Module SGIA3311: THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

Department: Government and International Affairs

SGIA3311: THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 SGIA module

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• This module aims to enable students to gain detailed and specific knowledge and understanding of the structure and operation of arguably the world's most powerful executive office, the Presidency of the United States. Students will be tasked with considering the key dynamics and developments in the Presidency, including the President’s relationship other American political institutions and the role of specific Presidents.

Content

• The first half of the module will consider the political and historical origins of the Presidency and the office’s constitutional duties. In addition, it will cover the historical development of the office of the president and the president’s relationship with the legislative and judicial branches of government. The second half of the module will focus on the president’s relationship with the media, the American people, and presidential power in foreign policy.

Learning Outcomes

• Show detailed and systematic knowledge of the office of the Presidency and the record of specific Presidents.
• Be aware of the principal dynamics shaping the development of the US Presidency and how these relate to wider political developments.
• Have an appropriate understanding of key debates in the scholarly literature surrounding the Presidency, drawing on material at or close to the forefront of current scholarly work.

• Describe, analyse and evaluate the office of the Presidency and the record of individual Presidents.
• Utilise advanced scholarly resources effectively to support sound academic judgement on the Presidency and the record of Presidents.
• Show an understanding of the institutional, Constitutional and other appropriate political contexts surrounding the Presidency.

• Through the module students should further develop key skills including:
• Identification, selection and assessment of resources in support of their studies.
• Effective planning and delivery of assessed work within time and length constraints.
• Taking responsibility for their learning and work, balancing competing demands to complete a range of tasks.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Teaching is through 10 two-hour seminars structured to ensure coverage of the full range of content of the module. These may use student presentations to provide a basis for subsequent discussion and debate, enabling students to survey key issues and present initial assessments of the competing positions in the literature. This encourages students to demonstrate their acquisition of knowledge and to develop and defend analytical assessments and judgements in a guided and supported teaching environment
• In addition to the seminars, 2 two-hour lectures will also occur in Michaelmas Term. These lectures are meant to contextualize the presidency, providing for detail on presidential function and institutional operation. These lectures are meant to provide students with informational footing to better help them engage in seminar. Half of one of the lectures will be reserved for providing information with regards to the essay summative.
• Summative assessment will take two forms. The first summative assessment will be in the form pre-written essay questions which will cover the first half of the module, Assessment through essay gives students the opportunity to set out their knowledge of the field. Achieving this also tests their ability to independently identify, assess and organise resources in support of a consistent academic argument, by a deadline and to a word-limit, requiring students to take responsibility for their learning. This first assessment will be 2,000 words long and worth 40% of the final mark. The second assessment will take the form of a research project by which the student will be asked to do a case study analysis of one presidential administration. The summative assessment will test a student’s analytical skills as well as require the student incorporate the full range of material in the module so that all aspects of subject specific knowledge must be addressed and skills displayed. This summative project will be 3,000 words long and worth 60% of the final mark.
• Formative assessment will come in the form of a single-page research project proposal in which the student will lay out the case study they will choose for the summative research project and outline how they will analyse the case using the perspectives of the module. This formative assessment will allow the instructor to provide direct feedback in relation to the summative project.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One page project proposal to be submitted in Epiphany Term

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University