POL 435 - Campaigns and Elections

Units: 3
When Offered: Fall (even years)
The course analyzes the dominant role political parties played in the American political system in the past. The course explores the decline of American political parties in recent decades. The course considers the increasing importance of campaign consultants and interest groups. The course examines the consequences of the shift in the roles played by political parties, campaign consultants, and interest groups on the American political system. Since the nature of political campaigns strongly impacts the political agenda of successful candidates once they take office, the course devotes considerable attention to the role of campaign issues in mobilizing key groups of voters as well as the use of campaign strategies and tactics aimed at achieving electoral success.