The concept of representation is central to the study of politics. However, there is no single definition of the term and no clear standard for measuring what constitutes "good" representation. Students will be asked to consider competing definitions of representation, and the implications that these standards have for democracy in the U.S.
Athena Title
Political Representation
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
Students will understand the central concepts and debates in the political science literature on representation.
Students will understand how institutions influence who is represented (and who becomes a representative).
Students will understand how competing interests work together/against each other in American democracy and how this influences democratic governance.
Students will understand how institutional structures influence the role of sex/gender in American politics.
Students will be able to identify testable hypotheses in political science research.
Students will be able to formulate testable hypotheses for political questions.
Students will be able to synthesize arguments and produce evidence to support and refute empirical claims.
Topical Outline
Designing Social Science Research
Frameworks for Understanding Representation
Who are representatives (the decision to seek office)
Who are representatives (structural realities of institutions)
Who are representatives (political parties and candidate recruitment)
The constituency connection
Does access always mean power?
Policy responsiveness
What do people want from their representatives?
Access and Influence
Speaking for underrepresented interests
Symbolic 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.
