Voting and Elections In America 4219-RS278

The course will be devoted to the analysis of electrorla processes in American democracy: presidential, congressional, state and local. We will study the electoral process from the perspective of candidates and voters. Look at communication patterns: advertising, debates, stump speeches as well as at social media presence of candidates. We shall also analyze what role is played by money in American politics (lobbying, issue advocacy).
This is a research pro-seminar which means that students will have to engage in individual and group research activities: collection, and analysis of data and presentation of research results.
Since this year's class is taking place during the election process, students will be asked to perform several research tasks related to events which will be happening in USA. After the elections we will look closely at exit poll data to draw conclusions about the political perceptions of Americans in 2024.

Type of course

elective courses
proseminars

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

the goal of this course is to examine the patterns of communication in American elections, primarily presidential but we will also look at congressional and state contests. Students will get the opportunity to analyze the relationships between institutions and political culture.

Course coordinators

Bohdan Szklarski

Learning outcomes

Students will gain KNOWLEDGE about American electoral process. They will learn how American voters think and behave; they will learn how political leaders communicate with the publics; they will gain insight to the relations wbetween political culture, political institutions and political behavior.
Students will acquire SKILLS in collecting and analyzing statistical/polling data; theywill practice how to analyze exit polls, they will be able to conduct analyses of political communication
By engaging in group work students will gain COMPETENCE in sharing tasks, presenting knowledge in public forum and engage in public discussions

Assessment criteria

Final grade will come from the following tasks:
1. homeworks (20%)
2. presentation of research design and research findings (35%)
3. final term paper (35%
4. participation in seminar discussions (10%)

Bibliography

Aron Wildawsky, Elections in America
NYT analysis of 2020 exit polls
Elections as ritual - Anthropological analysis
Thermostatic model of elections
Voters in Congressional Elections since 1964 a longitudinal study
and many other academic artcicles

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 4219-RS278 in USOSweb