POL571 American Political Institutions

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Charles David Hadley (lecturer), doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. Lenka Hrbková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Stanislav Balík, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Division of Politology – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 15. 10. 8:00–9:40 U41, Tue 16. 10. 8:00–9:40 U23, Wed 17. 10. 8:00–9:40 U33, Thu 18. 10. 8:00–9:40 U33, Fri 19. 10. 8:00–9:40 U42, Mon 22. 10. 8:00–9:40 U41, Tue 23. 10. 8:00–9:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka, Wed 24. 10. 8:00–9:40 U33, Thu 25. 10. 16:00–19:40 U41
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/15, only registered: 0/15
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The participant explore the basic functions of political system in USA. The main topic of the seminar is presidential election 2012
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction: Course overview and “The American Political System” 2. Selecting the President: A Process of Reform in Continued Flux - “The Public Funding of Presidential Elections” - “National Democratic Party/Convention Delegate Selection Reforms” - “Selecting US Presidents by Accident of Design” 3. The President: Role, Limitations, and Power - “The President: Public Expectations” - “The President in Office” 4. The Congress: An Organized Counterbalance to the President? - “The Organization and Operation of U.S. Congress” 5. The U.S. Court System: Establishment, Organization, and Operation - “Establishment of U.S. Supreme Court Power; Its Organization and Operation in the Court System” 6. The U.S. Supreme Court in American Society - “The Responsibility and Powers of the Courts” 7. Political Parties, Presidential Elections, and the Future of American Politics - “Race, Religion, and American Political Parties” - “The Future of American Politics: A Continued Revolt of the Moderates?” 8. Review 9. FINAL EXAMINATION 10. Individual meetings with students over course grades
Literature
    required literature
  • Robert B. Dove, Parliamentarian, United States Senate, “From a Bill to a Law: Enactment of a Law” (Updated February 1997) (28 pp.)
  • Statistical Summary of 18-Month Campaign Activity of the 2015-2016 Election Cycle” (10 pgs.) The
  • The Constitution: Amendments 11-27” The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11- 27.html (
  • Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Political Polarization in the American Public: How Increasing Ideological Uniformity and Partisan Antipathy Affect Politics, Compromise and Everyday Life. It
  • MCKAY, David. American politics and society. 8th ed. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K.: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2013, xxiii, 496 p.
  • Eric Petersen, “Roles and Duties of a Member of Congress.” (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, November 4, 2010). (10 pp.)
  • Federal Election Commission, “Citizens Guide” (Updated January 2015; 9 pgs.)
  • Charles D. Hadley, “Unexpected Turbulence in a Reformed Presidential Selection System,” January 29, 2017 (21 pgs.)
  • The Bill of Rights [Amendments 1-10]: A Transcription,” The U.S. National Archives & Records Admin. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
  • The Supreme Court of the United States: Organization and Operation” (18 pp.) http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/about.html
  • Kevin J. Colman, Joseph E. Cantor, and Thomas H. Neale, “Presidential Elections in the United States: A Primer.” (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress, April 17, 2000), pp. 1-48.
  • The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription,” The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
  • Federal Election Commission, “Public Funding of Presidential Elections” (Updated February 2016; 11 pgs.)
  • The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription,” The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
Teaching methods
Lectures, seminars
Assessment methods
final test
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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