US Political Parties and Elections

3 Units

Political Parties and Elections examines the development and history of political parties in the US, examining the impact of electoral systems and law at the national and local levels, the impact on key events in shaping the parties' ideologies, policy preferences, and core constituencies. The course reviews key party realignments and asks whether the US is experiencing a party realignment in response to party polarization and populist challenges. It also considers candidate emergence, campaign strategies, and campaign finance in the context of the US political party system. Counts as a Disciplinary Communication course.