Welcome to POL 166

Welcome to POL166, the American Political System. This course is designed as a broad survey of American national government and politics. Starting from the historical foundations of the American government we will trace its historical development from colonial times to the present. We will focus on the conflict between the values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution with the realities of political life in American history.
This course will examine the structure as well as the functions and purposes of the American political system. It will also examine some of the historical struggles to gain access and the right to participate in the American political system. The challenges are to be able to explain the mechanics of the American political system as well as to understand the changing nature of the functions and purposes it has served throughout history. The changing nature of the American political system cannot be understood without accounting for the inclusion of social groups that had at one point been excluded from participation.