Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media
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Brief Introduction
Learn about the forces in American politics that seek to influence the electorate and shift the political landscape.Course Summary
This course explores the role of citizens in American politics, including public opinion, elections, interest groups, and media. Students will gain a deeper understanding of how these factors shape the political landscape and affect policy outcomes.Key Learning Points
- Gain insights into the workings of American politics
- Understand the role of public opinion, elections, interest groups, and media in shaping policy
- Develop critical thinking skills to analyze political issues
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a deep understanding of American politics and its workings
- Gain the skills to analyze political issues
- Understand how public opinion, elections, interest groups, and media shape policy outcomes
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic understanding of American government and politics
- Willingness to engage in critical thinking and analysis
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Introduction to American Politics
- The American Presidency
- The Supreme Court, Critical Junctures, and Social Change
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Nate Silver
- Rachel Maddow
Related Books
Description
Course description
Public opinion has a powerful yet inexact influence on elected officials. Politicians risk their careers if they ignore it, yet its power is not easy to capture nor quantify. This course will look at how political parties, campaigns, social movements, special interests, and the news media all play a role in influencing public opinion.
We’ll examine the attributes of public opinion, how polling attempts to measure those attributes, and how they impact the decisions of policymakers. We’ll address the unique features of the two-party system in the U.S., how those parties realign themselves in response to shifting norms, and how their candidates are vetted behind the scenes before the start of a campaign.
Outside of the formal organization of party politics, groups representing various interests aim to affect a change through the political system. Special interest groups resemble political parties, but while parties try to influence elections, groups concentrate on gaining influence over policies. Meanwhile, social movements take place outside these established institutions, often in the form of protest demonstrations and rallies. All of these interests are filtered through the news media, which plays a critical role in shaping people’s images of politics.
This course will help you to understand how these forces shape American politics, from “invisible primaries” to election day and beyond.
Knowledge
- What you'll learn
- The theory and practice of polling
- The nature of today’s Republican and Democratic parties
- How U.S. elections differ from those of other democracies
- Key points of the 2016 Trump-Clinton race
- Why social movements succeed or fail
- How the news system has changed in recent decades
Outline
- Public Opinion
- Political Parties
- Campaigns & Elections
- Political Movements
- Interest Groups
- News Media
Summary of User Reviews
Citizen Politics in America is a popular online course that covers public opinion, elections, interest groups, and media in the United States. The course has received positive reviews from many users for its engaging content and knowledgeable instructors.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Many users thought that the course provided a comprehensive overview of American politics and helped them better understand the political process.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
- Comprehensive overview of American politics
- Helpful for understanding the political process
- Easy to navigate online platform
- Flexible schedule for completing course material
Cons from User Reviews
- Lack of interaction with other students
- Some users found the course material to be too basic
- Limited feedback on assignments
- Not ideal for those already familiar with American politics
- High cost for non-Harvard students
Citizen Politics in America: Public Opinion, Elections, Interest Groups, and the Media
- 0.0
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Learn about the forces in American politics that seek to influence the electorate and shift the political landscape. Public opinion has a powerful yet inexact influence on elected officials....
