By gaining a clear grasp of political institutions, we're better equipped to engage with government and politics. In this course, you'll explore essential topics such as how the federal bureaucracy is organized, the intricacies of Congress and the legislature, the operations of the Supreme Court, the challenge of campaign finance, the media and politics, and America's deep political polarization.
Understanding the US Government
Better understand the inner workings of US political institutions in this gripping course taught by a celebrated political scientist, and gain eye-opening insights into America's democratic system.
Rated 2 out of
5
by
MAKA from
I've taken many of the Great Courses and all were very good. This one was the worse. I don't like it when I can figure out a professor's political leaning and hers is very evident.
Date published: 2024-03-29
Rated 3 out of
5
by
red vader from
Showing Bias
Shows bias when stating conclusions without attribution or quoting someone without providing justification for the conclusion
Date published: 2024-01-10
Rated 3 out of
5
by
RedVader from
Electoral College
Overall was good information. However she failed in explaining how the system protects citizens in small population states against the large states. This deficiency in the presentation is significant as this protection is essential. Protection of the tyranny of large against the small is very important
Date published: 2023-12-20
Rated 2 out of
5
by
seekingwisdom49 from
Liberal Hack!
Although there are some redeeming qualities for this course, they were offset by the
lecturer's obvious leftest democratic bias. I say this as a registered independent and don't think either party is that great. But if one is going to present a US Government course, one needs to tuck in his or her biases. I would question if her perspective has changed since Trump left office with everything that is going on with the current administration.
Date published: 2023-09-03
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Justwantthefacts from
First time I've provided a review, and I've easily purchased dozens of courses. The professor is well-versed into the subject matter, as would be expected. However, she clearly is liberal leaning and it bleeds through in most blocks of study through her biased critiques and tainted examples. I simply can't finish watching it for that reason alone. If you are left-leaning and simply looking confirmation of your beliefs through a biased assessment, then this course is for you. If, however, you are interested in letting non-biased facts stand on their own and making up your own opinion, whatever it is, you should look elsewhere.
Date published: 2023-07-03
Rated 2 out of
5
by
MJ53 from
Civics Education Spoiled By Political Bias
Half the course provided a good civics overview but heavy progressive political and liberal media bias by the presenter spoiled the course for me.
Date published: 2023-05-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
GoodCitizen from
Relevancy to Today's Political Environment
This course covers all the important topics that every responsible citizen should be familiar with.
Originally, I was trying to understand the structure or organization of the federal government. It turns out this course gives me more than what I was looking for. The additional information provided is actually essential to the question on how this country works.
Date published: 2022-12-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Prairieman from
Good general outline of US Government function
The functions of the US Government directly and indirectly affect some aspects of my life. This course has given me some insights on the many functions of the US Government and this is helping me make important decisions like where to get reliable information; that I should vote and things to keep in mind and even personal financial considerations. US Government functions affect the US economy.
Date published: 2022-12-14
Overview
About
Jennifer Nicoll Victor is an Associate Professor of Political Science at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a coeditor of the Oxford Handbook of Political Networks and coauthor (with Nils Ringe) of Bridging the Information Gap: Legislative Member Organizations as Social Networks in the United States and the European Union. She also serves on the board of directors of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Trailer
01: Why Have Government?
As context, begin by looking into the nature of governments, and the major types of government. Consider why governments exist and how major political theorists have viewed the roles of government. Examine the founding of the United States and the creation of the Constitution through the lens of “collective action theory,” which helps explain why the US government is structured as it is.
31 min
02: The Framework of US Federalism
Study the system of federalism, where sovereign power is divided between the national and state governments. Trace the history of federalism in the United States, as it protects individual liberties, checks government power, and allows for the resolution of political conflicts. Note how the balance shifted in the 20th century, from greater state authority to a much-expanded power of the federal government.
27 min
03: Civil Liberties: Freedoms from Government
Probe the concept of civil liberties, as they delineate restrictions that government cannot impose. Learn about “selective incorporation,” the process through which civil liberty protections at the state level have been guaranteed through Supreme Court rulings. Then look at how the judicial system has interpreted and upheld freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press.
33 min
04: Civil Rights: Fairness under Government
Consider how America’s historic record on human rights continues to impact modern politics. Study the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment and how it has been applied. Examine the history and the current landscape of human rights with regard to African-American rights, affirmative action, and women’s rights, as well as Native American, Asian American, and LGBTQ+ rights.
33 min
05: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Observe how a congressional bill originates, and how legislators formally submit a bill. Then follow the various stages through which a bill is acted upon by the House, the Senate, by presidential review, and the process of ultimate adoption into law. Finally, learn about the “cloture rule,” a mechanism that forces bills to a vote, and the strategic tactic of filibustering in the Senate.
29 min
06: Why Congress Is Such a Puzzle
Explore core issues in the functioning of Congress. First, take account of the inherent tension for legislators between serving their constituents and serving their party. Investigate procedural challenges within this unwieldy organ of government, tasked with solving massive social problems, whose institutional design is in some ways an impediment to progress.
27 min
07: How Congressional Elections Work
Learn how congressional elections are structured, and differences between the House and Senate. Examine key factors in the politics of congressional campaigns, such as the high cost of campaigning, the role of incumbency, and how congressional campaigns have become increasingly nationalized. Then delve into the issue of gerrymandering, and the varied record in the United States of the practice of gerrymandering.
