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Georgetown Politics and Government Course Syllabus
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Politics and Government: To Form a More Perfect Union

Course Description:  

The American political system — our government and politics — is a 250 year work in progress. Our efforts to “form a more perfect union” involve conflict, competition, and cooperation. Our politics and government are shaped by our established laws, by the reality on the ground, and by the choices that political actors make. What does the future hold for the issues, such as democratic principles, climate change, economic inequality, racial justice that the public cares about most? In this course, we seek to understand these questions and their answers.

Course Objectives:

Throughout this course you will learn to:

  1. Explain the core principles of American politics and government.
  2. Describe the function and tasks of the major institutions in American politics.
  3. Identify the major forms and impact of participation in politics.
  4. Analyze the opportunities and barriers to getting a policy adopted or a candidate elected.

Final Project:

You are running a successful presidential campaign and must give the most important speech of your political career to date: the acceptance of your party's nomination for President. In this speech, you will detail your vision for your presidency and explain why citizens should vote for you.

You will create a five-minute speech to address the American people and deliver your vision for the country. In your speech, you should aim to craft a motivational message and incorporate responses to at least 7 of the 9 following questions:

Course Outline

Module 1: American Politics and Government

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define and distinguish between politics, politicians, and policy.
  2. Understand the importance of rules, power dynamics, and social realities that complicate political action.
  3. Explore common problems associated with collective action.
  4. Identify the ways political actors make choices.

Module Description:

On any given day, the American political system impacts countless aspects of daily life for those living within it. In this module, you will explore how political actors, from regular citizens to the president, use their political power to make decisions while adhering to existing political rules and standards. You will apply what you learn to investigate how engaging in collective decision-making requires a strategic approach and careful negotiation among various parties to limit potential consequences associated with collective action.

Topics:

Module Assignment:

You are in your first term as mayor of your city, and the next election season is fast approaching. Your constituents have generally been happy with how you have served them and you are ready to use that support to enact positive change. Several special interest groups have approached you to support their measures on the ballot. Knowing that your relationship with constituents, political allies, and adversaries may be affected by whether or not you endorse certain measures, you must choose the issues that you will endorse strategically. Use your newfound knowledge of political actors, power, conflict, and collective action problems to choose a measure to endorse and provide the rationale for your decision.

For this assignment, select one of the measures/positions (to be provided in the course) to endorse and make your argument for why you chose to support this measure.

Module 2: The U.S. Constitution

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify key events and conflicts in the early history of the United States and explain how the Constitution addressed them.
  2. Describe the politics of constitutional development, ratification, and revision through amendments.
  3. Understand the Constitution’s treatment of civil liberties and civil rights and identify key Supreme Court cases upholding civil liberties.
  4. Explain how the American governmental system is similar to, and different from, other types of government.

Module Description:

The Constitution established the structure of the American political system. As the foundational governmental document, the Constitution balanced the protection of personal liberties with the provision of public order in a tense juxtaposition that is the focus of debate today just as it was at the founding of the country. In this module, you will explore how the Constitution proposed to solve the problems faced by the fledgling United States and created a representative government that addressed the needs of the time and place in which it was created.

Topics:

Module Assignment:

The constitutional Framers sought to balance their goal to protect freedom and create a government strong enough to function effectively. They did this in five ways: (1) limited popular sovereignty, (2) limited government, (3) separation of powers, (4) federalism, and (5) inalienable rights. They also recognized that their design could need amendments to ensure a productive separation of powers as the country matured and culture changed.

For this assignment, you will choose two potential amendments (to be provided in the course) to advocate for as a Senator to adjust the balance of powers in the federal government and provide statements of support explaining why the amendments are needed.

Module 3: The Public in American Politics

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain the core elements of American political culture and how they impact politics.
  2. Define and identify the relationship among political personalities, ideologies, and participation.
  3. Describe public opinion and how politicians use it.
  4. Identify the key threats to the American political system.

Module Description:

In this module, you will explore ways in which the public interacts with the American political system. You will establish the various components that make up American political culture. You will identify the ways in which people participate in politics and the challenges to political participation. You will also evaluate how public opinion is measured, and describe political realities that pose threats to the current political system.  

Topics:

Module Assignment:

You will assume the role of a political consultant working with a politician. You will be encouraging your client (the politician) to support a political reform. You will draft a persuasive paper advocating for the reform and analyzing the reform against specific criteria.

List of reforms and criteria to be provided in the course.

Module 4: The Campaigns

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain the function of political parties and the larger party landscape.
  2. Discuss the major factors that influence political campaigns and election participation.
  3. Identify the different types of interest groups and describe their importance.
  4. Discuss the role of the media in covering politics and distilling information to the public.

