Course Syllabus

This is a reading, discussion, and research seminar that will introduce you to the literature on voting, candidates, and elections, both generally and as it relates to legislatures in particular. There is an enormous literature in this field, and it is growing all of the time. Nonetheless, at the end of this course, you will have an excellent foundation. We include a few classic readings, but most are contemporary works that represent the latest theories and empirical work as well as suggesting new directions for study. Where appropriate, the material deals with public opinion more broadly and with institutional factors that influence elections. You should finish the course with a comprehensive understanding of past research and a good idea of the directions in which that research is now moving.