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An introduction to American government and politics

XSeries Program in
U.S. Government
HarvardX

What you will learn

  • Public policy in America
  • The dynamics of American politics
  • The inner workings of the three branches of the U.S. Federal Government
  • The forces in American politics that shift the political landscape
  • How early American politics informed the U.S. Constitution

What are the foundations of the U.S. political system? How do leading institutions such as the presidency and Congress operate? Where do public opinion, political parties, groups, and the media fit in? What explains America’s economic, social, and foreign policies? If exploring these questions interests you, then this series is for you.

You’ll examine the American political system, including its constitutional foundations and public policies. You’ll learn about U.S. institutions and U.S. political organizations while maintaining a perspective on the "big picture". What are the driving forces and persistent tendencies of American politics? Who governs America — how, when and why? Lectures highlight the main features of American politics and case studies will prompt you to think critically about what you have learned.

American politics has all the aspects of drama, but it has real meaning for people’s everyday lives. This introduction to the U.S. government will enable you to understand the origin of key narratives in U.S. political discourse and guide you through a complex system so that you can enable change in your communities.

Expert instruction
4 high-quality courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
4 months
2 - 4 hours per week
Discounted price: $356.40
Pre-discounted price: $396USD
For the full program experience

Courses in this program

  1. HarvardX's U.S. Government XSeries Program

  2. 2–4 hours per week, for 4 weeks

    Learn how early American politics informed the U.S. Constitution and why its promise of liberty and equality has yet to be fully realized.

  3. 2–4 hours per week, for 4 weeks

    Examine the inner workings of the three branches of the U.S. Federal Government

  4. 2–4 hours per week, for 4 weeks

    Learn about the forces in American politics that seek to influence the electorate and shift the political landscape.

  5. 2–4 hours per week, for 4 weeks

    Learn about public policy in America and the dynamics of American politics.

Meet your instructor
from Harvard University (HarvardX)

Thomas E. Patterson
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Harvard University

Experts from HarvardX committed to teaching online learning

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