We will focus on developing a systematic way to think about political institutions, behaviors, and traditions in the United States. The course examines campaigns and elections, voting behavior, the media, interest groups, bureaucracy, and political parties. The interactions between citizens and governmental institutions are examined historically and through contemporary cases that examine electoral laws, federalism, political corruption, ballot initiatives, social movements, and campaign reform. Several forms of political participation are covered, including electoral participation, citizen groups, and protest.
Class meets three times per week.
Monday and Wednesday sessions will be conducted in a lecture format. Friday sessions, where noted in the syllabus, will be conducted in two discussion groups. You are expected to come prepared to discuss issues raised in the readings. Please read the assigned materials before class on the date they are listed. In the discussion sessions, we will debate the readings for that day as well as the readings from earlier in that week.