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| This course provides an introductory look at the United States and its national system of government. No prior knowledge is required. We will first explore the foundations of American government in the Constitution and the country's unique cultural traditions. We will then explore the different institutions that make up the government in Washington, DC: the president, the Congress, the bureaucracy, the courts, and parties and interest groups. Finally, we will explore the role of the media and the way in which average citizens engage with their government. The primary goal of this course is to make you a more informed observer of and participant in the U.S. system of government. A secondary goal is to give you a sense of the U.S. government's size and complexity, which mirrors the size and diversity of the country it serves. The hope is that this will leave you with a new respect, if it is not already there, for those who choose to serve in government, since it is easy to criticize them until you have seen the challenges they face. Students will gain both written communication and writing skills. |
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