Time Schedule:
Robert D Burrowes
POL S 447
Seattle Campus
Selected comparative political problems, political institutions, processes, and issues in comparative perspective. Strongly recommended: POL S 204.
Class description
Topic: Deciding Who Wins and Who Loses: The Impact of Electoral Systems in Democratic Political Systems Description. No rule is neutral. The politics of who gets what, when, and how is shaped by the incentives and opportunities created by electoral systems. Decisions abut who is represented and how winners are determined affect not only elections and public policy, but may affect the very viability of democratic political systems. We will explore the vast array of electoral systems in use in established democracies to understand how these systems were shaped by their societies and how, in turn, they have shaped their societies. Texts. Reading will include LeDuc, Niemi, and Norris, eds., Comparing Democracies: Elections and Voting in Comparative Perspective.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
Assignments. Grades in this course are based on a midterm exam and a 15-20 page paper.
Grading. Exams: 33 1/3 % Papers: 66 2/3 % TOTAL: 100 %
