Course Schedule Foundations Mass Politics Feb 1 Political Culture March 15 Public Opinion Feb 6 Limited Government March 20 Political Parties Feb 8 Representative Government March 22 10 Campaigns and Elections Feb 13 Federalism March 27 Political Movements Feb 15 Civil Liberties March 29 Interest Groups Feb 20 Civil Rights April 10 News Media Institutions Public Policy Feb 22 Congress and Constituency April 12 Social Policy Feb 27 Congress and Party April 17 Fiscal and Monetary Policy March 1 Presidents and Domestic Policy April 19 Welfare and Income Policy March 6 Presidents and Foreign Policy April 24 Regulatory Policy March 8 Federal Bureaucracy April 26 Foreign Policy March 13 Judiciary and Supreme Court May 1 Dynamics of American Politics PART I. FOUNDATIONS Political Culture - Feb 1, 2018 In the words of journalist Theodore H. White, the United States was “born of an idea.” The American Revolution stemmed from the vision of a different form of government, one based on the consent of the governed rather than the dictates of a king. That founding vision with its emphasis on liberty, equality, individualism, and self-government became the foundation of the American political culture. This session will explore the origins of the nation’s political culture, its embrace by each succeeding generation of Americans, and its continuing influence on the nation’s politics and policies. U.S. welfare and education policy will be used to illustrate that influence. The session also highlights the nature of politics—the process through which society settles its conflicts over scarce resources and conflicting values. Limited Government - Feb 6, 2018 The writers of the Constitution were determined to create a government powerful enough to meet the nation’s needs but not so powerful as to threaten people’s liberty. Accordingly, the Constitution is rooted in the idea of “limited government”—a government of restricted power. The Constitution
Course Schedule Foundations Feb 1 Political Culture Feb 6 Limited Government Feb 8 Representative Government Feb 13 Federalism Feb 15 Civil Liberties Feb 20 Civil Rights Institutions Feb 22 Congress and Constituency Feb 27 Congress and Party March 1 Presidents and Domestic Policy March 6 Presidents and Foreign Policy March 8 Federal Bureaucracy March 13 Judiciary and Supreme Court Mass Politics March 15 Public Opinion March 20 Political Parties March 22 10 Campaigns and Elections March 27 Political Movements March 29 Interest Groups April 10 News Media Public Policy April 12 Social Policy April 17 Fiscal and Monetary Policy April 19 Welfare and Income Policy April 24 Regulatory Policy April 26 Foreign Policy May 1 Dynamics of American Politics PART I. FOUNDATIONS Political Culture - Feb 1, 2018 In the words of journalist Theodore H. White, the United States was “born of an idea.” The American Revolution stemmed from the vision of a different form of government, one based on the consent of the governed rather than the dictates of a king. That founding vision with its emphasis on liberty, equality, individualism, and self-government became the foundation of the American political culture. This session will explore the origins of the nation’s political culture, its embrace by each succeeding generation of Americans, and its continuing influence on the nation’s politics and policies. U.S. welfare and education policy will be used to illustrate that influence. The session also highlights the nature of politics—the process through which society settles its conflicts over scarce resources and conflicting values. Limited Government - Feb 6, 2018 The writers of the Constitution were determined to create a government powerful enough to meet the nation’s needs but not so powerful as to threaten people’s liberty. Accordingly, the Constitution is rooted in the idea of “limited government”—a government of restricted power. The Constitution