Introduction to the American Political Process

Calendar

LEC #	TOPICS	KEY DATES
Part 1: Introduction and Preliminaries
1	What is the Role of Government?
Part 2: Institutions and American Politics
2	Understanding Institutions: The Median Voter Theorem	Assignment #1 due
3	Agenda Setting: The Committee Model	Assignment #2 due
4	Making Legislation: Veto Players	Assignment #3 due
5	Making Legislation: Ideas and Policy Entrepreneurs	Assignment #4 due
6	The Preferences of Policymakers: Elections and Responsiveness
Part 3: Public Opinion, Elections, and Democracy
7	Campaigns and Elections
8	The Measure and Meaning of Public Opinion	Assignment #5 due
9	The Structure of Public Opinion	Assignment #6 due
10	Understanding Public Opinion and American Politics: War and Race
Part 4: Personal Interests and Political Equality
11	Mobilization of Interests	Assignment #7 due
12	Participation and the Political System	Assignment #8 due
Part 5: American Politics: Bringing it all Together
13	The Welfare Implications of Government
14	Conclusions