Peter Parides’s Profile Faculty Toggle navigation

An overview of the structure and characteristics of the American political system. Topics include the branches of government, the Constitution and civil liberties, political parties, interest groups, citizen participation, and the relationship between the national and state governments.

An overview of the structure and characteristics of the American political system. Topics include the branches of government, the Constitution and civil liberties, political parties, interest groups, citizen participation, and the relationship between the national and state governments.

This course will provide a detailed study of the origin and development of America’s unique con- stitutional democracy and its government institutions. It will highlight its origin to the present days, from the local to the federal level of government. It will include information about the Arti- cles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, branches of government, public policy, political ideologies, interest groups, elections, mass media and other critical components of the political process. It will challenge students to ask- Why do we need government? What makes government authority legitimate? Why do you obey the law…most of the time? This course introduces students to major themes in government and will hopefully make them more civically engaged.

This course will provide a detailed study of the origin and development of America’s unique con- stitutional democracy and its government institutions. It will highlight its origin to the present days, from the local to the federal level of government. It will include information about the Arti- cles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, branches of government, public policy, political ideologies, interest groups, elections, mass media and other critical components of the political process. It will challenge students to ask- Why do we need government? What makes government authority legitimate? Why do you obey the law…most of the time? This course introduces students to major themes in government and will hopefully make them more civically engaged.