Module Description:

Elections serve as the mechanism through which the voting public determines who holds power within the American political system. In this module, you will explore the complexities of elections and the political landscape surrounding them, including the roles and functions of political parties and interest groups. You will also consider the pivotal role of the media in shaping public opinion and influencing voter decisions throughout the electoral process. Finally, you will apply your knowledge by crafting a candidate biography, a fundamental aspect of any campaign.

Topics:

Module Assignment:

Successful political campaigns are those which engage and mobilize the electorate to support the campaign’s platform. At the outset of a campaign, candidates introduce themselves through a candidate bio that communicates their political personality, including their ideological values, history of political participation, campaign platform, and affiliated groups.

For this assignment, you will research previous political campaigns and find at least one that inspires and resonates with you. You will then prepare your candidate bio as though you are running for a seat in your state’s legislature. Your bio should address the following: your political party affiliation and political personality, your platform and interest areas, and your campaign.

Module 5: American Political Institutions

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
  2. Explain the system of checks and balances and how it affects the federal government's power.
  3. Define the bureaucracy and identify the challenges it faces when implementing laws.
  4. Describe the powers and purview of the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court.

Module Description:

The American political system, as established by the Constitution, consists of three branches — executive, legislative, and judicial — each with independent functions and responsibilities. This module will introduce each of the branches and their functions. Real world case studies will be used to explore the ways in which the branches are interconnected yet independent in a way that contributes to a larger system of checks and balances. You will apply what you learn to evaluate a policy recommendation and the institutions that oversee its implementation.  

Topics:

Module 6: Course Conclusion & Final Project

Topics:

Capstone Project Presentation:

As mentioned above, you will imagine you are running for President and that you have to give the most important speech of your political career: You are speaking to the entire American public from your party’s national convention. In this speech, you will outline your vision for your presidency and explain why citizens should vote for you.

You will record a video of yourself presenting a five-minute speech that is addressed to the American people and outlines your vision for the country.

Program and Class Policies 

Academic Requirements

  1. In order to qualify for a Certificate of Completion, students must receive an evaluation of “Complete” on 70% of assignments (3 of the 4 end-of-module assignments) and the Final Project. All assignments and the Final Project need to be submitted by the end of the course.
  2. Decisions regarding program completion, Certificates of Completion, and other awards are at the discretion of the School. If you are deemed ineligible for a Certificate of Completion, you will not be entitled to any refund or compensation.

Evaluation Criteria/Rubric

Each unit assignment, as well as the Final Project will be assessed on a rubric of:

Technical Requirements

This online course will be conducted using the Canvas online learning management system. Students should log into Canvas regularly to complete  all course modules, assignments, and announcements. You are responsible for meeting and maintaining the minimum technical requirements for the course, including internet access and basic computer specifications necessary for using the Canvas Learning Management System.

Mobile Devices 

Your course may offer content and features that are available via a mobile device. Standard messaging, data and other fees may be charged by your carrier. Your carrier may prohibit or restrict certain mobile features and certain mobile features may be incompatible with your carrier or mobile device. Contact your carrier with questions regarding these issues.  

Course Mentors

Students will have opportunities along their journey to engage with a mentor for questions, guidance and feedback for both their assignments throughout the course and the final project. Mentors will provide support and encouragement at predetermined moments throughout the course.

Student Code of Conduct

We may remove from the course any students whom we deem in our discretion to be disruptive to the learning environment, dangerous to other students, have acted in a manner that shows lack of dignity or respect for faculty and/or students, violated any intellectual property rights, or have engaged in academic misconduct, such as cheating or violating confidentiality. If you are removed from the course for violations of this Code of Conduct you will not be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, refund, or any other award or compensation.

Intellectual Property

This course is for your personal and non-commercial use only.  The course may not be shared, re-sold, reproduced, re-published, modified, transferred or distributed in any way without our prior written permission.  All video, audio, text, animations, books, diagrams, images and other content that you receive or to which you have access during your course or through your use of the course, regardless of medium or format,  are protected by copyright law.  You may not download, record, screenshot, copy or reproduce course content in any way. You may not make any audio and/or video recording of any part of the course. You may not attempt to decompile, reverse engineer, scrape or datamine the course. Trademarks, logos, and service marks displayed or otherwise used in the course are registered trademarks and may not be used without prior, written permission.  You may have access to digital versions of course content. Subject to your compliance with these terms and conditions, we grant you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, revocable and non-transferable license to access course content during your program.

Terms & Conditions

The policies listed above are a subset of the Terms & Conditions for the program. You may review the complete Terms & Conditions here.

 

Course designed by:

John Griffin

Professor of Government

The University reserves the right to modify the course as may become necessary.