Week 1: The Logic of American Politics A conceptual introduction to the distinctive features of the U.S. political system: fragmented authority, checks and balances, federalism, and the historical distrust of centralized power. Week 2: Constitutional Design and the American State Explores the origins and evolution of the U.S. Constitution, the separation of powers, and the federal structure. Emphasizes how institutional design shapes political incentives and limits collective action. - Federalist No. 10 Argues that a large republic is the best defense against the dangers of faction and majority tyranny. - Federalist No. 51 Explains how separation of powers and checks and balances prevent any branch of government from dominating. - Federalist No. 78 Defends judicial independence and describes the judiciary as the "least dangerous" branch. - Brutus No. 1 Warns that the proposed Constitution creates a national government too powerful and distant from the people. - Centinel No. 1 Argues that republican liberty can only survive in small, simple governments, not in a large consolidated republic. Week 3: Political Culture, Public Opinion, and Participation Examines how Americans form political attitudes, why participation is unequal, and how political culture differs from European contexts. Introduces models of opinion formation and civic engagement. Week 4: Political Parties and Partisanship Analyzes the role of parties as coalitions, governing institutions, and identity markers. Focuses on polarization, party realignment, and why the U.S. has a stable two party system. Week 5: Elections, Campaigns, and Voting Behavior Covers electoral rules, campaign strategy, and models of vote choice. Highlights how institutions (e.g., primaries, the Electoral College) shape political outcomes. Week 6: Congress: Representation, Organization, and Lawmaking Explores how Congress represents constituencies, how internal structures (committees, parties) shape policymaking, and why legislative gridlock is common. Emphasizes the tension between local representation and national governance. Week 7: The Presidency and Executive Power Examines the formal and informal powers of the presidency, the rise of unilateral action, and the president's role in a system designed to constrain executive authority. Week 8: The Courts and Judicial Politics Analyzes the Supreme Court's role in policymaking, judicial review, and constitutional interpretation. Week 9: Bureaucracy and Public Management in the U.S. Focuses on the structure and behavior of the federal bureaucracy, administrative discretion, and implementation challenges. Highlights how fragmentation and political oversight shape public management. Week 10: Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Collective Action Explores how organized interests and social movements influence policy. Covers lobbying, mobilization, and the structural advantages of some groups over others. Week 11: Inequality, Race, and Representation Examines how race, class, and structural inequalities shape political participation and policy outcomes. Discusses the historical roots of inequality and its contemporary political consequences. Week 12: Contemporary Challenges: Polarization, Misinformation, and Democratic Stress Addresses current debates about democratic backsliding, media fragmentation, misinformation, and institutional strain. Week 13: Synthesis and Wrap Up Students revisit core themes, present final reflections, and discuss the future of American politics. Emphasizes how the course's conceptual tools help interpret ongoing political developments.
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Course Title: Power and Politics: Institutions That Shape America Associate Professor: Keith E. Lee Jr., Valdosta State University Course Summary: This seminar takes examines the forces that drive American governance, exploring the architecture, function, and impact of political institutions. From Congress and the Presidency to the bureaucracy and courts, students will critically examine how these entities shape policy outcomes, navigate constraints, and wield power within a complex political landscape. The course blends foundational and contemporary scholarship with hands-on analysis, incorporating perspectives from institutionalism, rational choice theory, and path dependence. Through essays, discussions, and interactive presentations, students will assess institutional effectiveness, political strategy, and the broader implications of governance.
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