This course is a study of significant contemporary political issues emphasizing events occurring at the time the course is offered. After surveying the field of American politics, the student will be able to: 1). critically evaluate some of the controversial issues which presently confront the U.S. and the global community; 2). facilitate intellectual discourse; 3). participate in civil debates; 4). idenitify a potential problem with a specific public policy and propose a solution to ameliorate it; and 5). construct a research paper and literature review reflecting the critical analysis skills that have been learned throughout the course.