Classes

Gov 1300 - Congress: Power and Preferences

Semester: 

Spring

Offered: 

2021
This course examines the structure and operation of the U.S. Congress, with an emphasis on policy making, representation, and the internal distribution of power. Topics include: the electoral connection, constituency relations, reapportionment, the changing role of committees, subcommittees, and party leaders, the influence of lobbyists and interest groups, and congressional relations with the executive and judicial branches.

Gov 3004b - Research Workshop in American Politics

Semester: 

Spring

Offered: 

2021
A forum for the presentation and discussion of research in progress by graduate students (second year and above) , faculty, and visiting scholars. Anyone working on contemporary American politics or on US political development welcome. Occasional presentations by invited speakers. Part one of a two part series; students must complete both terms of this course (parts A and B) within the same academic year in order to receive credit.

Gov 2453 - Practical and Theoretical Regulation of Voting

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2020
The course will focus on points of contact between legal scholarship on voting rights and election law and the political science literature on redistricting, voting behavior, and elections. Emphasis will be placed on how observed data can be, and should be, used as evidence.

Gov 3004a - Research Workshop in American Politics

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2020
A forum for the presentation and discussion of research in progress by graduate students (second year and above) , faculty, and visiting scholars. Anyone working on contemporary American politics or on US political development welcome. Occasional presentations by invited speakers. Part one of a two part series; students must complete both terms of this course (parts A and B) within the same academic year in order to receive credit.

Gov 2474 - Approaches to the Study of the US Congress: Models and Methods

Semester: 

Spring

Offered: 

2020
In this seminar we survey and critically evaluate various models of Congressional politics. Special emphasis is given quantitative and modeling approaches to legislative organization, legislative process, congressional elections, legislative parties, House-Senate comparisons, and inter-branch politics. Students are expected to participate actively each week, complete several small writing assignments, and produce a research paper.

Gov 2006 - Formal Models of Domestic Politics

Semester: 

Spring

Offered: 

2019
An understanding of introductory game theory and basic mathematical tools is required. Topics covered include some combination of the following: electoral competition under certainty and uncertainty, special interest politics, veto players, coalitions, delegation, political agency, and regime change.

Gov 1328 - Electoral Politics

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2018
Elections are the foundation of American democracy. This course focuses on the simple questions: Who wins elections and why? Answers to these questions guide the interpretation of elections and evaluation of how well government represents the public preferences. The first half of the course presents the basic explanations and models of elections and voting behavior, and asks students to make their best forecast of the election. The second half of the course will examine why the models worked or didn't work. Students will learn how to interpret and analyze surveys and other data, to estimate... Read more about Gov 1328 - Electoral Politics

Gov 2474 - Approaches to the Study of Congress

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2017
In this seminar we survey and critically evaluate various models of Congressional politics. Special emphasis is given quantitative and modeling approaches to legislative organization, legislative process, congressional elections, legislative parties, House-Senate comparisons, and inter-branch politics. Students are expected to participate actively each week, complete several small writing assignments, and produce a research paper.

Gov 1328 - Electoral Politics

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2016

Elections are the foundation of American democracy. This course focuses on the simple questions: Who wins elections and why? Answers to these questions guide the interpretation of elections and evaluation of how well government represents the public preferences. The first half of the course presents the basic explanations and models of elections and voting behavior, and asks students to make their best forecast of the election. The second half of the course will examine why the models worked or didn't work. Students will learn how to interpret and analyze surveys and other data, to...

Read more about Gov 1328 - Electoral Politics

Gov 1300 - The Politics of Congress

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2015

A broad survey of the legislative branch of the American government. Topics include committee power, party leadership, rules and procedures, legislative elections, and inter-branch relations.

Gov 2474 - Approaches to the Study of the U.S. Congress: Models and Methods

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2015

In this seminar we survey and critically evaluate various models of Congressional politics. Special emphasis is given quantitative and modeling approaches to legislative organization, legislative process, congressional elections, legislative parties, House-Senate comparisons, and inter-branch politics. Students are expected to participate actively each week, complete several small writing assignments, and produce a research paper.

James Snyder, Kenneth Shepsle

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