POL S 202 A: Introduction to American Politics

Summer 2025 Full-term
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Meeting:
to be arranged / * *
SLN:
13045
Section Type:
Lecture
Instructor:
ASYNCHRONOUS ** OPTIONAL W CREDIT
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

Political Science 202: Introduction to American Politics

University of Washington 

Online (Asynchronous) 

Summer 2025

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Meagan Carmack

Email: mcarmack@uw.edu

Office Hours: By Appointment, Zoom

Course page: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1812098

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to American Government is a foundational course designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the key principles, structures, and processes of the United States government. While grounding students in the historical context and development of the Constitution, the roles and functions of the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial), federalism, political parties, elections, and civil rights and liberties, this course places a special emphasis on connecting these concepts to today’s political landscape. Through the lens of current events, students will sharpen their analytical skills, deepen their understanding of civic rights and responsibilities, and become more informed  participants in the democratic process.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

This class will be conducted fully online and asynchronous. The asynchronous nature of the course provides you with flexibility during this compacted summer term. I’m sure many of you are working, taking other classes, trying to get some sun in, and juggling multiple responsibilities. While this mode of instruction provides you with added flexibility, the impetus is on you to keep up with the schedule for readings and lecture recordings. All assignment deadlines are available from the first day of class, so please organize accordingly. I will upload current events readings by Monday morning for that week; lectures will be available one unit (about 2-3 weeks) in advance. I am available for office hours via Zoom by appointment. Please reach out if you would like to chat and I will do my best to accommodate your schedule!

COURSE READINGS

All readings are available through the Canvas website. Students are also encouraged to keep up to date with current political events by regularly reading at least one online news source of their choice (e.g., The Seattle Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Hill, Politico, etc.). Many publications offer reduced rates for students.

This course uses Open Educational Resources (OER), which are available through Canvas. 

  • We The People, 13rd edition (available as a pdf on our Canvas page or here)

OER are teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and re-purposing by others. OER include full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, streaming videos, tests, software, and any other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION

You will be assessed based on discussion board participation, weekly participation assignments, three unit quizzes, an analytical research paper, and two short writing assignments.

Assignments and Grading

Discussion Boards (20%) - weekly, due Sundays

Every week, an online discussion board will open on Canvas. Exact instructions might differ from week to week, but generally, you will be expected to post at least two times by the start of the following week (usually, one on theme for the week and one relating to current events analysis). For detailed guidelines, please refer to each week’s discussion board on Canvas. The readings you will need to complete the current events discussion board will be posted no later than Monday morning of the week that they are due.

Participation Assignments (20%) – weekly, due Sundays

Almost all lectures include a short participation assignment related to the lecture or a prompt asking for your opinion on the material discussed that day.  To ensure that you watch the lectures, I will explain how to do these assignments and may include key words or phrases for you to submit with your work to receive full credit. Work submitted without these keywords/phrases will be docked 10%. 

Unit Quizzes (15%) – due July 13, July 27, and August 17

There will be three brief (approx. 1-1.5 hours) online quizzes to assess your understanding of class content based on readings and lectures. Quizzes are untimed, open note and must be submitted by the posted due date. You are ready to take the quiz after watching all of that unit’s lectures. I am generally flexible with due dates, but not on quizzes (no extensions), so please keep track of these! More information on the format of the quizzes can be found on Canvas.

Analytical Democratic Backsliding Paper (20%) – due August 10

You will complete an analytical paper (5-6 pages, double-spaced) on evaluating democratic backsliding in the United States. More information about the paper will be available in a separate document upon distribution of the paper prompt.

News Report Reflection (15%) – due August 22

You will choose a current newspaper article connected to American politics, write a short reflection on the content of the article, explain why you chose this article, and how the topic relates to the class. 

“Write Your Rep” Assignment (10%) – due August 22

You will identify one of your elected representatives, obtain their contact information, and write a note to the representative about a topic you care about (hint: it’s a good idea to use the same topic for the news report and this assignment to save time). You should identify the problem, what is currently being done about it, what still needs to be done, and what role the representative has to play in a solution you identify. You do not need to actually submit this to your representative, but of course are free to do so. Please be safe in engaging in political activities.

[See syllabus on Home page for more details about class expectations, course policies, etc.]

COURSE SCHEDULE

Unit 1: Foundations and the Road to the Constitution

This unit introduces the fundamental principles of American government, including its historical foundations, the Constitution, media literacy, and the role of federalism. Understanding these concepts provides the groundwork for all future discussions in this course. The ideas covered here will be revisited as we analyze political institutions, political participation, and policy-making.

  • Week 1: Course Overview, the Iroquois Confederacy, and Early European Governance

  • Week 2: The Road to the Constitution and Federalism

  • Week 3: Political Media Literacy, Political Ideology, and Evaluating Sources for Bias

Unit 2: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

In this unit, we will explore civil rights, civil liberties, and the role of the courts in upholding these principles. This unit connects back to previous discussions on the Constitution, elections, and policy-making by examining how laws are interpreted and enforced. 

  • Week 4: Civil Rights

  • Week 5: Civil Liberties

Unit 3: Branches of Government and the Balance of Power

This unit explores the three branches of government, focusing on the roles of the judiciary, Congress, the Presidency, and the federal bureaucracy. We will analyze how these institutions interact, create policy, and balance power. This builds on our previous discussions about federalism and civil rights/liberties, providing a clearer understanding of how government functions in practice.

  • Week 6: The Judiciary and the Supreme Court

  • Week 7: Congress

  • Week 8: The Executive Branch

Unit 4: Elections and Political Behavior

This unit examines how individuals engage with the U.S. political system through voting, elections, and interest groups. We will analyze the role of political parties, public opinion, and the media in shaping government policies.

  • Week 9: Elections and Political Behavior

Catalog Description:
Institutions and politics in the American political system. Ways of thinking about how significant problems, crises, and conflicts of American society are resolved politically. Course equivalent to: BIS 175 and TPOL S 202. Offered: AWSpS.
Department Requirements Met:
Introductory Courses
GE Requirements Met:
Social Sciences (SSc)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
June 26, 2025 - 10:52 pm