in Comparative Politics
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information
Government

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