Department of Political Science

This course focuses on voting, elections, and public opinion in the United States. We will cover the determinants of voting behavior in elections, and the ways in which elections are conducted in the U.S. We will also discuss the nature of public opinion — where it comes from, its stability, its evolution — using examples from both domestic and foreign policy. We will also cover the development of political ideology and partisan identification. This course will also focus on the similarities and differences between presidential and congressional campaigns, as well as the similarities and differences between primary elections and general elections.