Democracy in America: The Modern Presidency - Tools of Power

This course shows that the American Presidency has been transformed since the 1930s. Today, presidents are overtly active in the legislative process: they use the media to appeal directly to the people and they exercise leadership over an "institutional presidency" with thousands of aides.

Democracy in America: Bureaucracy - A Controversial Necessity

This course reveals how the American bureaucracy delivers significant services directly to the people, how it has expanded in response to citizen demands for increased government services, and how bureaucrats sometimes face contradictory expectations that are difficult to satisfy.

Democracy in America: The Courts - Our Rule of Law

This course examines the role of courts as institutions dedicated to conflict resolution, with the power both to apply and to interpret the meaning of law in trial and appeal courts. It shows the increased power of the Supreme Court through its use of judicial review and the difficulty of creating a judiciary that is independent of politics.

Democracy in America: Understanding Media - The Inside Story

This course explores the media as an integral part of American democracy, highlighting the scrutiny they impose on the performance of public officials, the interdependence of politics and the media, and the power the media wields in selecting the news.

Democracy in America: Public Opinion - Voice of the People

This course examines the power of public opinion to influence government policy, the increasing tendency of public officials to rely on polls, and the need to use many forms of feedback to get an accurate measure of public opinion.

Democracy in America: Political Parties - Mobilizing Agents

This course shows how political parties perform important functions that link the public to the institutions of American government. Parties create coalitions of citizens who share political goals, elect candidates to public office to achieve those goals, and organize the legislative and executive branches of government.

Democracy in America: Elections - The Maintenance of Democracy

This course explores the crucial role of strategy in the two-stage electoral campaign system; the opportunities for citizens to choose, organize, and elect candidates who will pursue policies they favor; and the need for campaigns to increase voter turnout by educating citizens about the importance and influence of their vote.

Democracy in America: Interest Groups - Organizing to Influence

This video lesson shows how America's large number of corporate, citizen-action, and grass-roots interest groups enhance our representative process by giving citizens a role in shaping policy agendas.

Democracy in America: Global Politics - U.S.A. and the World

This course examines the need for the United States to use the tools of foreign policy in ways that recognize the growing interdependence of nations - implementing both traditional and new forms of military, trade, and diplomatic strategies to promote benefits for America and the world as a whole.

The Crisis Mr. Faubus Made: The Role of the Arkansas Gazette in the Central High Crisis

This course details the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957 and the role Governor Orval Faubus and the Arkansas Gazette played in the event. It outlines the series of events that led to Federal troops being enlisted to guard Central High.

This course meets the scheduled Arkansas history requirement as set forth in the Rules Governing Professional Development and required by ACA 6-17-703.