POL 2275 - Elections

3 Credit Hour(s)

Students taking this course will learn to apply critical thinking skills to the task of understanding the process by which citizens of democratic societies elect their political leaders. Not limited to elections in the U.S., and among other things, this course emphasizes the role of elections in democratic theory, the electoral process and how it has changed over time, how citizens process the information needed to make decisions in elections and the role of the media, as well as the impact that gerrymandering and demobilization efforts have on electoral outcomes. We will explore the impact of elections on public policy, and the impact of public policy on elections. Discussion topics will include political parties, interest groups, voter fraud, voter intimidation, candidate-centered campaigns, campaign advertisement, ethics, and the role of rhetoric in elections.