POL 254 Designing Political Representation
In contemporary democracies, citizens' main task is the (s)election of politicians to represent them. The rules and policies that define how this (s)election is made are therefore of vital importance for the good functioning of democracy. Indeed, the rules of the electoral game determine who can run for office and vote, and how votes are translated into seats. This affects the party system that is formed, the types of identities that become politicized, and also the characteristics of the individuals who get elected. In recent years there has been an increasing focus on ensuring the inclusion of women and minority groups in politics. This course will discuss questions about how electoral systems are designed, with a focus on issues related to the inclusion of women and minorities in politics. It will talk about the incentive structures created by differing electoral systems, how they may affect which identities end up being politicized, talk about what constitutes "women's interests" or "group interests", and look at the effects of changing who is in power.