Political Parties & Interest Groups ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This course examines in depth the ways citizens participate in setting the public policy agenda and influence policy making. Students will evaluate two dominant institutions through which American citizens communicate their political demands to policy makers: the political parties and interest groups. This includes the debate over the future of political parties and the mechanics of political party involvement in nominations, campaigns, campaign finance and the formation of public policy. They will also study interest groups and their activities and the growing influence of political action committees. This course was previously SOC-263214 Political Parties and Interest Groups.