Whether we are aware of it or not, we are constantly interacting with the actions (and sometimes inactions) of the American political system. The American political system governs attempts at collective action and serves as the arena for resolving societal conflict; regulates the air we breathe, food we eat, and even the time we register; establishes and ensures our civil rights and liberties; and forms an important part of our identities. Turbulent times only accentuate those interactions. Despite its ubiquity, the American political system is shrouded in a mythos that often leads to confusion. This class will peel back the layers of this mythos to observe the American political system as it actually is and attempt to explain the difficult “how’s” and “why’s” of the system’s design and functionality.
- Instructor of record: Zachary Scott