Introduction to American Politics

Calendar

SES #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
Part I: Foundations
1	Course Introduction Recitation Assignments Writing Self-assessment
2	Analytic Foundations Power Collective Goods and Collective Action Civic Culture Institutions
3	The American Political Tradition
4	The Constitution I
5	The Constitution II
Part II: Institutions
6	Congress I: Ambitious Politicians	Short paper 1 due
7	Congress II: Internal Organization
8	The Presidency
9	The Bureaucracy
10	The Judiciary
11	Federalism
Part III: Mass Behavior
12	Citizens and Politics	Short paper 2 due
13	Public Opinion
14	Parties and Partisanship
15	Political Choice
16	Campaigns and Elections	Short paper 3 due
17	The U.S. in Comparative Perspective
Part IV: American Politics as a System
18	Political Participation	Long paper topic idea due
19	Politics and Policy
20	Political Geography
21	Parties and the U.S. Political System	Long paper draft due
Part V: Substantive Debates
22	Polarization and Extremism
23	Money and Organized Interests
24	The Politics of Economic Inequality
25	Race and Racism
26	Immigration and Multiculturalism	Long paper final version due