Broad survey course of congressional elections. Topics
discussed include the incumbency advantage, the role of
strategic politicians, the impact of money in congressional
elections, the effects of local and national tides on
congressional races, and differences between House and Senate
races.
Athena Title
Politics of Congressional Elec
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in POLS 4605H
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will be able to explain how core concepts such as the incumbency advantage, candidate quality, and strategic retirement shape outcomes in U.S. House and Senate elections.
Students will be able to evaluate how national forces—such as presidential approval, partisan polarization, and media environments—interact with district- and state-level factors to influence congressional election results.
Students will be able to assess the effects of redistricting, campaign finance, and party nomination processes on the competitiveness and representativeness of congressional elections.
Students will be able to interpret, critique, and synthesize arguments from scholarly books and articles on congressional elections, including those that employ quantitative evidence and graphical displays.
Students will be able to apply theories of congressional elections to explain why specific contemporary elections (e.g., the 2024 congressional elections) turned out as they did.
Students will be able to formulate and defend a research-based argument in writing about congressional elections, clearly distinguishing their preferred explanation from plausible alternative hypotheses.
Students will be able to compare and contrast House and Senate elections in terms of candidate emergence, campaign dynamics, and representational incentives.
Students will be able to communicate key concepts and empirical findings about congressional elections clearly and effectively in class discussions and written assignments.
Topical Outline
The Electoral Connection
Electoral Accountability
Strategic Politicians
The Incumbency Advantage
Money in Congressional Elections
Congressional Campaigns
Senate Elections
Midterm Elections
Ambition, Gender, and Politics
Redistricting and Representation
Institutional Competencies Learning Outcomes
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
