Power to the People?: Popular Sovereignty in the United States

3 Credits.

Popular sovereignty — the idea that the people rule themselves — has been heralded as one of the preeminent innovations of the modern world. And over the course of the last two hundred or so years, a rising tide of nations committed themselves to the principles of popular sovereignty. Yet in recent years, the inevitability, soundness, and very viability of “rule by the people” has come into question. Can popular sovereignty survive? In what form will the people rule, and at what cost? This class is an investigation into the idea and practice of popular sovereignty in the contemporary United States. We will explore this topic by actively consulting theory and empirical research in the social sciences. We will supplement theory and empirical research with our own research on the 2026 election, including media coverage of issues, popular attitudes about democracy, and popular representation in government and by interest/advocacy groups and social movements. In other words, this class is part discussion seminar and large part hands-on active research.Additionally, this class is organized as a collaboration between two courses: one at Johns Hopkins University, the other at Williams College. The two classes will meet frequently via videoconference to share research and discuss readings and ideas. Students from both campuses will collaborate on research and presentations.