SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
---|---|---|
I: Introduction | ||
1 | Introduction: what this class is about | |
2 & 3 | Theoretical conceptions of democratic representation | |
II: Public opinion | ||
4 | The origins of public opinion: ideology, interests, and partisanship | |
5 |
The origins of public opinion: analysis of public opinion issues
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6 | Measuring public opinion | |
III. Why would we expect elected officials to care about public opinion? | ||
7a | Introduction | |
7b | The median voter & electoral accountability | Short paper 1 due |
8a | Primary constituencies | |
8b | Elites | |
IV. Factors that could lead to undemocratic outcomes | ||
9 | Malapportionment | |
10 | Unequal voter turnout | |
11a | Unequal policy knowledge among voters | |
11b | Unequal financial resources | |
12 | Special interests: foundations | |
13 | Special interests: interest groups today | |
14 | Incumbency bias | |
15 | Super-majority rules in legislatures | Short paper 2 due |
V. Representation of opinions and interests | ||
16 | Do policy outcomes represent the views of voters? | |
17a | Are certain groups systematically over or under-represented in the policy process?: Income & class | |
17b | Are certain groups systematically over or under-represented in the policy process?: Interests | |
VI. Institutional reforms to improve representation | ||
18 | One-person, one-vote | |
19 | Term limits | |
20 | Direct democracy | Final paper outline due |
21 | Elected judges | |
22 | Non-partisan redistricting | |
23 | Changing the primary process | |
24 | Campaign finance rules | |
25 | Convenience voting | Final paper due |