Time Schedule:
Mark A. Smith
POL S 350
Seattle Campus
Agrarian, labor, professional, business, and ethnic interest in politics; impact on representative institutions and governmental processes.
Class description
Description: Americans stand in the unusual position of continually organizing themselves into a wide variety of groups seeking redress from government while simultaneously fearing that special interests have undue influence in politics. In this course, we focus upon the complicated roles that organized interests play in American politics. The scope of our efforts will include corporations, unions, and advocacy organizations such as the National Rifle Association and the Sierra Club. Questions to be considered include (1) who is and isn’t represented through interest groups; (2) the ways in which interest groups attract members and survive; (3) the tactics used by groups, such as lobbying government officials or seeking media attention for their causes; (4) the effects of interest group actions on public policy; and (5) the sources and impacts of campaign money contributed by private interests.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Texts: A collection of articles and book chapters. No required textbooks.
Class assignments and grading
Assignments: Include required midterm and final exams plus a paper.
Grading: Exams: Midterm/final: 20/35 %; Papers: 35 %; Class participation: 10 %.
