Your final test will require you to reflect on the American political system while reviewing and considering everything you have learned in the course.

How to do it? 
The final (3rd) test will be a 2-4 page essay reflecting on your perceptions of the American political system and how those perceptions have been influenced by the course. Your writing can be somewhat informal and in the first person; you will be graded on the content in terms of what you have learned, your perceptions, how they were challenged, changed or reinforced, etc. You should mention various elements from throughout the entire class and different units / modules of learning.



grade this on scale of 100

Israel D
20250226
Ive seen enough information on  youtube in highschool to this course blindly but I have learned some new information about the American political system. The structure maintains complexity since it originated from historical fundamentals while adapting to present-day requirements. My knowledge about American politics emerged from what I saw on television news programs and my personal encounters before starting this class. My initial understanding proved incorrect when I continued through the modules because the system contains many complex elements. The course exposed some of my pre-existing ideas while establishing others and teaching me refined insights about American democratic governance.
The principle foundations of the U.S. government became the most valuable teachings in my educational journey. My previous understanding included knowledge of the U.S. branches of government but I failed to understand how they work together. The system that checks and balances government powers appears to face frequent tests because it stops branches from attaining excessive influence. The rising frequency of executive order implementation by presidents leads Americans to debate about expanding executive branch authority. Such circumstances caused me to doubt whether our political structure works correctly.
My understanding changed significantly due to the politics of political parties being revealed throughout the duration. Previously I considered the Republican and Democratic parties to be rigidly opposite to each other though I now grasp their historical transformations. The process revealed to me how political polarization has grown stronger thus leading to more obstacles for cooperative work between different parties. Before this course, I did not notice how significant third-party challenges limited their impact so I began to understand why the two-party system continues to prevail.
My knowledge of elections and voter behavior shifted during the course period. Through this class, I learned voting involves much more complexity than my previous understanding because I discovered the challenges of voter suppression alongside gerrymandering along with campaign finance issues. When I studied the Citizens United ruling I discovered the tremendous power money exercises in electing candidates. My knowledge about widespread political advertisement existence lacked clarity regarding the extent corporations and well-funded contributors shape decision-making processes. Such control produced doubts about whether people from regular backgrounds have their voices effectively represented.
The study of constitutional interpretation proved to be a revelation among the course material. At first, my understanding of constitutional law consisted of fixed tenets yet the practice of judicial interpretation transformed my perception of those established laws. The Supreme Court’s influence through landmark cases like Roe v. The decisions in both Roe v Wade and Citizens United specifically revealed that a handful of Supreme Court Justices possess outstanding authority. Judicial activism versus judicial restraint became the topic of my reflection after studying this issue. Judges must determine whether to follow the original text of the Constitution when making decisions or adjust the laws to fit current circumstances. The two schools of thought present solid logic to support their positions even though my mind remains undecided on this dilemma.
Federalism helped me understand governance in a new way. My initial notion regarding the precise federal-state governmental equilibrium has been disproven by actual experiences. My education about divergent state-level policies for marijuana legalization and gun control and education made me respect the system's adaptability although I wondered about its operational effectiveness. The tailored solutions enabled through state control produce inconsistencies together with unequal outcomes.
Media platforms together with public sentiments helped me develop new views about things. My understanding of media partiality existed yet I appreciated fully that selective information presentation along with framing mechanisms control how audiences interpret realities. Through the course, I became more observant about my news choices as well as aware of political strategies that manipulate media messages to construct specific narratives. Agenda-setting proved to be a significant media concept because it demonstrates how the media influences which issues deserve attention rather than dictating opinions. Knowing these facts has made me carefully consider what sources I use to gather my information and it has pushed me to find information from various sources. 
My education in this course enhanced my political awareness combined with analytical skills for American politics. I maintain my faith in democratic systems yet I understand that democratic structures require multiple corrections. After this course, I have developed a deeper understanding of political institutions alongside their party transformation and electoral system complications. The way I understand politics transformed from a basic dual-sided competition to a complex historical system formed through forces of power and citizen-based opinions. I have gained enough knowledge to participate in political debates with greater depth.