31 min
08: The Powers of the Presidency
Identify the powers granted to the president by the Constitution, versus other powers that have been implied or have developed over time. Assess the roles of the president as both head of state and head of government, and delve into core topics that include the budget process, the exercise of executive privilege, impeachment, and the president’s role as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
33 min
09: How Presidential Elections Work
Grasp the ways in which presidential elections differ from congressional elections. Take an in-depth look at the Electoral College, and the sometimes odd consequences of the system. Observe how presidential nominations are made, and assess election forecasting and the indicators that are most predictive of election outcomes. Also, examine the phenomenon of “fake news” and misinformation.
36 min
10: A Road Map of the Federal Bureaucracy
Take an overview of how the vast systems of the federal government operate. First, trace how and why the United States developed such a massive bureaucracy. Study how the executive branch is structured, highlighting the cabinet departments, independent agencies, and government corporations. Finally, analyze the theory of the “principal-agent problem,” which gives insights into bureaucratic control.
32 min
11: How the Judicial Branch Works
Investigate the sources of judicial authority that underlie our legal system, and the judicial system’s organization according to three types of legal cases. Learn about the structure of the federal court system, comprising three types of federal courts. Conclude with a detailed look at the Supreme Court, how a case gets to the Supreme Court, and how cases are heard and adjudicated.
26 min
12: Where the Supreme Court Meets Politics
Follow the very politicized process that takes place when a president appoints a justice to the Supreme Court. Then look at four categories of influences that bear on the Court and its decisions. Examine how the Court plays a role in policymaking through its decisions and precedents. Finally, trace how the Court’s role in politics and government has changed over the course of US history.
30 min
13: The Challenges of Polling Public Opinion
Define “public opinion,” in its various forms, both individual and aggregate. For the measuring of public opinion, note the difference between the theory of the “wisdom of crowds,” and what’s called “groupthink.” Explore the sources of individual opinion and political identity. Then look at what polls are and what they do, highlighting the polling controversy of the 2016 presidential election.
33 min
14: How Political Parties Organize Democracy
Why do political parties exist? Dig into this question, and grasp how parties solve three categories of problems for three different groups of political “actors.” Investigate why it is that the United States has two, and only two, major political parties. And, to better understand how parties operate today, trace the history of political parties in the United States, and how they have changed and realigned over time.
32 min
15: How Americans Became So Polarized
Delve into the factors that underlie the extreme partisan polarization of current US politics. Define what polarization is, as distinct from partisanship. Focus on three main sources of polarization, and explore how and why polarization tends to self-perpetuate. Examine false assumptions about polarization, its dangers, and consider how possible reforms might break the cycle.
32 min
16: The Fundamentals of Elections and Voting
Look first at suffrage (the right to vote) in the United States, including the history of women’s suffrage, African-American suffrage, and suffrage for 18 year olds. Study voter turnout in elections, and how we can account for consistently low voter turnout. Consider what determines a person’s likelihood to vote, the gender gap in voting, and the need of candidates to be appealing to median voters.
28 min
17: How Does American Democracy Work?
In assessing the US democratic system, dispel the common myth of a single “will of the people.” Grasp how institutions such as Congress provide stability and an agreed-upon procedure for making major group decisions. Review several fully democratic ways of counting votes, which provide different outcomes, and look into the use and possible benefits of ranked-choice voting in the United States.
26 min
18: The Ins and Outs of Campaign Finance
Witness how campaigns have been financed throughout US history. Trace the many campaign finance reforms enacted since the 1970s, which aim to curb corruption and unequal influence on elections. Take account of the problems that arise when sources of campaign funding do not represent the broader population, and the repeating cycle of reforms followed by attempts to work around campaign finance limits.
30 min
19: The Pros and Cons of Organized Interests
Revisit the theory of collective action as you chart the seven types of organized interest groups that figure in American politics, and the huge proliferation of interest groups since the 1960s. In grasping how interest groups form and operate, and the problems they address, weigh the valuable things these groups can do for society against the tendency for the power of organized interests to be skewed toward the wealthy and privileged.
31 min
20: Politics and the Media
To better understand the complex relationship between media, politics, and government, investigate public trust and distrust of journalism, and the ideological positions of news sources themselves. Note how social media can exacerbate political polarization. Finally, grasp the ways in which the political environment is ripe for conspiracy theories and misinformation, and how we can best respond.
29 min
21: How Government Affects the Economy
Examine the US system of free market economics, and the fiscal and monetary policies our government employs to correct for market failures. Learn how Congress and the president address problems such as high unemployment and inflation through government spending and taxation, and how the Fed uses interest rates and the sale of treasury bonds to stimulate or de-stimulate the economy.
33 min
22: How the US Social Safety Net Works
The federal social safety net is designed to alleviate poverty among the elderly, needy families, and the disabled. Learn about the TANF program, or “welfare,” and the institutions of Social Security, disability insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Take account of the financial strains on these programs, questions of their future solvency, and the political controversies that surround them.
33 min
23: The Major Shifts in American Foreign Policy
Trace the history of the United States in international politics, from early isolationism through America’s global role in the 20th century, to today’s post-9/11 political climate. Observe US participation in international institutions aimed at peacekeeping, trade, and economic growth, and note current US policy trends regarding trade conditions and the negative effects of globalization.
35 min
24: The Changing State of American Democracy
Conclude with a look at the biggest challenges that American politics and government will face in the coming years, such as racial, environmental, and economic justice. Assess possible reforms for greater income and racial equality, and the benefits of a stronger role for political parties. Consider the dangers of the current degradation of democratic norms, and how they might be restored.
35 min
