PSCI 207
Political Elections Fall 2014
Division II
This is not the current course catalog

The National and state elections taking place this fall, 2014, will be “interesting”. Historically, mid-term elections, elections without the dominant consideration of who will be the President, generate less attention and less involvement of the public. But, while midterm elections often seem to have less at stake, in 2014 much is at stake. The 21st century in the United States has had a very turbulent beginning and the American public is very divided over how best to respond to the many challenges that confront the United States. This course explores the factors that shape the outcome of political elections in America. Among the factors we will consider are the state of the economy, international events, the role of political parties at the state and national levels, the current partisan balance, ideology, media, special interests, money, candidates, the “hot” issues of the moment, of which there are many, and long enduring issues that have long generated conflict at the national level. We will consider in detail the 2014 national mid-term elections both for Federal office (Senate and House) and for state offices (governors and state legislators).