Political Parties and Interest Groups

Catalog description

This course examines political parties, interest groups, and public opinion in terms of their impact on American politics, including who gets elected, what issues receive attention in Congress, and the content of legislation. The course considers: How responsive are decision makers in the American system to citizens' demands? What factors impact this responsiveness? What mechanisms do citizens have to express support for their policy preferences? What mechanisms exist that increase the chances of their policy preferences being enacted?